Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1926-05-28


Continued from PAts onsl
ment has invested Ia Is sinking re-
dsmption and special water fund,
sIe8. 9e2.87.
Assets Of Plant.
Il also has on hand current funds
il the sum Of oe.72e.27
In addition. since tie compleEion ofI
the Wishkah Gravity Water System,
It has increased Is plant VsIus BY
extensions and baItermenia. without
any charge to the general fund 81 the
city, and part Of which ara 8 direct
benefit to the city. end IL most cities
assessed to the benefited property,
IN the sum Of $685.. 0a3.23.
IN othed words, without considering
the current cash on hand, amounting
to $9s, 1851. there has been an IN
crease Of special assets and plant
value Of S516, 026.10.
IN Mr.. McCaw's statement Won win
observe he made no mention whatever
of tee increased plant assets. 81 rsas-
on Of the expenditures Of the income
form the water system, in the making
Of extensions and bettermenis n the
city, approximating s332,0ls.e3.
The City
The Wishlkah Gravity System com
menced operation in January. 1918.
and has ben in operation for approx
imately eight and one-hah years. Sc
that instead of earning approximately
81 10000 per year, as shown BY Mr..
McCaw's statement, in fact The water
system has earned more than sc, 900
90, per year, since Il commenced op-
eration.I
The figures that we rely on are tax
en- from the records Of the City Water
Department. Any one can investi-
gate and ascertain the correctness Of
them.
McCaw's Statement Incorrect
In Mr.. McCaw's statement he made
no mention Of a payment Of 585 $4,000
on February 18th, 1925, under Ordin-
ance No. 1850, form the water fund
into the general fund to pay the prin-
cipal and interest on the Wishkah
Water Bonds. It is evident that Mr..
McCaw's conclusions are grossly in
correct in light Of the facts in the
case.
No Charge For City Service
Mr.. McCaw did not take into con
sideration that no charges were made
for MIGRANTS, no charges made for
the natatorium, cemetary, city hall,
public drinking fountains, and q NOM
inal charge for the water for street
cleaning purposes, and for churches.
It has been estimated that last year
charges for these services. based up
on the Hoquiam rates would have
amounted to 100000, that It win
be more this year.
blieve that an examination Of the
budget prepared by the City Council
for every year since 1918 will show as
source Of revenue other than tan.
alton, from the water fund Of the City
Of Aberdeen, to the general fund Of
the City, an amount equal to the prin-
cipal and interest falling due on the
Wishlah Water Bonde.
While these funds were not actual
ly transferred, excepting during the
years 1918, 1919, 1925, and 1926, It
was not the fault Of the City Council
but it was the attitude Of the State
authorities in refusing to permit it
TO be done.
In his published article, Mr.. MeCaw
makes a further statement:
"A large increase in our water rate
and material increase in takes win
be our only hope, for these bonds
must be paid or our water system
lost. And Aberdeen home owners
win have to pay them; no one else
will"
Evidently Mr.. Mccaw has not read
two reports made by Mr.. s. C. Wat
kins, Water Superintendent, and Mr..
w. ]. Roberts, foremost expert on
the subject. on the condition Of the
Wishkah Water System, and its con
nection with the $7OO.00O.00 water
uOuu ISSUE
The income, according to Suporin-
tendent Watkins, at existing rates,
without any increase Of business, VIII
pay the principal and interest on the
remaining Wishkah Water Bonds, the
$700,000.00 utility bond issue, and
when they are paid off win leave over
$500, 10000 in the city treasury.
Mr. Roberts report shows that the
income from the water system viii
judged By past years, in water con-
sumption, ct existing rates, without
the raising Of any water rates what
ever, over q million dollars in the
water fund, after all bonds have haen
paid.
Whose judgement is best, Mr.. Ne
Caw's. or Mr.. Watkins judgemerit,
or the judgement Of Mr.. Roberts
No Increase In Taxes
So far as increasing taxes is con
eerned, the Wishkah Water Bonds are
utility bonds, payable solely out Of
the revenues. and cannot be raised By
taxation.