Much of this passage deals with the establishment and improvement to Jamestown's water system. In addition there is mention to Carlson's efforts to establish a Natural Gas Plant and a Telephone Plant. I think one of the most interesting parts of this section, however, is Carlson's feelings on partisan elections, and his endorsement for the removal of party affiliation on the ballots. This portion of the section can be located at the end under the sub-heading, "Non-Partisan Election."
 |
| Samuel A. Carlson, Circa 1900 |
Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus
and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service
and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service
[Page 9 - 12]
Municipalization of Water Supply
In 1890 a movement was begun by municipal ownership advocates to establish a municipal water plant. The taxpayers voted in favor of building a new plant and bonding the city for $250,000. On November 5, 1894, I introduced a resolution to sell bonds for the purchase or construction of a water plant. The proposition was deadlocked by a tie vote and remained deadlocked in the Council for several years. In the meantime the water question became a political issue i local elections. And our pioneer efforts paved the way for the final municipal triumph.
In 1896 the Board of Public Works, consisting of Orsino E. Jones, John Conway, and the writer, having caused test wells to be driven in the Cassadaga Valley and having obtained options on a new source of water supply, recommended the establishment of a municipal plant. George W. Jones, a pioneer surveyor, was then city engineer. In 1899 Mayor Henry Cooper appointed a Citizens' Committee, consisting of Arthur C. Wade, Almet N. Broadhead, John T. Wilson, Charles M. Dow and A. J. Peterson, to negotiate with the water company regarding the purchase of the plant by the city.
In 1902, under administration of J. Emil Johnson, the Citizens' Committee and the Board of Public Works, then consisting of E. B. Crissey, Andrew J. Butts and the writer, were combined into one committee to continue negotiations with the private water company. John F. Witmer, a hydraulic engineer, was engaged to assist in preparing the estimates of cost, etc. Most of the details were handled by the writer as Secretary of the Board.
The water company in the meantime submitted two propositions, one to sell its plant for $764,000, and the other to reduce the rates twenty-five per cent in consideration of a renewal of its franchise. Engineer Witmer reported that the water company's plant could be duplicated new for $350,000, but recommended purchasing purchasing the private plant at an agreed appraisal. The Citizen's Committee and Board of Public Works recommended that that the city offer the private company $500,000. The water company declined this offer, but finally expressed its willingness to accept $600,000.
Heated arguments were carried on through the newspaper columns by citizens and officials regarding the merits of the various propositions. Some preferred renewing the franchise, others favored purchase of the plant at the company's offer, while others preferred building a new plant upon the ground that the water company's mains would necessarily have to be replaced with new mains. Annual Income then about $90,000.
But although the price proposed to be paid for the plant at the that time seemed excessive, yet the taxpapyers at a special election held in 1903 approved the proposition to by $600,000 for the plant. This investment, however, proved a financial success from the very start. F. W. Stevens, D. W. Immel and John F. Jones were active in reorganization of the system.
After 1908 the water plant underwent a complete alteration and improvement. Frank O. Anderson was the guiding spirit and chairman of the Board of Public Utilities while the new reservoir on English Hill and the new pump station in the Cassadaga Valley were erected.
There are ten deep wells and nine shallow wells in the present water system. The shallow wells have thus far been sufficient to supply the needs of the city, which are about 2,600,000 gallons daily. The water from these wells is syphoned by a gravity system into a large receiving well 50 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter. There are three centrifugal steam turbine driven pumps with a capacity of 5,000,000 gallons each every twenty-four hours. These pumps force the water through 24-inch mains to a million and a half gallon reservoir at the Buffalo Street station. From the Buffalo Street reservoir the water is forced to the English Hill reservoir by electrically driven pumps. When the English Hill reservoir is full these pumps stop automatically while the reservoir continues to supply the city by gravity until the water reaches a low level, when the pumps automatically resume operation again.
So perfect is this system that only two men on a shift are required at these stations. The water with its artesian well purity costs the people only a cent and a fraction for each 50-gallon barrel. The plant, including the 130 miles of mains, now represent an investment of $3,000,000, with less than $250,000 of bonded debt. All extensions, operation costs, and payments of principal and interest on bonds are made entirely from water revenues.
A Proposed Municipal Telephone Plant
Some years ago it will be recalled that two telephone plants operated in this city. An Independent system had been granted a franchise by the Council on condition that the city might purchase the system anytime upon the payment of cost plus 10%. Mayor Carlson had just been elected on a platform which among other things pledged the acquisition of the Home Telephone System. The Council however differed. They passed a resolution granting an increase of rates. This was vetoed by Carlson. Later a similar resolution was again passed and again vetoed on the ground that the city should avail itself of the option to buy the plant and that the people should be permitted to vote on this proposition before any increase in rates as granted. Much bitterness and misunderstanding grew out of this controversy. Finally the two telephone concerns effected a merger into one System over the Mayor's veto.
A Gas Plant
About six years ago Mayor Carlson received proposals from Independent Natural Gas producers to supply gas to this city at reduced rates. The mayor urged acceptance of these propositions and advocated the construction of a Municipal plant unless the private system was taken over by condemnation proceedings as permitted by act of the legislature of 1934. A referendum election was held and Carlson urged the people strongly to approve the proposition. The returns of the election revealed a majority vote in favor of a Municipal Plant. Subsequently the private Company reduced its rates amounting in the aggregate to some $87,000, saving the community as a whole. This was one result which the movement for a City Plant produced.
Non-Partisan Election
As a rule badly governed cities are partisan controlled. While efficiently managed cities are non-partisan controlled.
This was the reason Mayor Carlson advocated non-partisan elections. There is, however, one improvement that should be made and that is a provision whereby candidates would be elected without any "grouping" of names on one ticket. Nothing but the names of the candidates should appear on the ballot precisely as done on School Election Ballots. This would facilitate independent voting and induce the voter to select a candidate because of his own merits rather then because he belongs to some particular group or faction.
Non-partisanship has given our people 25 different kinds of municipal service, such as Police, Fire and Health protection, Welfare, Sanitation, Street Lights, Fire Hydrants, Parks, Hospital, Recreation, Labratory, Garbage Collection, Street Flusing, Snow Removal, Highway Maintenance, Publication of Assessment Roll. All at a cost of less than 5 cents per day per capita.
In addition Artisian Well water and Electric Service is supplied at rates among the lowest in America.
No comments:
Post a Comment