Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-25
SHOULD WE SELL!
The WaterwOrks Issue ThOrOug hly
Discussed.
It is the sense OF the Improvement
Association that the City Retain
ConIrol-Last Nights Meeting.

erworks, brought out the first conflicting
spirit that has been shown in the body
since it's organization. 1t was to be ex>
pected of course that when question as
vital as this was to be considered there
would he variance of views and nuns
Der of set OPP Mons expressed. This was
shown by the series of interviews with
representative citizens, published in last
evenings ARGUS.
The meeting. which was a very largely
attended one, was called to order by Pres
ident Hass, who stated the object. Sec
rotary ,Medil then read a statistical COM
munication from Mayor Blanding show
ing the cost and revenue of the works
from the date of their construction, the
figures having been given in Judge Will
kinson's interview in Yesterdays issue.
The discussion of the question was
opened by DR.. Truesdsle, who asked City
Clerk koehler as to the extent of the
present city Indebtedness. Capt. Koch
ler's reply was 100000 If we cell the
water works for the cost. $3.50 600, and
ge; the cash, what will we do with it!
asked the doctor, and he further ex-
pressed the fear that if the money was on
| hand it might not be wisely expended as it
could not he applied at once in Ii
quidating the city Indebtedness. Not
| only this, but there was a danger of fail
ure to properly regulate the quality OF
the water flu rnished by private corpor-
| alton and here came in the ACCESSIBILITY
of selling, as viewed from sanitary
standpoint. Further than this, it would
be difficult matter to regulate the rates
either to the city or other consumers,
with the works in the hands of private
| corporation.
DR.. Trues tales remarks brought forth
information as to charges for plug ser.
vice, it being shown that Davenport
with private water company, pays only
$40 per plug per annum, whereas Rock
Island pays at the rate of $50, and tina,
the rates to private consumers are uni.
formly higher here.
In order to bring the question squarely
before the meeting, Capt. Peetz moved
that it be the sense of the meeting that il
was not desirable for the city to sell the
waterworks
I Mr.. Saville Johnston proposed plan
to relieve the anxiety as to any misuse OF
the funds. should the city sell. 1t was tc
arrange with the purchasers to give
bonds for payment, payable when the
outstanding city bonds are due, and the
interest thereon payable when the city
interest on is bonds are due.
Capt. Koehler was asked by Mr.. Guyel
as to when the bonds payable by the city
are due and he replied that S25 600 in wa
| terworks bonds would be due in 1892
$4,000 in refunding bonds bearing
per cent would be due in 1897, land thai
the remaining $4,000 OF waterwork
bonds would be due in 1902
Capt. John Pcetz spoke in opposition
to the sale. The works were now on
paying basis. The interest on the in
bebtedness on the plant was $50. 900 les
than it was three years ago. 1t would bt
a very grave error for the city to sell tn,
| works.
Mr.. E. Fl. Guyer stated that the as
sessed valuation of the city last year was
So 3lS, 900; the limitation by law is tina
the city cannot go over per cent of its
assessed valuation as TO debt. The city
is now in debt beyond it's legal right,
and the entire city is taxed to supply only
| portion OF it with suitable water facili-
ties. The accommodations for all the
| consumption east of Twenty sixth street is
| simply an eight-inch main. and from this
| the G. r. I. & P. round house, the two
| immense breweries. and large part Of
the lumber yards have to be supplied, to
say nothing of the use fo- domestic pur-
poses And yet to do this the works are
running to their full capacity. What we
need is a reservoir for the sake Of econ o.
my as we'll as of purity of water. We
need larger mains, entsiling at least al
expenditure of from $50, 900 to $100, 900
These necessary improvements the city
could not L ow meet. Mr.. Guyer favored
the sale Of the works if a stipulation
could be made for better service,
schedule of rates, free hydrants to the
city and an adequate price be received
and with the reservation of the right OF
the part of the city to order additions
mains when needed. The management
of the works was greatly at fault, as Their,
is annually a great waste of water, TO
which the city should have revenue.
MIR. J. r. Johnston feared that in tn,
event of tie sale the city would exper
fence difficulty in affording proper pro
lection. He was therefore opposed to tn
sale.
Aid. Negus spoke earnestly in favor o
the sale. He viewed the question from
strictly business standpoint. II we ar
in debt and have something to sell, b
the income from which we can pay tina
debt, why not sell and get out Of debt
Mr.. Negus believed that cheaper rate
would be furnished to consumers with th
works in the hands of private individual
than if owned by the city, and he turtle
asserted til at the lie hydrants of the cit
could be furnished free He cited Daven
port as an instance where the works wer
not owned by the city and where tn