Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 4, 1881, Page 6

f ! i R Sy W 6 o— - = CHICACO'S SCHEME | For Supplying Itself With| Water. Some Interesting Facts for Growing Towns, As Ilustrating the Way They do Things in the Lakeside ity Editor Omaha Pee For the benefit of that portion of your subscribers living in Council Bluffs, T beg you to reproduce this cutting from the “Times:” “If the city council of this city would abandon its idolatrous worship of the gentlemen from New York, who come | to them with a flourish of trampets, to spend millions in the erection of for the benefit of this city hoping for nothing themsclves ex- cept the glory of being permitted to squander their wealth in the erection of these water works, and devote the money of the citizens to the erection of works which they would then—as Chic does now—own, It would appear to the writer that they would be consel he interest of the peo- ed them to their offices, eater extent than their methods will do. The lately by Mr. water works, present artesian_well sunk Conrad Geisse, would seem to the writer to indicate a way h{ which the citizens of this place could be effectu- ally, certainly and cheaply furnished withan inexhaustable uurp? of pure water. Let the council devote for three years annually the amount of money they will pay annually to the water works' company, for all time, to the sinking of artesian wells of a large diameter and the laying of pipes, and I venture to say at the end of these three years this city will have a sup- ply of water practicably inexhaustible, of the purest quality, entirely suffi- cient for the need of the city for years, and have it all paid for with no mortgage on the property of the city and its citizens, Cruizex From the Chicago Times: There is a demand for a high-pres- sure water service in the business por- tion of the city. This demand is three- fold—the owners of water elevators and other hfldmu]ic machinery com- plain that the city's water is not sup- plied in a sufficient head for their pur- purposes; the fire department wants the assistance that a separate water supply would afford, and the conven- ience that a high-pressure eervice, making every hydrant an engine of considerable power, would supply; the citizens generally complain that the large volume of water used for water- engines impairs the efficiency of the service in their homes and their places of business. The demand can be supplied either by the city or by a private corpora- tion authorized to supplement the municipal water. The city ongineer is preparing specifications and esti- mates for the undertaking on the part of the city, and a corporation has fe been formed and is now asking the city to be allowed to do the work. ‘Which of the two shall do it? The citizens of Chicago constitute a mutual water supply company. They have invested nearly 5,000,000 in the necessary plan; more than half of this thep have already paid, and nearly $4,000,000 they still owe. For the maintenance of the work, they assess themselves such water rents as will pay all the operating expenses, extend the works from year to year, keep the capital investment good, pay the in- terest on the bonds, an ru{eom these as they fall due. The business of sup- plying the city with water HAS PROVED PROFITABLE, As the corporation does the work is organized on the mutual and not on the stock plan, there are no dividends to declare, but every member of the company gets his share of the profits in a reduction of his water rents. At present the earnings of the concern are expended in extending the works and taking care of the debt. If the works were nop extended the profits would be distributed in the shape of a veduction of the rents, After a few years the redemption of the bonds will leave the water office in posses- session of a large surplus, unless the Tents are materi reduced, which will, of course, be done as that is the only way in which the profits can be divided among the owners of the works, . How profitable the water business is can readily be seen from the last an- nual reports of the city engineer and the comptroller. The water rents for 1880 actually collected during that year amounted to £828,103 18, to which sum is to be added a balance to the credit of the water oflice at the beginning of the year of over half a million, delinquent rents collected and other sources of revenue, making a total income of §1,425,239 65. Out of this there were paid for operating and office expenses, repairs, shops and stables $200,330 65, It will be ob- served that the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WATER RENTS for the year and the cost of carrying on the works was more than .060,0008, Besides the cost of cdrrying on the works there was paid no {au than $264,035 b9 for the extension of the works, that is, for pipe-laying, meters, hydrants, and stop-cocks, Further- Bonds $263,675 0k and 8201000 was A ,000 was expended in leing the principal of the debt. It must be remembered that the water oftice is wholly distinct from the other departments of the eity government so far as its finances are ~—it takes nothing from the tax levy; it paysits own way, pro- vides for its own interest, and takes up its own bonds, , As all its revenues :f oal.lacw% :.ruln the wnur.duur-. 