The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-20
THAT WATER CONTRACT.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION
PLAINLY DISCUSSED.
Judge Latham Narrates the Story of the
Present Deal With the City, Giving an
Array of Facts and Figures-Preslden
Had1en and Mr.. r. G. Graves.

City Hall while Pre- sdent Hadden was in
the midst OF this little speech would have
deemed him warm under the collar and
angry; not so, however; he was simply
replying TO an APPEAL reporters inquiry
as to what he knew about the water BUSH
ness OF the city since the interview on
the subject, published Monday morning.
Then he added, That's all Tvc got 10
say for publication"
"But, quickly chimed in the reporter,
who had laid in large supply Of ques-
tions to throw at him, but"
''Oh, by golly, that's all, now. I'm not
going TO say anything else for publication
The scales seem to be dropping from the
peoples eyes at last, and they no doubt
see the folly OF sitting down on the project
to have the city own the water-works."
A few more efforts TO draw him out gave
convincing proof that the Burgomaster
really was in earnest about having moth
ing further to say on the subject of water,
and he said it. Bent on learning Just what
there was in the case, and what the water
company had to say in controvcrsion OF
the statements published in the interview
on Monday, the reporter sought Judge L.
j. Latham, president of the company.
"Gou have, | suppose, Judge. read
what has recently been published with
reference to the contract OF the city with
your company" the reporter suggested,
TO bring on the desired talk.
"Ges, the interview with some gentle.
man, published yesterday morning and
/ the editorial this morning, the latter
twice. 1t is fair enough-THE APPEAL
has always treated us fairly-but the
/ writer was wrong on one or two OF his
I points, due, no doubt, TO the wrong inn
/ preston that has been generally talked
mp on the subject. ! do not know OF any
snarl the city government has gotten itself
into, and there is no proposed new con-
I tract being sought by il or the company.
| The city government is asking nothing OF
us but plenty of pure, clear water, and
We simply ask II TO carry out the contract
entered into in good laith."
what is there in the statement OF the
interviewed gentleman that your company
was anxious 10 abrogate all previous con-
tracts to the last, and for very good but
selfish reason?"
at is Il wholly erroneous impression.
All those conditions were imposed by the
! city authorities; the company had but one
| thing TO ask, which was for unqualified
| permission to consolidate so soon as the
| bill providing Tor such should become a
! law. The fact is this: There Just hap
! pened 10 be no statute authorizing the
| consolidation Of water companies, as there
| is Tor other corporations in the same city.
! The city, in is contract, ANTICIPATED a con-
solidation and provided for il. We had
! already come together 10y lease, which
| could be made for fifty years, beyond the
! life Of our bonds, but we preferred a regu.
| lar sale, because IL is more business like.
| When We referred our desire and request
! for consent of city 20 consolidate to the
/ authorities, then came the conditions.
| While We could see no reason Tor them,
rather than bring on any controversy and
delay, probably affecting the city by de-
laying the supply Of artcsian water, we
acquiesced. The paper read at the last
Council meeting asking for consent to the
consolidation, was, therefore, drawn up
by the city authorities, and | merely pre-
scented II at their request"
AS ! understand IL, the complaint OF
those who criticise the contract is that the
water company, unlike all other corpora
tons in the city, pays nothing for the val
liable franchise II enjoys. What is there
In thati'
To this question the Judge went back
into q history OF the water company.
! which existed under a charter from the
/ Legislature, giving Il exclusive use Of the
streets and alleys Of the city for water
mains, and which right still held; lac also
related an interesting fact or two concern
ing the old contract, viz: That under IL
the city was only entitled 10 water. with
no regard a. quantity or quality; aud that
] -
| only 10 be what the machinery i'm use
could furnish. When the city got this. no
complaint attached. This was followed
by a recital Of the agitation over the water
| question, the appearance upon the field Of
| Mr.. Bullock and his subsequent failure;
the old c0mpany's proposition, through
him. 10 remove or improve the works 10
as 90 supply clear. wholesome water ii the
city would only pay the interest on the
bonds for money necessary 30 carry Il out,
amounting Ia some $4,000 per wear. and
tho finding Of aHc8ian well water By Mr.
X. &. Graves
I'll YOU will refer 10 the paper before
| the council NJ its last meeting" continued
| the Judge. 'you will see that We rolin-
| qui8h our right 10 the exclusive use Of
/ the streets aud allows In our old charter
! hut thc free l'st for water Il carried over
90 the new. There are the dumping sta
tons, public municipal offices. police sta
lions. municipal hospitals, engine houses
| public fountains, not over two; sanitary
/ stables. lcycc washing. washing sanitary
| wagons and appliances, flushing cutters,
| puddIing trenches aud paycmcuts, public
| drinking fountains, not over twelve, and
] public urinnls, not over ten for sup.
| ulyiug oil these heavy consumers We
| are paid but $1,000 per annum. Under
! our contract with the old city Of Memphis
| W. were paid from sl25 down 10 SlO0 per
| lire hvdrant; the present contract ranges
| from $50 to $50. la Short We are supply
/ ing nearly 100000 worth Of water for
I s27,G 600 not 81, 90. as tho impression pre-
/ walls. II Is also wrong 10 suppose that in a
| few ycars YOU will be paying $40, 600 per
| year Tor water. or anything like H.
would be- mighty glad TO contract rirht
I now that ten years hence the city would
l pay No $4,000 per year. 1 do not
believe u will reach $4,000. The
| only thing that can bring an increase Is
| expansion Of the city, aud not growth.
You might put 100000 people down IN
| the city proper aud the amount paid Tor
| water would not be- increased 10 more
] than thrilling degree, and the service Is
well extended In the suburbs. We are
| cNpcnding sglOOOO In improvements,
I which, allowing 5000. 0OOlor the old works,
| makes II, 5000 on the former sum In.
| tcrcst must be- paid, aud the s2l 600 paid
| by the city over the former contract price
/ does not near meet that obligation, 10 say
I nothing Ut the quality OF water aud close
] ..utf.,.t .I.......' 4 ...l..l,l.I fur There IL