Part 10 (1/2)
COST OF WORKS.
Table 16 gives the main items of the approximate expenditure. These include all expenses for preliminary location, engineering, superintendence, purchase of lands, water rights, etc., but do not include other heavy expenditures chargeable to the concession, such, for example, as general expenses, interest at the rate of 6% during the construction period, preliminary expenses for investigations, etc., items which would increase the total by nearly 25 per cent.
TABLE 16.--PRINc.i.p.aL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE.
+---------------------------------------------+--------------------+
Pesos,
Mexican currency.
+---------------------------------------------+--------------------+
ESTANZUELA SUPPLY :
Aqueduct and dam
502,000
South Reservoir
429,000
------- 931,000
SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY :
Aqueduct, tunnel, and infiltration gallery
223,000
Obispado Reservoir
436,000
------- 659,000
SAN GERONIMO PROVISIONAL SUPPLY ,
including boring operations, etc.
130,000
CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
1,195,700
CITY SEWER SYSTEM
1,036,000
OUTFALL :
Main outfall sewer
425,000
Sewage purification works
75,000
------- 500,000
+---------------------------------------------+--------------------+
Total 4,451,700
+---------------------------------------------+--------------------+
As a general statement, the actual cost of labor is about 33-1/3% of the total cost of the construction work, including materials. Fig. 20 shows in graphic form the amount of the labor pay-rolls and the progress of the work during the whole construction period from 1906 to 1909, inclusive, comprising also that done under contract.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 20.--PROGRESS DIAGRAM SHOWING MONTHLY LABOR PAY-ROLLS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.]
TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS.
_Tariffs._--The tariffs charged for the water and drainage service (Table 17) were approved by the State Government (which accepts the responsibility for their collection), under a compulsory State law which came into force on March 1st, 1910, for the southern portion of the city, and on July 1st, for the northern half, the penalty for non-compliance being a tax of 10% on the monthly rental value of the property, as a.s.sessed by the State officials.
The basis of the tariffs (which were published on February 22d, 1909) is a charge for water varying between 12 and 16 cents (Mexican) per 1,000 liters, with a minimum monthly rate for each different cla.s.s of property connected to the system. The rate for house drainage is fixed at 80% of the minimum water rate levied on the consumer. The minimum rates have been fixed so that the poorer cla.s.ses of the community will not be overtaxed, while at the same time the rate is actually levied on the quant.i.ty of water used, as indicated by the meter. All the services at the present time are metered, and the meter system will be used throughout.
TABLE 17.--THE TARIFFS.
+-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+
Monthly
Liters
Price for
Minimum
Rate for
Total
Cla.s.s
property
of
1,000
monthly
drainage
rate
rental.
water
liters.
rate.
service.
payable.
Pesos.
allowed.
Cents.
Pesos.
Pesos.
Pesos.
+-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+
I
Up to 20
7,800
16
1.25
1.09