Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-03-08


EDITORS CHRoNIcLEs If there are any
who think all objections TO the Water Works
are met by the Company's moving higher
up the river, they rnisappreaend the grounds
upon which the people object. Before the
source of supply became a question at all,
paper was signed by $50 taxpayers, earnest
" protesting against increased taxes for wa
ter or other purposes, as damaging to the
best interests of the city. These taxpayers,
in common with many more, amounting
together, IT. is believed. to nine-tenths, or
more nearly perhaps, TO nineteen-twenti-
eths Of the whole, stin earnestly utter this
protest, whether foul or pure water be used.
Taxes have, in their day, under one specious
plea or another, been heaped upon cities I'M
til some literally stagger and fall under the
burden. Almost every breeze brings to our
ears tile unavailing Iamentation of some
tax-rfdden city. If GAINESVILLE would profit
by their example, would avoid the disgrace
which inevitably follows upon reckless eN-
penditures, the people must put their foot
down firmly IN opposition to increased mu-
nicipal taxes for any purpose whatever; they
must put their seal of condemnation upon
the assumption of power on the part of the
City Council TO bind the city for a genera
ton TO come IN the payment If large sums
of money. The City charter wisely limits
the amount of tax which may be levied,
and rigid adherence to this is the only
safe guard against utter bankruptcy. Butof
what avail is this limit If the board may
transcend it at pleasure in pursuit of some
fancied or real good That the good is real
is no sufficient plea for the tax. sIive with
in your means is a maxim as good for a
city as for an Individual. The one pays the
1ncS ba
other.
The Doctors, as faithful sentinels, ana as
the proper guardians of the citys health, felt
called upon to protest against the source of
supply, but the original and permanent
ground of objection on the part of the peo-
pie is the tax which is proposed to be levied,
and, as they look at it, the unequal terms Of
the contract. What are these terms?
The Company is to lay given number Of
feet of pipe, of kind, quality and sizes named'
provide efficient pumping machinery, in
duplicate, of given capacity, and to provide
40 MIGRANTS, with capacity to throw a stream
of water of given size to height equal to
that of any house on the line of pipes on
/ which the hydrants may be located.
The city, on its part, gives TO the compa-
| ny the right of way for 80 years-a long time
i'm all streets, roads, lanes, ETC., within and
without its limits, agrees to pay for the for
| ty hpdrants $1,000 per annum for the same
time, payable quarter-yearly in advance,
/ being 10 per cent. upon the estimated cost of
| the works, and exempts the property from
all municipal taxation for ten years.
Although the purpose of the contract, as
stated in the same. is to provide water for
domestic, manufacturing and sanitary pur-
poses, as wen as tor the better protection
against fires, it is strangely silent as to the
source of supply for the first, and the maxi
mum prices which may be charged for the
second and third. When looked at in the
light of the fact that the company is mo-
| nopoly, that there is, and by reason of this
contract, there can be no competition, it is
easy to see how prices may be graded accor-
ding to the necessities of the case.
Again: The company, though having the
exclusive right of way, cannot be required
to extend their pipes beyond their present
narrow limits, however much the city may
grow, or however great may be the necessi-
ties for water If it be replied that the COM
pany's interest Is a sufficient guarantee OF
the extension when needed, ask is it also
| a sufficient guarantee against q demand for
higher rates as a condition precedent to
such extension If it be safe to assume that
tic VI anu lffttJ VI IIt
city will run in parallel lines, why have a
contract at allP And if their interest shall
determine them to make the extension, the
contract leaves it to the same interest to de-
termine the kind, quality, and sizes of the
pipes, though very particular in its specih-
cations of those now to be laid.
Again The hydrants are to have the ca
pacity to throw stream of a given size
equal to the height of any house, etc. If the
stream shall be thrown as high as the house,
| however feebly, the contract will be COM
piled with ; yet every one knows the guam
tity and consequent efficiency of the water
| depend largely upon the force of the stream,
and that a stream that has the force to carry
it only as high as the house cannot do good
service in extinguishing the fire. If the COM
pany shall give greater force to the stream,
| it will nevertheless remain true that they
are not required to do SO by this contract,
and it is this am discussing.
Again: If from any cagse the company
shall fail to meet the requirements of this
contract for fire purposes, by reason of neg
lect, wilfulness or mismanagement, it is
stipulated that the city shall pay no charges
or rents for water during the time of such
failure; a mild penalty, certainly, in view
of the consequences that might result from
such neglect as wilful mismanagement,
Again: The company has the selecting
of the streets in which the main pipes shall
be located. Should not the city have had q
| voice in this. matter, or are its interests
| properly subordinate to those of the COM
| pany
Finally; The city is given the right, after
ten years, to huv the works, with all rights,
properties and franchises at 10 per cent.more
than their value-that is, shall have the
privilege TO buy, at more than they shall be
declared to be worth, the same rights and
priUileges for 20 years which are now lightly
given away for thirty.
/ Vox PoPULI.