Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-09-17

celVed for his money Inc people OF
Butler are not all equally benefited by
the appropriation Of their money for
water for fire and general borough
purposes. Why is this ? Many por-
tions of the town have no fire pro-
lection simply because the Water Com
pany have not seen proper to extend
their water mains into the sparcely
populated portions of our borough,
vet the citizens of these localities have
to bear their share of the burden.
Then why should the Water Company
ask us to pay fancy prices for water
These are some Of the reasons that
have induced the Council to resist
what they regard the unreasonable
demands of the Butler Water Com
pany,
But to resume Our statement OF the
action of Council in regard to the
water. Fire hydrants of an improved
patent, 1000 feet of serviceable hose,
hose carriages and all necessary fix
lures were procured, at an aggregate
cost of nearly $4,000. Two fire COM
panies rendered their services and the
outfit was delivered into their custody.
At a regular meeting, January 1,
1879. the subject of compensation OF
the Butler Water Company came up
and the following action taken, which
| quote from minutes:
ut appearing by the minutes OF
Sept. 30, 1871, that resolution had
been passed by Council in regard to
the contract. with the Butler Water
Company for fire and general borough
purposes, when on motion Of Mr..
Bancr, seconded by Mr.. Reiber, it was
agreed to pay said Water Company
according to said contract at the next
regular meeting Of Council"
At the next regular meeting OF
Council, February 4, 1879, the bill OF
the Butler Water Company for the
months Of December, 1878, and JAN
uary, 1879, at the rate of $1,000 per
annum, was presented by Mr.. Ne
Cullough, lessee of the company, and
the following action taken:
NV hen it appeared to Council that by
a resolution passed September 90, 1877,
and entered on the minutes, to pay the
Butler Water Company $500 per an
mum, Mr paryis moved to reconsider
that resolution. Motion put and lost,
not receiving a two-thirds vote of all
the Councilmcn present :"
At the regular meeting, March i,
1879, the matter again came up and
the following action bad:
con motion of Mr.. Purvis, it was
resolved to consider Mr., Mccullough S
proposition TO furnish water for gon-
cral borough purposes. Motion see
onded. Chair rules: That this motion
having been considered at a former
meeting and action had at that meet
ing entered upon the minutes Of Coun-
ell, and a motion to reconsider such
action haYing been made and lost for
want of q tWo-thirds vote, thG Chair
rules the motion now made out OF
order.
''Mr. Purvis appeals from the ruling
OF the Chair
"The question is, Shall the Chair
be sustained?' when a vote being taken,
the Chair was sustained"
That ended the matter so far as
your humble servant was concerned as
COUNCILMAN, his term of Office expir-
ing the following April,
No further action was had in the
matter until July 8, 1879, when Il
special meeting was called for consid-
Grafton of this question. quote from
the minutes:
"The object of the meeting stated by
the President to be the settlement of
the contract with the Water Com
pany. Mr.. Merideth, Superintendent
of the Butler Water Company, made
Il statement On motion, duly sec
onded, the action previously had by
Council in regard to the contract with
the water company was reconsidcred.
"On motion, duly seconded, it was
resolved that the borough pay for the
use of water for fire and general bor=
ough purposes 5000 per annum."
Mcssrs. Merideth and Mccullough
were present and promptly notified the
Council they would not accept $500,
but woulds sake $500 per annum. After
considerable discussion and upon fail
ure TO agree upon any settlement OF
the difficulty the following resolution
was passed:
"On motion, duly seconded, it was
resolved that the Borough Solicitor and
counsel for the water company agree
upon the facts and make a stated ease
for the decision of the Court, which
decision shall only be binding upon the
borough of Butler for one year ending
December !, 1872
The above action was taken with n
view that your humble servant as Bor-
ough Solicitor in connection with
counsel for water company, w. ID.
Brandon, Esq, should proceed to
obtain all the information possible as
to the rates water is paid for by other
towns of like population, as provided
for in resolution Of September 20, 1871.
| have gone to work in the matter and
addressed communications to thirty
one different cities and towns asking
for information in regard to rates paid
for water. These have generously re-
sponded with but two exceptions and
have furnished me with valuable in
formation. The borough of Bristol,
in Bucks county, this State, having a
similar difficulty with their water COM
pany, J. Wesley Wright, Esq, Clerk
of Council, has very kindly furnished
me with the result of a very full in
vestigation of this subject. The in
formation thus derived will make very
interesting reading, but as the matter
is yet undetermined it, perhaps, would
not be proper to publish the same.
Suffice it to say the action of Council