The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-10
mInunicateo
Wnter Works.

Editors journal:
To harmonic conflicting interests,
and to avoid both extremes, Of Water
Works built by monopoly, aud
Water Works built exclusively by
the city-to be ever after. foot ball
between two political parties-I beg
leave to make the following PROPOSE
tion to the city and private capital
lists. as q practicable and safe plan for
their construction and management.
It is assumed that 100000 will be
required to construct the works.
Let the city subscribe 100000, and
individual subscribers take $4,000
in cash, to be called in as required
and to the extent required Any in
crease of capital for extension here
after. to be divided in the same pro
portions A Board Of five Managers
of the Water Works to be consti-
tuted as follows; The City Council
and individuals proposing to sub
scribe, agree upon three members to
be appointed by the city. say two
Democrats and one Republican; let
the private subscribers elect two
members of the Board let the first
Board so constituted serve one year, or
two, as is thought best, aud, after that,
let one of the three city members go
out, and be succeeded by a new man, to
be elected by the city, or the same
man to be re elected by the city every
year, the object being to have only
one member on the part of the city
retire, or be re elected each year. In
like manner, let the private stock
holders retire only one of their direc
tors each year.
This will give stability to the Board
and insure a wise and safe manage
ment, and will greatly facilitate the
raising of the money aud fastening
the construction of the works In the
frat instance.
1 would further observe that |
learn from member OF the Couacll.
who I am satisfied are perfectly can
did In the matter, that it is not their
Intention to rush into the construc-
ton of Water Works, if authorized by
the citizens, Until they first learn by
competent engineers, pretty certainly,
the cost to beincurred. and their abil-
ity at that cost TO furnish the citizens
with pure article of water. Nor until
they learn where the money can be
raised. | am quite sure that our citi-
zens are all In favor of having Water
| Works, and on the Holly plan if
only sure they can be constructed
with reasonable certainly Of success,
and in such manner as not to add
greatly to our burthens of taxation.
/ deprecate the fact that under the
present order for an election to take
the sense of the people. it is being
made party question. / would like
to know, from the best engineering
skill to DO had, what water works,
sufficient for our present demands
would cost, aud then, after due discus
sion as to the best manner of their
construction, whether by the city
alone or by the city and individuals
jointly, l should like to have the
| question submitted Then the people
could vote according to the merits of
the proposition, and not as now they
are likely to vote under the exciting
influences of party politics; which,
however they are sure to enter into
elections for City Couucilmen and
other officers, should have as little to
do in mere city government as pos
sible. [ beg leave to add that this
plan substantially originates with
men of both parties. A CITIZEN.
i EVANSVILLE, May 8. 1870.