Lewistown's Waterworks

City Clerk H. L. De Kalb has just completed the following statement in regard to the city water works system, and will present it to the city council. The statement contains many facts of interest, and the data collected by Mr. De Kalb will prove of value now and hereafter:

Mr. De Kalb's Report.

Whether or not the system will stand the ever increasing demands made upon it, and its condition ten years hence, are matters of speculation, and present questions over which competent engineers will debate, so I shall pass the point without expressing an opinion of any weight. There are many who fear the system will be greatly impaired and decidedly inefficient at the end of that period. Let us trust otherwise, however.

"The taxpayers of the city of Lewistown should become highly interested in the conduct of the water system. Years hence a great many will have occasion to reproach themselves for the apathy with which they have viewed the manner in which it has been conducted in the past. That the methods employed in the past have been grossly inefficient is patent to anyone who knows of conditions as they existed prior to the first day of May, 1905.

Growth of the System.

"February 1st, 1903, our present alderman, H. C. Brown, had city water installed at his premises, and it is safe to assume that date as the correct date water was first used from the city mains. Since February 1st, 1903, to May 1st, 1905, there has been collected and turned into the city treasury water rents, the sum of $5,095.08.

"It is safe to say that hitherto the expense of conducting the water system has almost equalled the income. Out of the $5,095.08 must come approximately $600.00 for taps and curb cocks furnished by the city to consumers, which consumers are required to pay for, leaving about $4,500.00 as the total income from the sale of water since the installation of the system to May 1st, 1905.

Bonded Indebtedness.

"The bonded indebtedness of the city for the water system, and for that which must necessarily go with it he$6060,000. This is represented by two bond issues, one of $50,000, due in 1922, the other of $10,000, due in 1923. The interest on the two bond issues amounts to the gross sum of $3,000 annually. It will be seen that there must be a great increase from the system in earnings, or the city will have to refund bonds when [...]