Putnam patriot., 1928-02-23

principal of the bonds to be issued will have to be met by taxaion.
 To Influence Vote
 The matter of possibly increased water rates was injected into the pro- blcm seriously for the first time when the last city meeting was called to see if the citizens would vote to carry out the whole of Symond's second plan, 1t having already voted to csr- ry out that part of the plan lying east of the Litsle River. IL is be- lieved by those in close touch with the course of events in water works matters that the injection of this phase of the situation influenced a good number of voters to vote in the negative.
 Voters Misied
 Be this as it may, and approaching the subject from the angle that the work must be done regardless of whether water rates are increased or not, 1t would seem that the voters marking to this argument of increased water rates were misled.
 Not To Raise Rates
 The present board of water com missioners and the superintendent of tho water department, who has held that position for over forty years, e press the opinion that the income from the department can take care of the interest on the bonds; also the bonds as they become due This opinion has also been expressed by one of the city auditor who IS familiar with the accounts of the water department. They are certain that the department can take care of the financing if the city will return to the department the hydrant rentals that were taken from the department some time ago.
 AS To Hydrant Rentals
 IL has been said that for the city to pay for its hydrant rentals Is talk ing money from one pocket and put ting 1t into another. Allowing that this is true such an income rightfully belongs to the water department eith- CT as cash or credit It so happens that Putnam's water department is municipally controlled. If a private corporation owned the system the city would have Co pay hydrant rentals and therefore if a private corporation was confronted by problem such as now confronts the city it would figure these rentals in computing it's income as relating Co financing such an un- dertaking. In other words, in com putting its overhead and deciding on what income is necessary to carry on the water department, as the de- partment is now financed, the de- partment finds itself without this sub stantial income from hydrant rentals and must therefore offset 1t in some way. The only way that this may be done is 10 put the burden on the in dividual consumer.
 No Material Difference
 However. leaving this aspect of the financing situation for the mos ment. It is we'll to consider the burden the city will have to assume if either the first or second plans are carried out. In other words to in- vestieate the situation relatively The estimated cost of the two plans has been heretofore stated. An example In simple subtraction will show that if the first plan, as re- by the water commission CTS, is carried out, the cost will be but $6,947.S0 more than it will cost to carry oue the second or two stand pipe plan. Figuring interest charges on this difference in amount at E e 1t Is found that the interest charge ger year is but S2l2.62 more. This being so 1t would seem that if the matter of increased water rentals is considered as entering into the prs1o- lem at all 1t enters into the second plan to almost the same degree that it enters into the first plan. Certain ly there is not enough difference to warrant a citizen voting for the sec ond plan if in his opinion the water commissioners are right and the iirst plan is the best and cheapest for the city in the long run.
 Engineers Favor Reservoir
 Two of the three engineers em. ployed Co investigate the situation and make recommendation appear to be firm in their convictions that Rich munG hiil IS the ioklcai sue Aof NHe reserve supply. Both recommend concrete reservoirs on the hill. NIT. Symonds recommends that the full supply of 1000. 900 gallons be stored at this point. Mir. Saville recommends puttine three quarters of the supply or l,500, 900 gallons on Richmond Hill and. Co complete the 100000 re- serve. which has become admittedly the minimum which should be plan ned for. he would have a standpipe on Bates Kin containing the balance, or 500. GOO gallons.
 Begin On Richmond Hill
 From all that has gone before il appears conelusively that Richmond mond Hill is the proper site from which to begin construction and that the first thing to be constructed shoulld be concrete reservoir under ground. The matter of upkeep oi high steel tanks is at once apparent The benefit of a concrete reservoir in this respect is also apparent A the years pass by it may be assumed