80 e e for the enefit mh same uhuw The balance to the credit of the water fund at the end of last year was $208,012 06. T July interest amounted to 8170,000, and after pay- ing this the amount to the credit of the fund on Monday last was $343,- 000, The city council has decided to buy two new pumpiu,f-unginel with a capacity of fifteen million gallons a day each, No tax will be collected for this purpose; the engines will be paid out of the earnings of the v office; there is on hand, as just sh nearly enough to do this at once will ‘take a coup the engines, and by that time the earnings will have amounted to enough to pay for them and leave another large accumulation on d to be applied to the still farther ex- tension of the works, or to the reduc- tion of the rents, as may then be deemed best. But there is one portion of the water service that is 18 MORE PROFITABLE THAN THE REST. A comparison of the water rents with the total amount of water supplied last year shows that the city received on an average a little less than €41 for each million gallons of water de- livered. But for all water delivered through meters the city gets 0 per million gallons, The meter system includes all water used for elevators and other hydraulic engines, and for all water served to hotels, system is to be found mainly in the business portion of the city. During months ending last April ed for water delivered in that portion of the at lies north of Van Juren street £114,000, There were at the end of last year 260 water ele- vators in the city, and the city re cetved during the year for water used in operating_ these elevators $271,- 15976, In May last there were 180 water elevators in that portion of the South side north of Van Buren street, and three elevators were using nearly two million gallons of water daily. Water engines are rapidly increasing, and it is estimated that during the coming year the city will receive for water used for mechanical purposes in that part of the South side north of Van Buren street 100,000, The water service in the down- town portion of the city is the most profitable part of it, not only because the city gets a higher price for the water, but because it is obviously less expensive to supply a billion gallons in an area of one-half a square mile than to supply the same amount of water in an area of three square miles. The city has determined to add two pumping engines to the west-side water-works, to be engaged mainly in doing the least profitable part of the water (business—the supply of water in the residence part of the city, scat- tered over a large area, and necessi- tating long pipe lines, for domestic purposes, SHALL IT GIVE T0 A PRIVATE CORPORA- TION the privilege of doing the most profit- able part of the work—that of supply- ing water for mechanical purposes in the business portion of the city? As stated above, the city is now supplying some two million gallons of water daily for elevator alone on the south side north of Van Buren street. As the use of these machines is in- creasing, it is within bonds to assume that during next year it will supply eicht hundred million gallons of water for this purpose and in this dis- trict, It is believed in the water of- fice that the rents of water for all me- chanical purposes in this district the coming year will amount to $100,000, which means 1,260,000,000 gallons, Eight hundred million gallons of water means mu’}yu at the water offie of ,000. The cost of the delivering water from the north-side works last ear was $368 per million ons, is would make the cost to the city of supplying wator for elevators orie ear in the district designated 84,644, eaving the city a gross profit of #59,- 466, True, the cost given above is only the cost of operating the works; it does not include repairs, office ex- pences, or debt charges. But so far a8 this particular service is concerned the gross profit, for the city has its mams, and it must take care of them; it must keep up the water office, keep the engines in repair, pay the interest on the same amount of bonds, and re- deem, ultimately, the same amount of debt. All that thefeity can save by not furnishing this water is the BARE COST OF RUMPING, 80 that to put the whole thing in a nut shell, it