The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-10
TOO MUCH FOR WATER.
is THE oITYsTo BE ENJoINED ON IT'S
CONTRACT. WITH THE COMPANY
Vavlous Gentlemen Tackled About In
teresting Reports, All of Whom Are
Uncommu nicative Until President
Hadden Is Reached.

Hadden Is Reached.
The surprises growing out Of the Taxing
District Commissioners budget for 1889
90, and its defeat mainly through Col.
John Overton, Jr., are not yet ended.
The greateA one OF the season is yet in
embryo, but gradually growing, and will
probably be ready to pluck in the near
future
For day or two past reports have been
in cir culation, rather quietly, that few
tax.paying citizens had resolved to enjoin
the city authorities from carrying ont its
contract with the Artesian Water Com
pany. The reasons assigned for this pros
pectiye legal action was that the amount to
be paid by the city, $50, 900 per year in the
aggregate, was unduly excessive. An AP-
PEAL reporter, with the rumors as text,
went in search OF several gentlemen sus-
pected OF the designs. All hands denied
any complicityin the movement, but mere
ly preferred 10 say nothing OF whatever
knowledge they might have OF the rumors.
President lladden, however, the last one
visited on the subject, was more commu-
NEGATIVE; in fact, IL touched him in a ten
der spot, and he talked at great length
about it. Mr.. MADDEN admitted that he
had heard something Of the matter in
quired about, but from no one who could
speak with deiiniteness, and he supposed
the reporter aud himself were on the same
footing with regard to information.
"ln the event IL becomes certainty,
and injunction proceedings are begun,
what, in your opinion, will be the out
Gomez"
Throwing himself back in his easy chair,
with look of unconccrn and WEAKNESS,
the Pooh Bahish Tycoon replied, "oh, a
lawsuit, | suppose"
"It's that lawsuit I'm after. Did you
understand that the basis Of the lawsuit
was a complaint that your contract with
the water company called for too much
money!"
81 made tn very best contract could
Just a. ! did with the old company for
Wolf River water, for which il received
80, 900 per year. But I'm fortified on this
water question, no matter what shape d
contest In the courts took. am the man,
with the Council, who got up the bill au.
thorizing the Taxing District TO issue
bonds. not 20 exceed 500, 900, TO build
and equip water works of its own. My
plan was TO predicate the bonds upon the
plant, the city TO be responsible for moth.
ing but the interest thereon, the bonds TO
be lien on the plant. We held
several meetings on the subject, and
| argued the matter ably or porsistcntly''
here the President thought he detected
n smile, which he didn't fancy, evidently,
and reiterated: "Yes, damn il, and aby"l
ION which you can refresh your memory
by referring 10 the files Of The APPEAL.
The bill went mp TO the Legislature, but
was there met by protest from 23S OF the
best citizens, who were opposed 10 the city
owning and operating water works. They
insisted ON leaving that for corporation
Of private individuals. We finally reached
nm agrcemeni, aud nassel n ..:S-,,it:
~ Doth the bonds and interest upon the
plant, on which bonds were issued which
were not worth the paper they were printed
on. Still, ~ the head OF the Government,
| was sent on 20 New York 20 see what
could do with them. ] went there, placed
them before the capitalists and they gave
me the grand laugh-thc razzle-dazzle, 80
To speak. AtiCr my return, Judge Latham
came before the Council and proposed that
II We would pay his company about &c.,
900 year he would move over
10 the Mississippi River, give us a
water supply from that source, build
reservoirs aud do ever no many things.
Then Bullock appeared, and wanted 10
contract for the supply OF pure, whole.
some water, but had no sample TO show
what he had In store, aud lac got no con.
Soon uNfUVttHuNI Nlsnss a A \.
artcsiln well water, sent us sample, we
drank Il, everybody drank IL, and said il
was the BEST in the world. Another
sample was sent 10 Dr. Smart, celebrated
chemist, for analysis. and his report con-
iirmcd the popular verdict The people
were just in that frame Of mind that
believe they would have consented 10 paw
500, 90 year for the water rather than
do without Il, aud continue using Wolf
River water. The di-coyercrs Of the
artcsian well water asked for a contract
with the city, In which they bargaincd TO
furnish an ample supply IA per sample,
and We entered into one with them. 10
continue Tor thirty years believe with
all the proceedings NJ that stage Of the
game you and the public aro familiar, and
there's no use rcciting them. The contract
was published la all the papers ut the
tinc-in THE APrEAL twico-and nobody
said word 'gainst Il, except a few who
based their opposition upon belief that
n sufficient quantity Of water for n city Of
the size Of Memphis could not be secured
from these wells. | suppose thoy still en-
terrain that view, though we arr getting
plenty OF water and good water. Thce's
where those who oppose the contract
noW lost their opportunity 10 break Il II
they desired to DO ~.
Your contract with tho old company
u not vet expired. Is it2'
"NO, | believe u has about fifteen years
10 hold, but what We pay on that Is 10 90
~ u credit on the account with the new
company. In other words, We are not
required 20 pay both, You saw that bill
introduced in the Legislature a few DAYS
ago authorizing water companies In any
ono city In the State 90 consolidate. That
was really for these companies here. aud
| suppose Il will pass, and the consoli.
dat.,n be effected legally"
"Wrro not the bonds YOU carried 10 New
York very similar o. those recently 40
easily placed by Judge latham
Yes, gulAe ~, but lee had a contract
10 back them