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| Cortland Water Works Company, "Grip's" photo circa 1900. |
THE WATER QUESTION.
Some Facts From a
Disinterested Source.
The NEWS has taken a lively interest in the
water controversy in this village and has tried, and we think succeeded, in discussing
the matter without prejudice. When the proposed contract, (a summary of which
is elsewhere printed in this issue) was completed between the Trustees and the
water company, we sent a copy of that contract to gentlemen who have long made
the putting in of water works a business, together with the proposition made by
Engineer Tubbs to the citizens meeting held here last winter, stating to them
the manner in which the present works were constructed, the pressure on the mains
and all the data of both sides that we could find. In a private letter to us
the head of the firm says:
"We would call your attention to the fact
that the offer of $33.33 per hydrant, made by your present company is much better
than that set forth in the estimate by Mr. Tubbs. Assuming that the Water Company
had 13 miles of mains, of not less than 4 inches diameter, the price is less
than that recommended by him. On his price, based on estimate No. 2, he has only 10 1/2 miles of pipe, and dividing the
price recommended by him on this estimate by 10 1/2, we get $310.50 per mile, which multiplied by
13 miles gives $4,036.50. A careful analysis of Mr. Tubbs’ report is the best
possible argument in favor of the present company. He has his figures upon the
basis of a maximum demand for domestic uses of 1,250 gallons per minute, while
the demand for fire streams is 1,000 gallons per minute. Taking his basis of
the amount of water delivered as a fair one, his figures would be just when the
town is using the maximum amount
of water, but as only one-fifth of that is used for domestic purposes, and as it
will be a great many years before this maximum
amount will be reached, the unfairness of the basis of his calculation is
manifest. While the consumption of water for domestic uses in the first few
years is a minimum, the amount required for fire protection is as large in the
first instance as it is after the works have been running for ten years.
“Again, the basis of' his calculation are entirely
wrong for the reason that 1,000 gallons delivered for fire purposes must be
delivered under a much heavier pressure than that used for domestic purposes and
in order to deliver this water at the hydrant under this heavy pressure the pipes
must be correspondingly large, while the water delivered for domestic purposes is
required to be delivered under a very light head, consequently the pipes have
to be very much larger to furnish fire protection than would otherwise be the
case and a fair basis of computation as to the value of hydrant rental is to estimate
that one-third of the cost of the works are necessary for the maximum domestic consumption
and two-thirds are necessary to give the required fire protection, the
difference between two-thirds, and five-elevenths being a little more than 21
per cent., which added to his estimate of $30 per hydrant would bring the price
up to $36.50 per hydrant.
“Again, we notice that Mr. Tubbs allows only
1,000 gallons for eight fire streams, which is 125 gallons per stream, and if
thrown through 1 1/4 inch
nozzles, would furnish water enough to throw streams only 25 feet high, and if
furnished through one inch nozzles would throw streams 54 feet high.
“The plant in Cortland, when the proposed extensions
are made, is far superior to that recommended by Mr. Tubbs. After reviewing
carefully the proposition made by the water company we find that it is more
favorable to the village than we had any idea of by skimming it over at first;
in fact, by comparing with statistics, it is certainly less than has been
offered to any other town anywhere in the United States. The proposition is
certainly exceedingly favorable to the town, and if the facts are fully
appreciated, in our estimation they would be foolish if they failed to accept
it."
NEW YORK, March 7, 1887.
Report of President of the Village of Cortland.
The following report of the financial transactions and
affairs of the Village of Cortland, for the past year, with a statement of its
indebtedness, is hereby submitted by me, pursuant to the requirement of the
charter of said village.
I have received during the year and placed on deposit with the Treasurer
of the Village, the amount of $464.68, itemized as follows:—
For licenses, street sales and
auctions..$89.00
" fire hose sold (damaged)………………...
2.00
" rent of house at gravel
bank………....... 40.98
" rent of Fireman's Hall, for
election……..15.00
" gravel sold B. B. Morehouse,
Highway
Commissioner……………………………… 8.70
For grading Arthur avenue, received
from Thomas Leach……………………. …50.00
For grading Graham avenue, received
from F. H. Cobb…………………………… 40.00
For contributions to maintain night
police,
received from F. H. Cobb, committee…..219.00
total, $464.68
The total amount of taxes collected by general tax, as reported by the
collector was $19,231.87, of which there was called for by:
Collector's warrant 1886……..
