The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-23
ANXIOUS 10 CONTRACT.
THE OLD AND NEW WATER COM
PANIES MAKE OFFERS
To Furnish a Supply on Their Own
Account or for the
City.

/
MEMPHIS, Tenn. July u, 1885,
The Hon. d p. Hadden, President, etc.;
SIR-The undersigned committee
appointed to consider questions con
nected with the Water Company, me
this afternoon at No. 10 Madison
street, II. A. Montgomery and r. f
Patterson on the part of the Legislatiy,
Council, I. J. Latham and w. s. Bruce
on the part OF the Water Company
w. NJ. Harrington, having been se
lected by the other members of the
committee TO act with them, was also
pref cent and presided as chairman Of
the meeting. After full interchange
of views, the committee respectfully
recommend to the Legislative Council
to consider proposition to be made
by the Memphis Water Company for
the sale of its plant to the city, or to
make new contract for supplying the
city and its inhabitants with an abun-
dance of pure and wholesome water,
the source of supply to be designated
by the City Legislative Council.
The above embodies the action OF
the committee, which lie respectfully
submitted for your consideration.
Very respectfully,
WIN, Nj. HARRINGTON, Chairman;
IL. A. MONTGOMERY,
X. +. PATTERSON,
I. J. LATHAM,
W. S. BRUCE.
The Git zsns' Water Company pre-.
scented petition, written in clerkly
hand upon paper with a eorgeously
printed head giving the officers as fol-
lows: Sam1 r. Bullock, president ;
holland Fontaine, vice president; w.
II. Moore, secretary; 4. +. Fuller,
chief engineer; Hill 4 Wilkerson, at
torneys; Emil Mailman treasurer.
THE PETITION,
which was dated Memphis, July IA,
and addressed to the Council, ran as
follows:
GENTLRMEN-The action taken by
the Memphis Water Company through
their authorized officers, in making to
your honorable body a proposition re.
lsting to the question OF water sup
ply for your city and the subsequent
action Of your body in appointing a
committee to take action in the mat
ter, forces us to come before you sooner
than we had intended or anticipated.
We have organized in your city a
water comp any for the purpose OF sup
plying to the city OF Memphis and to
its inhabitants and adequate supply of
good, wholesome water, fit for all pur-
poses OF domestic consumption. The
said company is composed OF and rep
resented by men of undoubted and Of
established reputation both here and
abroad.
We propose TO prepare and submit
for your scrutiny and approval a set OF
plans showing and governing the con-
struction Of said system Of works, and
to ask at the same time from your
city government suchsconCession and
encouragement as will eusble us TO
proceed at once with this construc-
tion.
The proposition we shall make to
you will contemplate the furnishing
OF a system of works, built upon such
scale, and of such capacity as will am
ply suffice for city OF at least twice
the present size of Memphis. We will
also propose to operate the said
works as a private company for term
of years, or to give to the city the OPP
ton TO become sole owner OF same by
such terms of purchase as may be
agreed upon, and to submit to
the city the right OF determin-
ing, under the provisions Of our
charter, the source from which the
supply shall be taken.
The magnitude of the undertaking
and the difficult problems brought for
ward for solution render the prepare
ton OF our plans task requiring soma
time to complete. We have now
corps of engineers in the field engaged
in their preparation and at the earliest
possible day will submit our PROPOSE
tion for your consideration. Under
these circumstances we would ask that
you delay action in regard to any con-
tract for the public and private water
supply OF Jour city until we can pre-
sent 10 you our plans and proposals
and that your committee be instructed
to confer with our representatives be-
fore making their report. Respect
fully submitted,
SAM'L Il. BULLOCK, President.
BULLOCK CO.'S LETTER.
Mr.. Hill then read the following let
ter from Bullock 4 Co. to the Citi-
zens' Water Company:
NEW YORK, MAY 8, 1886, J
OFFICE on SAN X, BULLOCK * Co., 7
No. ii WALL STREET.
To the Citizens Water Company, Memphis,
Tenn:
GRNTLEMEN-Having learned that
your company has been organized for
the purpose OF obtaining and furnish
ing TO the citizens OF Memphis an
adequate supply OF pure, wholesome
water, suitable for domestic, sanitary,
manufacturing and FIRE extinguishing
purposes, and having further learned
that the water which. would be most
acceptable to yourselves and the Citi-
zens OF Memphis would be that OBJ
tanned from the channel of the Mis-
sissippi river,
We present for your consideration
the following proposition:
We will, at our own proper cost and
expense, make such surveys, compile
such data, prepare such plans and
specifications, and obtain the corrob-
orative testimony OF not less than
three eminent, disinterested hydraulic
engineers, which will enable you to
present to the President and Board Of
Commissioners of the Taxing District
OF Memphis such evidence OF your
ability to accomplish what you claim
upon such adva ntageous terms as will
in all probability, result in the passage
by them Of an ordinance embodying
such form Of contract between said
Taxing District OF Memphis and your
company as will enable you at once to
enter upon the construction Of sys
tenn OF water supply in accordance
with the foregoing.
Provided, that when such consum
nation shall have reached your com
pany shall agree to execute a Contrac
Tor the entire work Of constructing
such water works with our firm, pay
ment for said works, and all salaries
and expenses connected Herewith Il
be made to our firm in stock anC
bonds Of your company to sucl
amounts as may be necessary. Your
respectfully. SAM r. BULLOCK & Go
The above is q copy Of the original