The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-17
WATER FAMINE PROMISED
UNLESS PROMPT AND DECISIVE
MEASURES ARE TAKEN.
Capt. Lee Demands the Pound Of
Flesh and President Latham APP
peals for Mercy.

A special meeting Of the City Coun-
Gil was held yesterday evening to con-
slider the water question. President
Hadden presided and Metsrs. Lee,
Randlp, Kney and Wallace were.pres.
emit. President Bullock of the Citi-
zens' Water Company, who had asked
for the meeting, promised to be pres
emit, did not appear, except by his at
torneys, Hill and Wilkerson.
President Hsdden opened the ball
with q statement of the relations OF
the Council to the Committee Of Ten
and of both to the citizens Of Men,
phs. He said the committee was APP
pointed in accordance with q popular
demand for action of some kind, that
the gentlemen composing it had
labored earnestly and intelligently for
a year and were nearly ready to re.
port. They had COLLECTED ard collated
much valuable information, which
would be of inestimable advantage to
the Council in determining upon
the proper course to pursue.
For one, he was in favor Of adopting
the report OF the Council. After that
was done legislation must be had, as
it was q foregone conclusion that the
city should own its works. The neces-
sary laws passed, it would be no trou-
BILE to place the bonds, and II the city
could not find a cont actor to do the
work at reasonable figure the city
would undertake it with hired labor,
and have it done under the supervi-
sion otits own officers.
Mr.. BULLoCK's ATTORNEYS.
Mr.. Wllkerson read c'au'e of the
charter of the Citizens Water Com
pany which is in the language of the
general law, providing that upon APP
plicstion to the authorities the City
Council shall appoint committee Of
seven, three to be doctors, to report
upon source of supply, and their &C.
ton shall be binding. His company
made such demand.
Mr.. Hill said that while the Commit
tee of Ten were all honorable gentle.
men, they were not appointed under
the law and were not required to
make sworn statement as it required.
He went on to say that while Mr.. Bull
lock preferred the Mississippi river,
he was willing to go TO Wolf or any
where else, and that allhe wanted was
an opportunity to bid on the work. he
was engaged in building works all
over the United States and could do
it 100000 cheaper than anyone else.
MIR. Hadden replied that Mr.. Bull
lock and Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Robinson
would all be allowed to bid when the
city was ready to have the work done,
but that would not be for some months
yet.
The following resolution, offered by
Capt. Lee, was then adopted:
MUST KEEP IT GOING.
The consideration by this Council
of measures for the permanent supply
of pure and wholesome water for the
city, and the extensive works neces-
sary to accomplish the end in view
involvesa delay OF one or more years,
while in the meantime the people oil
the Taxing District are suffering great
inconvenience and annoyance and are
subj scted to the dangers inseparable
from a wholly inadequate supply oil
such water as the present company is
re quired to afford. The provisions Of
the law granting the franchises to the
Memphis Water Company, and the
contract that it has entered into with
our citizens in every case where II
has received payment OF their water
rates, demand imperatively that that
company should promptly and faith
fully, without looking for aid from
any other source, discharge its public
and private obligations.
In view OF these facts this Council
gives the people of Memphis, and the
gentlemen owning the Memphis Water
Company, distinctly to unders and
that while they deliberate upon the
question of providing a permanent
supply OF good water in the fur
they are not unmindiul of their duty
as public servants to see to it that the
comfort and health OF the people o.
Memphis are not sacrificed and i'm
periled by the consequences Of an in.
adequate supply for the present sno
in the near future. The municipal
authorities and the people for the
present, at least, can look only to the
Memphis Water Company for theil
source OF supply. 1t has assumed the
duty and rtspors bility of affordiDe
the supply, and it must fulfill its obi
cation. Without committing ourselves
in any manner, or intending to in
innate what purse this Council may
persue in reference to plans for fu
turs permanent supply of coed water
it admonishes the Memphis Water
Company that it cannot evade it,
duly, or throw it's responsibility ia
furnish an adequate supply OF watel
for the present on other SHOULDERS.
For some time past, at least, the sup
ply OF water has been wholly in
adequate, and complaints from al
quarters are made by our people o.
the gross and persistent failure Of thu
company to discharge its duty in thu
premises, while serious apprehension
of sickness and pestilence are felt
Under the circumstances this Council
as the guardian OF the public interest
call upon the Memphis Water Com
psny to proceed at once, at any escri
fee, to fulfill their obligations to tn,
people, and un ess this Is dom
promtly measu res must be considered
by the authorities and the people, il
public council, to redress these griev
auces.
JUDGE LATHAM HEARD.
Judge Z. ]. latham, President o
the Memphis Water WOrks, Was giveI
permission to speak, and made a elea
and forcible exposition of his side o
the question. He did not be ieve tina
the Council would be so unjust to hin
as to insist upon the pound of fist
because it had been nominated in thu
bond. "We were forced" he sad, 1T
sign a contract in 1882 to supply tn
city VITA Wolf river water for sixt eI
years. Weplesded for five, eight, tel
or twelve year contract, but you woult
hear Of nothing lees than six
teen. For a year or two pas
1 have been given to unders anC
that the city would he likely to With
draw at any time. am told that
must carry out my part Of it, but 20,
will do as you please and 1 must TAX
the consequences. Assure me tina
you will adhere to your contract and
will make the necessary improvement