$18,707.50
unpaid tax of 1885, collected……… 55.25
For cleaning sidewalks, collected
…22.33
Poll tax collected …………………...462.00
$19,247.08
Reported collected by the collector...$19,231.87
Uncollected by the
collector……………….15.21
$19,247.08
The uncollected property tax as reported by the collector is itemized as
follows:—
E. Hopkins, vacant lot $ .91
H. Mitchell, " [ .59]
D. McElheny,
" .61
C. Perrigo,"(tax of 1885) 2.76
Roffeo, " 1.21
Geo Seaman, " .91
H. Swan, " .91
C. M. Smith, " .91
C. Marion, erroneous assessment. .91
Herman J Hall, " 3.64
John Southard,
" 1.85
$15.21
[Added .59 to Mitchell line, which was blank, to balance acct.—CC editor.]
The
expenditures of the village for the current year, from the various funds,
appear from the report of the Treasurer, as well as the balance of funds
unexpended. The bonds outstanding, the funded indebtedness
of the village, all being in aid of the Normal school, are as follows:—
Normal school bonds due Oct 1st, 1891…$4,000
“ “ “ “
“ “ 1895..$10,000
“
“ “
“ “ “
1896..$10,000
of which the $10,000 coming due in 1895 bear
interest at 3 5/8 percent, per annum, and the remaining $14,000 bear interest
at 3 65/100 percent per annum.
In
addition to the sum of $24,000 refunded as above set forth, there are $12,000 coming
due Oct. 1st of the present year, of which $3,000 will be paid, and the holders
of the remaining $9,000 have agreed to hold them at 3 66/100 per cent. per
annum, and allow them to be paid $3,000 each year until all are paid. Thus closing
them out before 1891, the date when the first installment of refunded bonds
come due. This has been deemed by the Board of Trustees for the best interests
of the village, inasmuch as no other bonds are due in the next three years and
the balance of these bonds can be carried at a low rate of interest and paid in
three equal installments.
The
estimate of the amount required to be raised by tax for the ensuing year, and
specifying the purpose, has been submitted to the electors in the notice of
appropriations published, and such items are made a part of this report, and
reference is made to them as to their purposes and amount.
Dated March 8th, 1887.
GERSHOM W. BRADFORD,
President of the Village of Cortland.
CORTLAND AND VICINITY.
Corporation election occurs on Tuesday next. A lively fight is anticipated.
Leroy R. Hopkins was on Tuesday awarded the
contract for building the new Grace Church. Mr. Hopkins was the builder of the
Opera House in this place and one in Watertown, and is an excellent and careful
workman.
Deputy-Sheriff James Edwards, of Willett,
has been appointed overseer of the insane department at the county alms house
by Superintendent Stone, the appointment to take effect April 1st.
Messrs. White & Ingalls will remove their
dental rooms April first to those recently occupied by Mrs. Porter in the Wickwire
building. This change will give them more room and will be easier of access
than where they are now located.
Last Thursday Anna Halbert and Lena Short
came from Ithaca to Cortland and put up at the Messenger House. Friday morning
they started out on a begging tour, but were soon "pulled in" by officer
Strowbridge as vagrants. Justice Bouton gave them until the next train departed
to leave town. Accordingly they paid their bill at the Messenger House and
went.
We stated in these column several weeks ago
that B. F. Taylor would erect a
new building in place of the wooden one now occupied by Smith & Bates. Since
that time Mr. Taylor has been persuaded to postpone building until another year.
This was because of a failure to get the plans as soon as desired, and Messrs.
Smith & Bates were fearful that the new building could not be completed in
time for them to move back before the fall trade commenced.
Homer held her charter election on Tuesday.
Two tickets were in the field, and the following persons were elected : President,
Charles H. Skinner; Trustees, full term, G. N. Copeland and Philip Zimmer; trustees,
short term O. B. Andrews and Hiram Hazzard; Treasurer, A. H. Bennett; Clerk,
John H. Van Hoesen. All the appropriations were carried, the one for the rental
of water hydrants not receiving a dissenting vote. The rate of rental there is
$50 per hydrant.
The ranks of Emerald Hose Company No. 4 have
been augmented by the arrival in town on Tuesday of a couple of young
gentlemen, who, ere long, will be calling Chief Engineer John Dowd, "Pa."
John D. Benton, formerly of Cortland, but
now of Fargo, Dakota, has been confirmed as Territorial Treasurer. As Mr. Benton
is now Sheriff of Cass county there is some talk of opposing his holding of both
offices.
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