comes to this; If the city lets somebody else furnish this water it will save 84,644 1n expenses and lose $064,000 in receipts. But these figures give only a general idea of the effects on the finances of the water office that the establishment of a private water company will ‘have, for there is no reason why a man liv- ing on the north side of the street should benied it. The establishment of private water works at a high pres- sure than the city's works atiords meaus that all water for mechanical purposes is to be supplied by the pri- vaté company, unless it is wanted at 80 remote a point that the private company can find no profit in supply- ing it, and in that case the city wuu{d be permitted to do the work. The high-pressure service is needed. The use of water elevators is becoming very common, and would become still more common if the water service were satisfactory, Thereis a good deal of light machinery that could be run with a water pressure of sixty pounds, and wuuld be run with it were such a power available, thus abating in a great degree THE SMOKE NUISANCE, But the pressure in the business part of the city is now only twenty-two or three pounds, and there is great difti- culty in operating hydraulic elevators. Lately several owners of buildings have put tanks on the roof and in the basement of their buildings, and with steam pumps force the water to top of their buildings in order to get the re- quisite head. In this way the charge or water is reduced because the same water is used over and over again, With a low pressure the power of the elovator is low, and more trips have to be made to do a given amount of work; this consumes more water and in- creases the expense. 1t is protty evi- dent that the uit'y can not retain the ‘business of supplying the motive power for water elevators unless it furnishes it at a hx;fher pressure than at present, The gentlemen who are seeking au- thority to establish private works in- sist strencously on this when they are told that the city ought not toabandon the most profitable part of the of hurplymg water. They also in that the establishment of their works will not reduce the income of the wa- ter office so much as the figures al- ready given indicate. In this article the authorities for the cstimates are given, and if the figures are too high for the present, thoy will certainly be through mete South side t g s of years to build | The meter | THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: THURSDAY AUGUST 4 1881, of pumping the wat that the city can save Ly withdrawing from the business, Hence it follows that the withdrawal of the city from from this part of the water supply would reduce the receipts in a far greater degree than it would ‘reduce the expenses, and hence it would REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE SURILUS INCOME of the water office. On the other hand, it may be conceded that there should be the high-pressure servi and that at present rates this servie would be mnch less profitable than the present service, because it would cost a great deal more to give the addition pressure, and because at the high pres sure less water would be needed than is needed at the present pressure. It may be farther conceded to the pro- posed water company that the inde pendent supply and the high pressure would materially iner the efficien- cy of the fire department in contin- gencies that might arise. With its present works the city can not furnish this high-pressure_supply. With an average head of a hundred feet or a little more, the pressure down town is but twenty-two or three pounds. To give sixty pounds the head would have to be increased, for all the water served to the whole city, nearly threefold. Tf it costs,in round numbers, 8113,000 to raise the water to its present head it would cost some- thing over $300,000 to give the re- quired head. But this is on assump- tion, which is not true, that the stand- pipes and machinery would need no alteration, and it ignores the serious matter of leakage. ~Leakage is simply inevitable, and it is an element of some magnitude. To increase the head of water threefold would be to increase the leakage through hundreds of miles of pipe ninefold. It is safe to say that the high-pressure servicecan only be rendered by AN INDEPENDENT PUMPING ESTABLISH- MENT and independent pipes. The question is narrowed down to the one whether the city or a private corporation should build these works. Were the city not already in the water business some a priori objection might be made to the city's engaging in any kind of business. But the city is already in the wrter busine: it has a capital of nearly £9,000,000 invested in it, and it has a bonded debt of nearly 84,000, 000 to pay interest on, and ultimately to redecm. To abandon the most profitable part of the business to ar.