The present mileage of the pipes in the water system is approximately seventy miles, of which something more than twelve is in the conduits extending from the intake to the city, and something more than fifty-seven is in the distribution pipes. The number of fire hydrants is 300. There are 524 gate valves for isolating different districts as desired. On December 31, 1916, the date of the report, there were 3,961 water services, and of these about eighteen per cent, or 789 are on meters. The meter rate runs on a sliding scale from twenty cents per 1,000 gallons to eight cents per 1,000 above 100,000 gallons. The flat rate is $1 monthly for each kitchen, with 25 cents for each bath and toilet, and $1 for each lot irrigated.
The financial exhibit is in the highest degree encouraging to believers in the municipally owned system. The earnings of the system for the year 1916 were $87,852.26.
The mileage in the sewerage system in the last report is thirty-eight miles and 4,632 feet.
The report of the city clerk for the water department assets and liabilities is as follows:
| Assets: | |
| Water system property and plant | $635,762.85 |
| Sewerage system | 210,411.91 |
| Water system sinking fund | 42,091.18 |
| ————— | |
| Total | $888,265.94 |
| Liabilities: | |
| Bonds due November, 1919 | $133,000.00 |
| Warrants outstanding | 1,257.72 |
| ————— | |
| Total | $134,257.72 |
During the past ten years street paving has been steadily continued, until at the present time there are twenty-three miles of paved streets. While some of this work was very poorly done and the city has been compelled to repair the work of incompetent or dishonest contractors at a large expense, the paving system in general has been satisfactory, and is one of the great improvements of recent years.
One of the most important of all the features of municipal life is the parks. This topic will find place in the last chapter in a special article by Miss Grace Isaacs, who has been intimately connected with the establishment of a park system from the beginning.
CITY LIBRARY
Another valuable instrumentality of municipal life, which while not political in the common use of the term is under municipal control, is the city library. The last report of the librarian, Miss Ellen Smith, will give a view of present conditions.
Walla Walla Public Library, Walla Walla, Wash.: Annual report—January, 1917.