The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-08-02
More Water Mains.


of water works was first agitated, the advC
Gates felt about as lonesome as q third part
pr0hibitionist In the river wards of Detroit
but today the demand is universal. All q
once a large number of our citizens hav
realized the benefits of good water suppl.
and are anxious that the mains sh0ult
run near enough to enable them to use it
The present location of the mains was de
cided upon largely as fire protection t.
our factories, school houses and business
property, with incidental supply to private
families. For fire protection alone the pro-
posed mains are amply sufficient The
| question now arises, whether it would not
result to the advantage of the city to lay
such additional mains as will supply those
| of our citizens who desire to have water
service. We have supply of water that is
both supposed to be inexhaustible, and
which has been shown to be of the best
quality by chemical analysis. Under
these conditions the demand for private
consumption will be very considerable.
Furthermore this will be direct advantage
to the city, in the increased fire protection,
in the better healthI of the citizens, conse-
quent upon the use of pure water, to say
nothing of the added attractiyeness of the
lawns and streets.
That it is desirable to increase our water
mains is, we think, self-evident; the next
question to be considered is whether the
proposed increase is practical at the present
time. In the consideration of this matter,
we should first look at the cost of the extern
sion. When the contract for laying the
mains was made, there were a large num-
Der of bidders and it is fair to assume that
OwOsso secured the lowest price that in
tense competition will bring. In closing the
contract, it was stipulated with the con-
tractors that the city could order additional
mains at the same price as those provided
in the contract Thus the city can unques-
tionably secure the laying of an eoual
length of mains now, cheaper than at any
other time. The present plant provides for
all connections at the intersection of the
various streets and the cost will be solely
the expense of buying the pipe and laying
it. The cost of the pipe, when in position,
is 1928 per mile for inch pipe and $9, 1876
for inch. The present length of the
water mains is about miles. A further
expenditure of $4,000 could double the
length of the MAINS The number of users
would probably not be doubled, as already
the committee have selected the business
and best residence part of the city. Another
advantage in having the mains laid now is
that the city has careful committee and an
experienced engineer to superintend the
construction and this would guarantee good
work. The water works committee or at
least some members of it, believe that this
extension would at once put the the system
on paying basis
If any action is to be taken, it should be
Immediately. OF course there are two sides
to the proposition and the aim of THE
TINES is solely to bring the matter before
the people, in the hope that full discus
sion of the question may be had and such
steps taken as are desirable. We invite
short communications from our citizens and
give below the summary of a few inter-
views, which we have made
DIR. Parkill:-Personally l would not
favor any further appropriation. But If an
added appropriation will increase the effici-
ency. of the works and benefit many citizens
would probably vote for it.
+. f. Kohler:-Must do it. The present
plan does not Accommodate great many who
want water. Cannot see why anyone
should oppose it.
Ii. l.. Lewis:-Think it can be done now
as well as any time. 1t will be cheaper and
will make larger income.
M. Osburn:-Would favor voting $4,000
more. 1t would tend to equalize the tax
alton, because many more citizens could use
the water.
j. A. Beebe:-The time to do it is now.
1 should not oppose the voting of the bonds.
The works will have to be extended some
time.
j. ii. Robbins:-Think it has got to come
and we may as well do 1t now as any time.
Would favor bonding for $15,O 900 more.
l.. +. Woodard:-The added income will
more than pay all interest and other ex-
pense. Finish up now.
T. NJ. Wiley:-Do not favor crippling the
works by small appropriation. Let's have
II put in so as to last and benefit everyone.
VIM. Weidman:-I would want to inves-
tigate before would vote to bond the city
for a larger amount.
+. V. Smith:-Better do now all that is