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Show AS TO THE WATERWORKS. Some one ha? said that the Ogden City waterworks does not pay; I that, if interest on the investment were deducted from the income, there would be no profit. This, we take it, is the first shot in a clever campaign to convince 1 the people of Ogden that no form of public utility can be made to pay under city control and, therefore, an electric light distributing system would be unprofitable. Whoever is responsible for the statement that the waterworks is not profitable and that the city made a mistake in its purchase is either stupid or ignores the facts. The original purchase price was $555,400, of which $105,400 was paid. Since then $75,000 for the artesian wells' conduit and $42,-211 $42,-211 in special taxes have been applied to the system. The water system has been carrying the interest on all outstanding j indebtedness and in addition has met improvements totaling thousands of dollars. Extensions have been made to every part of the city and water rights have been purchased, until the waterworks has a valuation valua-tion of much over one million dollars. Last year, after paying all expenses, including $23,625 in bond interest and $6,778.75 of Commissioner Flygare's salary, and making extensions and improvements approximating $14,000. there was transferred from the water fund to the general fund to help run the city the sum of $50,000. Now, there is not included in the credits of the water department the fire hydrants and city cemetery, which, under private ownership, would have called for an outlay of a very large sum. Up to the time the city took over the water system, difficulties were encountered in getting water main extensions. When the city purchased the plant, the private owners were without with-out water rights of any great alue. Since then the city has acquired holdings. Ogden could not have grown under the old conditions, as the water service almost precluded city expansion. Ogden, at the beginning of a rapid growth, should profit by this I experience and reach out in other directions. |