Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-07-19
WATER WORKS.
A Proposition TO Erect Them in this
City.

.aA- r-h.-t q
A Proposition TO Erect Them in this
City.
Mr.. Edmondstone, of the firm of Edmond
stone, Stevens & Co., iogether with L. B,
Peaslee, Esq, Of Defiance, attorney for the
company, attended the meeting of the city
council Monday evening and laid before that
body proposition to erect water works in
Napoleon. The company ask franchise
from the city, extending for period of 80
years, to build water works, lay pipes, and
furnish the citizens and city with water, at
rates which will be regulated by the council.
ALI the company asks of the city is that it
obligates itself to take at least 60 fire plugs
at an annual rental of $50 per plug, and grant
the franchise to the company.
The company is putting in similar works
at Defiance, which will be in working opera
ton before long. and they propose to give
Napoleon plant, il the franchise is granted,
to be completed by the time snow falls again.
They invest their own capital in the pro-
ject, which will represent sum anywhere
from $75,OOO to $125,OOO, which would ma
terially increase thet duplicate of the town,
saying nothing Of the increase it would put
upon every house and lot in the place. We
believe we are safe in saying that the $4,000
which it will cost the city for water for FIRE
and other purposes, under the system pro-
posed, will be almost, if not wholly, wiped
out, when we take into consideration the
saving of the cost of our present system, to
which should be added the taxes the company
would pay into the treasury, the advance
upon property and the lowering of insurance
rates, which the location of these works would
necessarily bring.
But say the water works is little more
expensive than our present water system
the convenience and healthfulness of the
proposed new system would more than bal
ance the additional outlay. All of our physi-
clans condemn the water supply of the town
as extremely injurious to health, inasmuch as
our wells are too near outhouses and barn.
yards. .....
The enterprise is private one, and there
is no bonding of the town, but the town if it
80 wishes may become the owner of the
works, by purchase, after lapse of ten
years. The rates to be paid for water
privileges would be about the same as those
paid in other towns in the state of like size,
and they can be regulated by the council.
After the franchise is granted, and before
the council can enter into contract for water
supply, the question must be submitted to
the qualified voters of the corporation, under
the following statute:
SEo. 1861. The municipal authority of any
city or village, or the trustees of any town.
ship, in which any gas or water company is
organized, may contract with any such COM
pany for lighting or supplying with water
the streets, lands, lanes, squares, and public
places in such city, village, town. or town
ship; but no such company shall 60 into
operation in any city or village where such a
corporation has been already formed, or is
formed, until after the question of
such operation has been submit
ted to the qualified voters of such city or
village. and authorized by ordinance. II v.
SO, SH. ..-
The matter was partially discussed by
of the council and citizens present
at the meeting, but no conclusions arrived
at, and to get the matter in proper shape 1T
was left to special committee for investiga-
tion and to report upon at the next regular
meeting. The Mayor appointed the follow
ing as such committee: Donovan, Hotter
man and Decker.
The committee should thoroughly investi-
gate the matter, so that the council may act
aud with due regard to all points
involved.