The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-25

A Sensible Resolution.

A Sensible Resolution.
The meeting called by Mayor Allen. to
obtain the sense Of the business men and
the general public upon the question 70
granting franchise to Judge Cation to build
water works, resulted, as far as the influence
Of their opinions may reach, disastrously TO
the project, as nearly every one had sur
missed.
Mr.. Allen called the meeting to order, and
called upon Mr.. Armstrong, who drew the
proposed ordinance, to explain it (the ordi'
nance and what II contemplated. His ex'
PLANTATION threw no more light upon the in.
tentiOns of the proposed company than the
published ordinance gives, with the excep-
ton that the Judge had given out that he
would allow the city to subscribe the major
part of the stock, thus securing controlling
interest.
Mr.. Henry Mayo spoke against the ordi'
nance. He was opposed to any other than
the city building system Of water works
that could tax him such an exhorbitant
rental as the scale Of rates published as q
part Of the ordinance contemplstes. For
the water supply which he would require he
would, under this ordinance. be compelled to
pay not less than thirtythr dollars per
year, and If the city placed the works IN he
would expect to pay not more than twenty
dollars per year. As bonus for the build.
ing Of these works, the city Is asked to pay
$4,000 per year. or five per cent upon
100000, thus really binding the city to pay
interest on 500, 900 for thirty years. What
the city received in return for this, Mr..
Mayo Was unable to learn. The only sue
cessfal and satisfactory water works system
in any city was that owned by the cities in
which the systems are in operation, and II
was the city's duty to build works IL they
were necessary. To this end, sinking
fund could be created, and in few years
works could be erected with the money that
the city would give away as bonus. He
was opposedDto placing the water supply Of
the city under the thumb of . corporation.
to be cut of at will, and especially to paying
rentals to Q corporation within q corpora
ton, and in this sentiment he believed that
he voiced tina sentiment Of the entire south
side. sa
Mr.. Lynch stated that he had thoroughly
investigated the subject and had come pre-
pared to talk upon the question. In the
city there were one hundred and thirty
srtesian wells, supplying an average Of ten
families each. or in all fifteen hundred fami-
lies. The number of families in the city
was about twenty-five hundred, leaving but
seven hundred families to be counted upon
TO take water from water works company
in quantities sufficient to produce profita'
BILE rental and therefore this company asks
a bonus Of 5000 yearly Of the city, while
it makes the rate extraordinarily high to the
limited number Of consumers. Under this
state Of affairs, unless this e1horbitant rate
was levied, the building Of water works by
q company, or by the city, would be very
improbable undertaking. Mr.. L. thought
that the city was not in need Of water works
at this time, as only small percentage Of
the city is unsupplied. Instead, therefore,
Of paying SIS. 900 per year as bonus to this
company, the city might appropriate this
amount for three years in succession, and
with it sink ten srtesisn wells each year.
This would give thirty wells-enough to
supply all needful demands. He had con-
versed with DR.. Harris, who had written to
his fire insurance companies, asking wheth-
or, If the city should build water works, the
rate Of insurance could be lowered. The
companies replied that the city was as we'll
protected against fire as any city in the
country. And, therefore, argued Mr.. Lynch,
we do not need the works as FIRE protec-
ton.
Mr.. Perkins WAS also opposed to the
works being built by any company. We
were not assured as to the source Of their
water supply, and as the ordinance provided
that no company should be formed but this
one to drill 9 battery Of artesian wells, it
was reasonable to presume that they intend.
ed to sink battery Of this character. If this
was the case, they would, by using heavy
pumping machinery, render entirely useless
the numerous artesian wells Of the city, as
they would absorb all the pressure.
Mr.. Lynch introduced the following reso.
luton:
Resolued, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the city council gives no further
consideration to the question of water works
for the present.
Mr.. Thomas was opposed to the grant
ing Of franchise, and spoke vigorously
against it.
Mr.. Cullen spoke in opposition to the
ordinance, and seemed to voice the senti-
ment Of the east side in the matter.
Mr.. Allen then put the resolution offered
by Mr.. Lynch, which was carried with
applause.
Another Carload
NJ -;ll ha dianoaad IF