The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-07-11
Ior the ats City,

osluon LOT puiioihe WAFER WORKS, " Wss uos
the fault Of enquirer" He took the pub
lished statement Of the editors as itappeared
in your paper OF the 4th instant, and, lest
there might be some Misrepresentation, he
called on the editors and compared views ~
to the meaning of the statement, and care
fully examined the written memorandum
which had been left by the Mayor, and on
which the editorial remarks war based. He
also had an interview the Same morning with
the Mayor on the subject, and before the
publication Of his article, corrected one or
two points, from the verbal statements Of
the Mayor, although his written memoran-
dunn omitted showing them. At the close Of
his communication, the writer asked for
speedy correction Of any errors in the prem
ises or deductions, &c.
Whether the statement Of Mr.. Taylor pub
lished in Wednesdays paper is to be regard.
ed as correction Of "lnquirer's" errors, or
Of his own, the citizens interested must judge.
In his first published account Of Messrs. Will
sons proposition, he speaks Of two Cornish
engines capable Of throwing one million gall
Ions Of water 300 feet high every IL hours |;
now he says "one and a half millions every
ten hours,' which is 60 per cent. greater
performance.
In the 6rst written statement be says,
''the city is to issue $500, 900 in Waterworks
eight per cent. bonds to run twelve years."
the inference from which is. that they would
be paid over, certainly within the fourteen
months fixed for finishing the work; but
he adds now, 'supon the bond of the compa-
ny guaranteeing the successful completion
Of the same" Very good. This 10 not a
correction of any omission of 'tInquirer."
lie says, also, that the company were to
put in one mile Of pipe, free Of expense to
the city, for each increase Of one thousand
Very good, but he did not
say SO at first?
He says, also, that "the company propose
to deposit with the city, or whom the city
may direct, one-twelfth Of the $500, 900, an
nually, as a sinking fund for the redemption
Of the original cost Of the works." Good
again; but he did not say SO At 6rst. He
says now, the population not to be less than
1000. The former statement referred TO,
says, "never to be estimated at less than
2, 900 persons.
He says now, that the city was to get $50
miles of water pipe from 8 to II inches in d.
ameter, with 'reserv dr. engine house, &C."
There is no mention Of ssrescrvoir'' in the
former staten ent. What sort Of reservoir
sitS
He says now, "they propose to run these
works twelve years free Of expense to the
.ity, &c., and to surrender fireworks to the
,ity sat the end Of these twelve years."
In the former statement he said they were
sto surrender the works to the control and
Of the city, 10 consideration Of
he payment to the company Of eight mills
yer day for each inhAbitsnt, &C." What
Use could be inferred than that this surrend-
II Was to take place a. soon as the works
hould be finished; and that it would then
become the duty Of the city to run them.-
This was one Of the points waived after the
PERSONAL interview referred to. But what
ire we to understand now, that they do not
them until the expiration Of the
welve yesrsp
II l understand the proposition as now
tated, Messrs. Wilsond Co. propose TO build
he works for $500, 900 of city Of Ksokuk
PONDS; and tn at then, secondly, they agree
% run the works and supply 80 gallons per
lay per inhabitan. for IL years, for the furth-
IT consideration of not less than *s76 900,
n cash, 70 be increased according TO tho
and that out Of this Was to be
enough to pay of the bonds and in
'eress; and that tho city reserved the right
% take the works from the company at any
lime at cost" This is quite different from
ne published statement that our citixens
were requested to express their opinions up
IN.
II it isto be assumed that the cost 10 to be
100000 and whatever the company may
have received in cash up to the time Of pur-
,hase BY the city. dsducting emily what the
company may have paid back for redemption
IF the bonds, ali that is necessary to aseer-
lain the cost to the city and citisens at the
end Of the twelve wears 10 to leave out the
bonds.
Thus, according to the statement in Thass-
days paper, the cost to the city in 1860 10
put at $358,O00; but, recollect, the works
belong to the company and if understand
The statement correctly, il the city should
hen purchase them they must pay that cost
TO the company. Then, up to the date when
such payment should be made, in 1860, the
works will have cost the city and citizens
SIG 200, according to this new mode Of
Well, that is not much less than
Enquirer" made it, the difference being but
SCI 900.
But in this mode of computing, which ia
not Enquirer" how much would the works
cost the city and citizens at tho end Of ten
years. 1t would be thus: taking the lowest
amour. that could be paid to the company,
on the superstition Of no increase Of inhabit-
ants, the cost, on this principle, would be
$4,000. If the city should buy the works
at tina, time, they must pay said sum - the
cost; making total actual cost Of 81, AGO..
900 to the city and citizens, leaving out Of
the calculation any little balance on bonds.
Or, in case Of the gradual increase Of popu-
lation, as assumed, the total cash payments
by the city at the end Of ten years would be
81 ,255 900, which being assumed - the cost
to be paid BY the city for the purchase, would