Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-17
ALEXANDRIA WATER COMPANY.


The GAZETTE mas been furnished, IN ad'
vance. with copy of communication 10
be laid before the City Council, at their next
meeting, by the Alexandria Water Compa-
nv. on the subject Of the proposed petition
by the city authorities for a change IN the
charter of the company. II is as follows:
To he honorable tie City Council Of Alexandria
The Alexandria Water Company respectfully
submits the following points for consideration IN
connection with the proposition now pehains De
fore vour honorable bodies 10 petition the Gener-
al Assembly for amendments TO its charter.
Ii is we'll known 10 your honorable bodies that
the civ uf Alesandria is not stakeholder Of the
company aud is in no way peculiarly interested
in the management of its affairs.
The city is in no form even creditor OF the
company the pecun,ary obligations OF the COM
pauy to the city having been. at ali times prompt
IL met. whenever they have arisen.
The duties and obligations IN the city OF every
kind. imposed upon the company by ITS charteI
have always been fully and promptly discharged.
No delinquency, i'll any of these respects, mas
ever been alleged.
lis Incorporation is furnish the Inhabitants OF
the city with supply Of good water, as abundant
| a. the means aud resources OF the company VIII
allow.
1T Is 10 the peculiarly interests "a Tue
Is well as in accordance with the Individual desire
Of those who are charged with its management, to
| furnish water 10 as many OF the people OF the
town rs possible.
1t has never declined to furnish it in any in
| stance where il could be furnished consistently
with the interests of the company and without
| prejudice 10 the general body of consumers
| 1t is obvious that the interests Of theIompany
and OF the citizens are. To = large extent aud III
most important particulars, Identical
| Without the water furnished by the company, II
is scarcely much to say. that the city would be
| uninhabitabe.
Ii is an indispensable necessity il not to actual,
| Al least to anything like comfortable residence.
The city therefore. which your honorable
bodies represent. is vitality interested 10 stay any
attempt, the effect of which would he seriously TO
| impair the efficiency Of the company.
| 1t is well known that the source OF water sup
| ply 10 the company IS limited.
| The sole dependence is upon a small stream
which in seasons Of drought is we'll nigh dry.
| There is at no time surplus for waste, and no
| greater injury could he done 20 the company
and. through it. TO The great body of Your con-
| stituents, than To remove or lessen the control
which the company now exercises i'll the matter
ii distribution. In deciding upon an application
| for any extension Of the mains many consldera.
tons are involved, material rs we'll u the public
rs to the company. the weight and Importance OF
which. in the very nature Of the case, can only
| De appTecldltu lnOsc Thoroughly
with the details of the company's affairs.
| An extension which would accommodate half
! DOZEN consumers might cut OF the supply from
| an entire square.
| In the present extent OF the cnmpanys works,
no more delicate question arises than the effect OF
| further extensions upon persons already supplied,
and the intelligent decision Of the question is in
dispeus:,bc Not only to the company but to the
| general community.
Any obstacle TO such decision would always
| be injurious and might be disastrous.
! Another consideration. it is submitted. ought
not to be overlooked, which is. that your con.
stituency embraces considerable number of the
stock holders of this company, whose interests are
| proper subjects of your regard.
| The company is carried on upon capital furn-
| i,hcd largely by the contribution OF their money.
| The number includes many persons OF modest
means who have invested their money in its stock.
relying upon the guaranty of the charter, rs It
now stands, that the company should have the
! exclusive management of its own affairs
| 1t is needless Ia suggest the consequences 10
these, should the management of the affairs Of the
| company, through the agency Of your honorable
bodies, be comfortable by those outside of the
company, possibly hostile to the company, and
! in any case only concerned TO promote their own
| individual convenience, however much that
might conflict with the convenience of the public
| ut large.
| That the administration of the company should
| be sometimes subject of individual complaint, is
a consequence which no management could expect
| to avoid.
| Complaints however so far as they have come
| to its knowledge, have proceeded generally from
those who have been delinquent in payment Of
their dues and against whom coerciye means of
| collection have been necessary.
The few other instances have proceeded from a
| partial and imperfect knowledge of the facts in
| the particular case
In the interest, therefore, OF the company as
| SUCH of its citizen ckhoders. and of the gen.
| eral body of water consumers, it is respectfully
| urged, that the disposition by your honorable
bodies Of the pending propositions, may be made
with the foregoing considerations distinctly in
| view.