- other concern is to depreciate the value of 1ts own investment, unless it has got to go to a greater expense to retain this part of the business than the profitableness of it warrants, The high-pressure works would cost from a_quarter to half a million dol- lars. The advocates of the private corvoration say that it would require the latter of these sums to put in proper engines and large pipes; city officials who are in a position to speak with authority say that adequate works can be put in for the former sum. Allowing for the greater pro- portionate increased expense of doing work on a small scale, and for the proportionately increased expense of pumping water with a pressure of sixty instead of twenty-three pounds, it will cost to pump water at the high pressure, say, four times what it now costs to pump it, or $22 77 per million gallons, The present price is 880 }Jnr million gallons. Out-of the dif- erence would have to come all the office and other expenses and the're- turn on the capital. A supply of three million gallons a day for three hun- dred days in the year, would earn 2,000, and cost for pumping $20,- 448, leaving 851,562 for all other penses and profits, Allowing §15,6562 for repairs and general expenses, there would be left as the return on capital $36,000, or7.2 per cent, on $600,000. 14.4 PER CENT. ON A QUARTER OF A MILLION dollars. The gentlemen who want the privilege of Eu“i"g up water works are careful business men, and to be on the safe side they estimate a much smaller demand for water from their works than nine hundred millions gallons a year, and no profit: at all for a year or two. Doubtless they are rig{\t in underestimating in- stead of overestimating the value of the business they propose to under- take. But if the city was recewing in May at the rate of $48,000 a year, or thereabouts, for water supplied for elevators alone, and simply in the district bounded by the river, the lake and Van Buren street, and that too, when the water ser Was un- satisfactory, the figures above given would be realized in the near future The gentlemen who are proposing go into tho water supply busines: m communication with a manufac- turer who says he will come to this city and establish a new business, and take two million gallons of water a day, if he can get it at sixty pounds pressure, and at a low rate. This is mentioned merely to show the possi- bilities of this business of supplying water at a high pressure, 1t was stated a little while ago that the question was narrowed down to whether the city or a private corpora- jion shonld hui{d the proposed works, Really the question is narrower than that. The promoters of the private water-works scheme says that the city oufiht to do the work, but if the city will not supply what is demanded, private citizens should be allowed to doso. The question, therefore, is narrowed down to WHETHER THE CITY 15 ABLE TO DO THE WORK, Of course no money can be borrow- ed, for the constitutional limit of the municipal debt has been reached; by spreading the cost of the works over two or three years the expense might be provided for in the general appro- Sriutiou bills just as the cost of the ridgeport works was provided for in the fiut appropriation bill. To do this money would have to be taken that is needed for other purposes; it would pay Peter only by robbing Paul, )l‘h.v thing can be done, how- ever. Butitis far from certain that the expenses could not be met from the earnings of the water office, It is true that these earnings are already far within the bounds in the near or | future. The precise amount of water | charged with the cost of the two en now used for mechanical purposes is i es it has been decided to add_to | not essential to a correct understand- | the west side pumping-works. The ing of the question; it is certain that | water off w to its credit the mount is large; that it is supplied at |sum of 343,000, or very nearly | higher rate of profit as compared with | enough to the two new engines water supplied for general purposes, | and the cost of enlarging the engine- and as compared with the actual cost | house, and it will be two years before which is all! the payment for this word will have to be completed. During these two years the earnings of the water office will go on accumulating. Last year the difference between the cost of carrying on the water-works plus the interest payments and the current 120,000, which d«es not ipts of the oftice, 2,000, For two years, not al- lowing for any increase, it would be $804,000, True, thisis notall net profit, as there are some other expen- ses to be taken ont of it, and not all the act of profit would be available for the erection