The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-06-14
COMMON COUNCIL.

At special meeting of the city council
called Thursday evening for the purpose of
considering the water question, the mayors
remarks were substantially as follows:
SIN justice to our citizens the question
Of a water supply can no longer remain un-
settled. For practically one year it has
been in the hands of the water commission
and as yet We have no definite results. A
portion of the commission, as well as of
your body, are and have been in favor of a
gravity supply, and thorough examination
has been made of available tsources. The
commission has employed no less than three
engineers in the hope that some such supply
might be found, and have been unwilling to
abandon the scheme, although no one has
been able to show them where sufficient
water could be made available by the ex-
pendlture of the money which the city has
for this purpose.
The commission were strongly in favor of
purchasing the plant of The Dalles Mill and
" ater Co., at a reasonable price, although
this purchase would have entailed consider
able additional outlay for enlargement,
was made, then increased, the time for
answer extended, and every effort made to
secure the plant at a figure which would
leave sufficient funds for the necessary i'm
provements, but without success.
We must now relinquish the idea of a
gravity system, as years earnest en-
deavors on the part of men heartily IN
terested in the city's welfare have proved
unsuccessful In this direction. The city
should no longer wait in the hope that the
water company may relent and lower their
price. Water we must have, and it is pos
sible to get it. / have therefore, gentle
men, prepared the following resolution.
which shall now submit for your consider
alton:
At the last meeting of the council the
final report of the water commission con-
cerning the purchase of The Dalles Mill and
Water Company plant was received, naming
as the lowest price obtainable $50, 600 with
a rebate of one months revenue. A full
council notbeing present, and it being the
wish of the quorum that so important a
matter be brought before the entire body it
was resolved that action be postponed until
June 9th, in the hope of having every MEM
ber present, and it was further resolved
that the citizens and taxpayers be requested
to attend this meeting that an expression
of their opinion might be had. Il
On June 9th quorum of the council not
being present that body adjourned, and
mass meeting Of the citizens was held at |
which the question of the purchase of the
present plant was discussed, as was also the
alternative of obtaining the supply from |
the Columbia riyer. After numerous
speeches and showing of the comparative |
advantages and expenses by the secretary |
of the water commission vote was taken, |
which was practically unanimous IN favof
of the Columbia river supply. there being |
but one dissenting voice. Now,
WHEREAS the necessity for better water |
supply Is so urgent, and
WHEREAS the putlie voice has been |
heard In this matter. and is so pronouncedly |
in favor Of the Columbia river supply, be it |
Resolred that the purchase of The Dalles
Mill and Water Company plant be aban-
doned and that the water commission be
and hereby are instructed to issue without |
delay call for bids for the construction of |
a pumpins system
A vote was taken after warm discussion
which resulted in tie-two voting in the |
affirmative and two in the negative, With.
out further remark the mayor cast the de-
Gliding vote in favor of the pumping System.
There has been a continued endeavor to |
bring together full council for the consid- |
Grafton of the measure, but as repeated |
efforts had proved futile further delay was
thought upadvisable.