The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-19

inr. for the use of water from the well OF said
comrany ON the County Court House square,
for two wears. The FREE TRADER having in
dulgcd in some rather nnirendiy remarks III
abiding to the subject, some explanation may
not be out OF place
In the year 1867, some eight OF ten citizens OF
ottawa obtained a grant from the Board OF Su.
pcrysors of La Sale county, of the right to sink
an artcsian we'll ON the County Court House
square, and to use the water thcrcfrom in such
manner as they should see fit. In consideration
of said grant and $500 paid by the county on the
order Of tho Board of Supervisors, the county
becomes entitled to water from said well 70: the
use of the jail The individuals aforesaid pro
cccdcd to sink said wen to about the depth OF
5l5 feet, (morc than 100 feet deeper than any
other well in the city,, and obtained flow OF
about l20 gallons per minute, and also dcmonstra
ted that the well would raise the water with
good flow 26 feet aboyc the surface OF the %rouhu'
This was done at a cost OF S205i.i2, exclusive oi
the s400 appropriation by the county. They also
obtained from the City Council the right To car
ry the water in pipes through the streets OF the
City of Ottawa Said individuals have since be-
conc Incorporated NhucT lHt H"hS " Wv O'''
wa Artcsian Well Company"
Since the time said well was finished IN 1908,
the public have used the water freely, and with
out charge Until in 1872, (sOmc time before the
State Fair was heidi, the City Council caused
watering troughs to be erected, and proceeded
to connect them with said well by pipes, without
leave or permission from the company owning
said well The aldermen who superintendent the
erection of the watering troughs, were express
" informed that the well was not a public
well, and were told to whom the well belonged,
and that the city might use the water free of
charge for the purposes Of the state Fair, and
not otherwise or afterwards; that if used for any
other purpose, or afterwards, the company would
expect pay for the water.
The city has, through and by action Of the
City Council, continued to use the water ever
since. The artesian well company, al the last
meeting OF the City Council, presented a bill
against the city for $500, being for the use of
the water for two years, at $50 per year, which
will be found to be a very reasonable and mod.
crate charge, when compared with Judge Cations
charges for water.
The company simply wish to be used a other
persons or companies are used,
The persons comprising said company pay
their taxes to the city as other citizens do, and
they fail to perceive how the city has acquired
any interest in or right to use the private prop.
erty Of said company without paying for it.
The company have sunk this well more than
100 feet deeper than any other artcsian well in
the city, and have obtained a large additional
flow in the last 100 feet, giving flowing capa, Il
~ to thcrwCll of more than one third more than
any other artcsian well in the city. If any other
lrtesan well company in this city, or Judge
Cation, will furnish water to the city for pu bile |
watering troughs, without pay, the City Courcil
lad better rely on those sources for their supply |
If water II.