of new works, as the cost of pipe extentions is taken out of the earnings of the office. But it is certainly close to the facts to say that the city might crect the high-pressure pumping-wor {OUT OF EARNINGS ALREADY ACCUMU- LATED in the water office new Westside nes out of the ings of the office, available for that purpose, between the present time and the time when those enginés go into operation, It is assumed here that tho charge for high-pressure service would be the samo that it now is for the relatively low-pressure service; but'if business men can afford to pay €80 per million gallons for water at less than thirty pounds pressure (and there would be no complaint of the service were it done at two or threo pounds less), they could afford to pay considerably more for water at the proposed pres- sure of sixty pounds. The cost of the high pressure service would be much greater than than that of the present service. Water is cheaper here than it is anywhere else. Whilo Chicago charges only 8 cents fora thousand gallons, Louisville and Cincinnati charge 15 cents. Providence and Bos- ton charge 30 cents, and the average charge made in forty cities in this country and Canada is about 29 cents. But the fact that capitalists are willing to do the work at the rates now charged by the city, besides giving the city as much water as the fire-en- gines want, shows that the present low rates need not be increased to make the two ends meet. As to the proposal of Messrs? Hale, Cowles and Pike, to erect high-pres- sure pumping-works, give the city all the water it wants in cases of fire, charges the same for their water that the city does, and give the city the option of buying the works after a period of years at a valuation. it may be said that if the city will not or can- not build these works itself, this plan is probably the next best thing. and pay for the two pay No Matter What Happens You may rest assured that you are safe in being speedily cured by ThomAs’ EcLec- Tric O1L in all cases of rheumatism, neu- raleia, toothache, ete. One trial only is necessary to prove its efficacy. . augl-lw AN HONEST MEDICINE FREE OF COST. Of all medicines advertised to cure any affection of the Throat, Chest or Lungs, we know of none we can rec- ommend so highly as Dr. KiNe's NEw Discovery for Consumption Coughs, Oolds, Asthma, Bronchitis Hay Fe- ver, Hoarseness, Tickling in the Throat, loss of voice, ete. g’l'l\iu med- icine does positively cure, and that where everything else has failed, No medicine can show one-half so many positive and permanent cures as have already been effected by this truly wonderful remedy. For Asthma and Bronchitis it is a perfect specific, cur- ing the very worst cases in the short- est time possible. We say by all means give it a trial. Trial bottles free. Regular size §1.00. Forsaleby 8(1)1y Tsi & McManox, Omaha. LS There are Martyrs to headache who might be cured by using Tarrant's Seltzer Aperient, The stomach, overburd d until its recuperative Jower s weakened, revenges itself upon the poor head, which it makes ache and torture the offender, The use of this aperient will carry of naturally, and almost iwperceptibly, the of- fending cause, The disease Is removed and the head oo to ache, SOLD BY ALL DRUGH To Nervous Sufterers THE GREAT EUROPEAN REMEDY. Dr. J. B. Simpson's Specific MEDICINE. 1t 18 a positive cu Weokness, Impotancy aug 1 R o Specific Medieine s being used 5 |with wonder. ful success. —_—— I’Almrhh-l. for them and get full par. > el Write ticulars, Price Specic, 1,00 per package, or six pack: ages for §6.00, Address all orders to B. SIMSON MEDICINE 0G, Nos. 104 and 106 Main 5t. Buffalo, N. Y. Sold in Omaha by C. F. Goodian, J.'W. Bell, . K lsh, and all druggistsevery whers w 2Hadgwly Buginess (College. THE GREAT WESTERN GEOQ. R. RATHBUN, Principal. Creighton Block, OMAHA, LR NEBRASKA. &4 Send for Circular. nov 20dswt! RA A COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL THE BEST SCHOOL : BOYS For terms Address Dr, Stevens Parker, warden of Racine College, e, Wis, iy 22-1w MRS. LOUISE MOHR, Graduate of the Bt. Leu s School of Midwives, at 1608 California Street, Between Fifteenth and Sixteenth, north side, where calls will be promptly respond ed 10 at any uour during the day or night. d *wias S. P. MORSE & CO0., Cash Jobbers and Retailers of DR ¥Y¥-GOOIDS! 1819 FARNHAM STREET. DURING THE COMING WEEK OUR GREAT SALE OF DOMESTICS, PRINTS AND CINCHAMS, Lonsdale, Fruit Hill, and other well-known brands of Muslin at 8 1-2¢c a yard. Best quality unbleached muslin, 7 1-2c. Pillow case muslins, 10c. Wide sheeting muslins, at wholesale prices. Linen sheetings from from $1.00 to $1.50 per yard. Very best prints, fast colors, bc. Very best ginghams, BUNTINGS! Another Case Black Buntings, 8 I-2c. goods, 10c. RIBBONS ! RIBBONS ! 