The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-23

We must 60 back little IN our comments
upon the proceedings of the last meeting of
the city council to note the
wATERwoRKS PROPOSITION.
Alderman Berg, who has charge Of the COM
mittee on water and gas, read some correspon-
dence had with Mr.. Breckenridge in regard to
the extension of the waterworks prior to the
dissolution OF the last council, and stated in
connection with the correspondence that the
remnant of the city council had actually at
tempted to consummate the business in the
face of the fact that they had no power to do SO,
and that all that interfered with the consumma-
ton, was the demand of Alderman Stoves for
more pipe than his ward would be entitled to-.
1t only goes to show how completely careless
and reckless body of men can become, who
are clothed by the voice of the people with a
little brief authority.
The correspondence sounded about ten
years out of date. The committee endorsed
on the correspondence the proposition that if
the waterworks company would lay down &c.
600 additional feet of pipes the city would
take sixty additional hydrants at $50 per an
nun each, or $1,000 per annum, which, added
to the present sum paid by the city, will
amount to $4,000 per annum, and relief from
taxation rents for premises, etc.
Alderman Copeland presented the follow
ing minority report:
GENTLEMEN-The undersigned member of
the committee on gas, water and railroads,
being unable to agree with the ma ority of
said committee on their proposition to take
from the San Antonio waterworks company
an additional number of hydrants, to-wit sixty
hydrants at fifty dollars per hydrant, or 5000
per annum for said sixty hydrants, begs leave
to offer his opposition thereto, on the follow
ing grounds:
First-That the original actual cost of the
works of said company was about $50, ooo
principally paid with the bonds of the COM
pany, which were issued to the extent of $780,
600, on the credit of this city, secured by the
first contract, granting to the said San Anto-
Mo waterworks company subsidy of $Io, 900
per annum for twenty-five years.
Second. That when the said contract and
the amended contract now in force, we're made
with the said S. A. waterworkS company, the
members of the city council were under the
impression that the cost of establishing the
said waterworks was considerably more than
the actual outlay.
Third. That the waterwerks company will
be compelled to extend its mains without aid
from the city, in order to utilize the thousands
of feet Of of mains now at the depot, and to
increase the number of water consumers and
thereby swell Its revenues and dividends.
Fourth. That the amount, to-wit: $1,000
per annum, which the ma ority of said COM
mittee are in favor Of paying to the water
works company for an additional 60 hydrants,
at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, would
pay interest on a capital of $4,000.
Fifth. That the cost Of establishing a new
waterworks system, owned and controlled by
the city, would be as follows, to-wit:
Engine house. ..... 80. ...... ......$ 1880
Machinery ...... ...... .......... 5000
Valves. ............ 1850
Miscellaneous items. 900. ..... 5000
100 fire Plugs.... ............ ........ $500
10000 feet IL in main,I$. IS per foot
laid ........ =. ..::........ 80. 1850
5000 feet 10 in. main, ST.. 10 per foot
laid ........ 5000
10000 feet in. main, 90 cts. per foot
lald. ...... ..................... 5000
O,OOO Ieet IN. main, OS Gus. per 1OOt
laid ........,.......... 5000
10000 feet 4 in. main, 40 cts. per foot
LAID ...................... 1900
Total COST. ..."......... ...... S55,5oo
Seventh. That the net profits that would be
derived from waterworks system SO owned
and controlled by the city, would soon pay
the cost.
Eighth. That by means of such a system
every part of the city could be supplied with
an abundance of water at very low rates.
Ninth-That the charges and exactions Of
the San Antonio waterworks company are ex-
orbitant, and should no longer be tolerated.
Tenth-That the city council could estab-
lish system of waterworks SO owned and con-
troled without violation of the contract now in
operation.
Wherefore, have the honor to recon-
mend:
First-That the city propose to buy the
waterworks of the San Antonio waterworks
company at a reasonable valuation, to be fixed
by arbitration.
Second-That in the event of the said
waterworks company failing or refusing to ac-
cept said proposition, that the council deter
mine to submit to a vote of the people a
proposition to establish new system of water
works, and to issue bonds to the extent of
500, 900 for the payment thereof.
Respectfully submitted,
J. III. COPELAND.
Now this minority report sounded little
out Of date, too; it reminded us of the fight