Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-04-10
THE WATER QUESTION.
The following letter explains itsel

The following letter explains ltseli:
NEW YORK, March 18th, 1886.
To John Taubman, Chas. Il. Homer,
w. B. Hamlet, Dennis Gavin, Robert
Hicklin and William Young-Commit-
tee-Gentlemen: Your communica
ton to the Lexington Water Company
relative to the change you propose in
the franchise held by said company for
supplying water to your city is before
us. AS we are the largest holders of
the stock and bonds OF the Lexington
Water Company, and it is probable
that its action will be controlled by us,
we address you directly in the matter.
We recognize the fact, that it is de-
sirable that the city authorities and
the Water company, should have q
full understanding as to the operation
of the works, for the benefit of all con-
cerned. We think the idea of gauge
at the City Hall and also perhaps at
the fire department headquarters, that
would show at all times the pressure
and amount of water in the tower,
would be good and a proper thing
and we would be willing to put up
such gauges, but it would be impossi-
BILE for the Water Company to agree
that any certain pressure should be
maintained at all times. 1t might
agree that the tower should be filled at
Il certain time ever day, say p. m,
unavoidable accident or delay from
flood or other causes excepted. This
we think would be fair. In regard TO
lining the reservoirs, I'VE would be will
ing to say that, IT il could be shown
that their being lined would materially
increase the purity of the water, they
should be lined; though no doubt,
they are now and always will be thor.
uughly lined with Missouri river mud,
and we can't see, nor do we think any,
one else can, that a line of brick under
the mud would increase in any degree
the purity of the water. In letter to
Mr.. Taubman, chairman of your com
mittee, we gave the views of Mr..
Wood, of st. Louis, which letter we
presume has been placed before you
In regard to changes in the fran
chise You propose, namely, changing
sections four and six, and expungins
section eleven, we can only say, tha
the Wafer Company was organized
upon the franchise as it now stands
and the bonds issued with a mortgage
given upon the works and franchise ~
security tor them. 1t is now entirely
beyond the power of the Water Com.
pany to consent to or to make an,
change in the franchise, and if it wa.
within their power to make any change
the changes asked TOR by you wonlt
render the bonds OF the company, tina
have been issued to the amount O
500, 900, entirely worthless. Had i
not been for section eleven of the fran
chlse, which gives a reasonable assur
ance that the interest on the bond
,, could be met promptly and that any
unforeseen accident, such as floods il
. the Missouri river, causing temporar
! injury to the works, would not inter
tere with the payment of such interest
, and pledging the good faith of tn
City of Lexington to that extent in ad
, dition to the obligation of the Wate
, Company, the water works in your cit
q could never have been built, aud t.
now ask change in this respect i
simply asking the Water Company t
commit suicide and those who hav
built your works to iose every dolla
they have put into it. We canno
J. think that your desire is to produc
b, such a result. While in our opinio
e the Water Company has fulfilled it
part of the contract-if anything fur
e ther can be done which can be aske
0 in any spirit of equity, we are willin
+ and anxious that it be acceded to, an
h thus end all controversy. But we can
n not agree to any change iii the fran
chise, which was passed by the counc
1 and ratified by an almost unanimou
i vote of the City of Lexington, an
n upon which all the value that there
u in the water works at this time is based
h and which we firmly believe it is to tn
interest of the City OF Lexington t
= carry out.
y Mr.. Abendroth will be in Lexingto
+ some time in April, and will be glad t
g meet your committee. Yours Truly,
It ABENDROTH u Roof MFG. Co.