81-2c. BUNTINGS!! Thirty pieces new dress RIBBONS ! 700 PIECES ALL SILK RIBBONS 10 CENTS PER YARD. 1n this lot will be found all desirable colors in ALL SILK GRCS GRAIN, SATIN AND GROS GAIN, AND FINE SILK BROCADED RIBBOLS, from one to four inces wide. No Such Ribbon Bargains were ever before Shown GREAT BUTTON SALEI 12,000 dozen fine Dress Buttons at 10c a card—two and three dozen on a card, all sizes and over a thousand different designs; worth from from thirty to fifty cents a card. S. P. MORSE & CO. MAX MEYER & BRO,, the Oldest Wholesaleand Retail Jewelry House in Omaha. Visitors can here find allnovelties in Silver D.T.MOUNT, MANUPACTURKR AND DEALER IN SADDLES AND HARNESS. 1412 Farn, St. Omaha, Neb. Stylish Jewelry, the La- test, Most Artistic, and AGRNT POR THE CELEBRATED ‘Watches at as Low Pri- CONCORD HARNESS Two Medals and a Diploma of Honor, with the ces as 1s compatible with very highest award. the Judses could bestow wie | DONOrable dealers, Call awarded this harness at the Centennial Exhibi- N Bammon, alto Ranchmen's and Ladies' BAD- and see our Elegant New DLES, W keep the largest stock in the west, and invite all who cannot examine to send for pricee. andt LEGAL NOTICE. In the Circuit Court of the United States, for the hraska: rcuit Court of the United District of Nebraska, continued t to adjournment, at the United 2 in the city of Omaha, on the corner 1lth and Farn- ham Streets MAX MEYER & BRO. Ware, Clocks, Rich and | Choicest Selections in | Precious Stones, and all | descriptions of Fine | Store, Tower Building, | MAX MEYER & BRO,, ONM.A EA . THE LEADING MUSIC HOUSE IN THE WEST! General Agents for the | Finest and Best Pianos and Organs manufactured. ur prices are as Low as |any Eastern Manufacturer and Dealer. Pianos and Organs sold for cash or installments at Bottom Prices. A SPLENDID stock of Steinway Pianos, Knabe Pianos, Vose & Son’s Pi- anos, and other makes. Also Clough & Warreu, Sterling, Imperial, Smith | American Organs, &c. Do | not fail to see us before pnr- chasing. 1, the Hon. Elmer 8. Dundy siding in ¢ other procecdi d court s were had and done, to:w No. 63 G Sherman W. Knevals, comy 1iil , ve. Edward ior defendants. Au this 15th day of June A, D, 1551 being at the May term, A. D. 1851, of the said t having been made to_appear to the sat of the suid ed te enforce o ARE NOW OFFERIM DECIDED comme real property within the Edward Hill, Melvin Hill, Hill, Flora 'Hill, John 'HII, guardian of minor defendants peared in this suit, on motion of James M. Wool- worth, Ex., solicitor for the said complainant, it M’DONALD AND HARRISON, 1408 FARNE AV STREERT, FOR ONE MONTH ONLY BARGAINS — XN — pt b e Lndie' Suits, Cloaks, Ulsters, Circulars, Bte,, AT COST. is contideroll by the court and ordercd that the | 200 Handsome Suits, at $5.00; 300 Stylish Suits, $10,00; 5 ; plead, answer, or it's bill of complaint, on or before the first day of August, 1881, and that in default thereof, an order bé entéred in cause, taking the said bill pro confesso. 1t 18 further ordered by the court that twenty days before the said first day ef AL st 1861, a copy of this order be served upon Edward 1100}, Melvin Hill, Agues Hill, Alvin Eill, Flors ' Hill, John Hill i the ' maid guardian ot defendants, it practicable, and the per: son orf persons in lon or charge of the real fiflwn described in complainant’s bill of complaint, if any there be, and that a certified copy of this order be published for four consecu- tive weeks in ¢ “Omaha Bee. Beodit 5 Black Bilk Suits, $17.00. We have several lots of staple goods which will be offered at SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. All ladies should avail themseives of this great sale of; s, sherterer Towd, | (ORSETS AND UNDERWEAR, 'LINEN AND MOHAIR ULSTERS, SILK AND LINEN HANDKERCHIEFS, LAWN SUITS AND SACQUES, McDONALD & HARRISON, (Signed) ELMER 8. DUNDY, 4 Judge. Tuk UNITeo STATES OF AMERICA, DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA. - 1, Watson B. Sith, clerk of the Circult court of the United States for the district of Nebraska, oceeding of said ‘ause therein entitlod; that 1 have co same with the original entey of said o i8 & truo transcript therefrom, aud of the whole thereof, MINING MACHINERY, BELTING, Witness, my . ial signature, and the (SEAL) seal of said a t, at Omab day of Ju WATSON B, SMITH JAMES M. WOOLWORTH, Jo 20wat Solicltor for Plailutift A. L. STRANG, 206 DOUBLE AND SINGLE ACTING POWER AND HAND do hereby certify, that the above and foregoing i . I a true copy n order entered upon the Steam Pumps, Engine Trimmings, HOSE, BRASS AND IRON FITTINGS, PIPE, STEAM AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. HALLADAY WIND-MILLS, CHURCH AND SCHOOL BELLS, Farnam St., Omaha.