The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-21
WATERl
An Open Letter from Council
men Ogle, Davis and Plsel.
a PLAIN STATEMENT OF FACTS.

ticle published By Mr. Lambert in his Som
eTsei Staltdrri on the 10Th inst. written ei-
ther in ignorance oft fscts, OF with de-
hbeTate intention 10 misrepresent them, and
to blacken the reputation Of three Of the
boroughs councilmen. makes it necessary
that We no longer maintain silence, but that
We at once inform you f the true status Of
the perplexing question
In December, 1891. the borough. at spe-
cial election, authorized the council to issue
bonds for $25 800 with which to build wa
ter works. Engineers were placed upon the
ground and ali the springs and streams
around the town exsmined-Kimberly run
being finally settled upon as the best source
of water supply.
The modified estimate Of cost made by en-
gineer C. w. knight for furnishing Kimber-
ly run water by gravity is S2I757Oo, his
first estimate being much larger.
The estimate Of engineer James P. Herdic
is for gravity ,lss and for pumping the
water to Tayman's hill $4,000. One Of
these estimates includes partially wooden
dam which the engineer says will have to be
renewed at the end Of Is years in other
words, he thinks it will last that long. The
plans and Specifications for both the gravity
and the pumping systems have been prepar-
ed, and council is ready to advertise for bids
from contractors.
Since the election OF last December was
held an offer has been made by John h.
White, builder Of the water works at Hynd-
man, Pa, to put in water works for Soner-
set for the franchise aud Sl200 per year for
period Of IS years.
We have never proposed TO give him this
sum, and never proposed 10 give him the
franchise at all, except by your permission,
TO be expressed through the ballot box at
special election 10 be called for that purpose
But owing to the revolutionary tactics used
by the president ofthe council, Ignorant OF
parliamentary law and the duties and power
of bis Office in refusing TO entertain or sCb-
NIT to vote Ofcouncil a resolution endorsed
by a majority Of the voting members OF
council, submitting the question to a popu-
lar vote, you have been denied the privi-
lege, which should be yours, TO say whether
or not the franchise should be granted to q
water company.
In view Of the foregoing il must be sppar-
ent to the dnllest that the writer of the
Standard article in charging US with a cor
rupt attempt to steal the water franchise wa.
ignorant Of the facts.
In view of the fact that all the water that
is brought into the town must also have
some means OF getting ont again, and that
the use of the water must be very Limited
and unsatisfactory without sewers, We have
been resisting the expenditure Of all the Dor
ough's means for water works alone. Com
plant is constantly made to the council
about dirty cutters and foul closets, sud in
order to get rid Of these evils, disease and
death-breeding influences, our effort is 70
get with the water a complete system Of san
itary sewerage. whereby the water from
bath rooms, water closets, wash rooms and
kitchens, can all be carried out Of the town
How is this TO be accomplished ? It can only
be accomplished by judiciOus, honest and
management Of our resources.
If we exhaust these by spending our limit
for water alone, We are at the end # the
string. Our plan, therefore, has been to sd-
yertise for bids, and then refer these to the
vote of the people 50 that they may, with
all the facts before them, vote intelligenty
upon the question.
OG Saturday, the l0.h day of December,
inst, Messrs. Granger. Davis and ogIe, in
the latters Office agreed 10 this plan, and
later in the evening il was 50 announced At
a full meeting Of the council held in the
Office Of J. A. Berkey, Esq, aud by common
in writing and ratified al the next meeting
Of council. which was set for Friday even
ing. December 10Th, inst. C5uncil net on
Friday evening agTeeably to said arrange
msnt, and the following resolution, read by
Mr.. Ogle. was informally though feryently.
and with as much heat As might be expected
in FIRE meeting. discussed by all present, 10
wit:
exist among members Of council as to the
best method Of procuring water for use Of The
borough, and
WHEREAS, It is desired to compromise
these differences By referring the question 10
a vote uf the citizens OF the borough. and
WHEREAS, In order TO do 50 it IS desirable
70 know whst sum contractors are willing
10 take to put the water in, in accordance
with the present plans and specifications IN
possession Of councils and also how much
any corporation, assOciaiion or individual
granted a water franchise for a period Of Is
years will charge the borough per year for
luH fire protectiOl, az the expiration OF
which term Of . years the borough shall
have the option o. acquiring said water
works upon the payment or securing to said
corporation, association or individual The
actual cost OF construction thereof, be i.
Rcs0led, That the burgess be directed to
advertise for sealed bids in accordance with
The above, all bids 30 be handed in by
O'Clock p. 10 Friday, the 18Th day Of Jaaua
", 1898. the night 10 reject any or all bids
heirg reserved 10 the borough, And upon
the asceriainment Of said bids that spe-
eial election be held on Saturday, the 2sth
day of January 1898, wher az tie legal 30
ters may approve or reject the provisions
of the acts OF assembly 10 April 1873. p. L.
T. q
water tax or against water tax.
notwithstanding the previous informal
agreement to this arrangement il was op-
posed by Messrs. Granger, Jones and Sanner,
whereap,n We coneluded 10 postpone fur
ther action upon the resolution until next
meeting, hoping that these gentlemen might
IN the meantime consult with their advisers
and satisfy themselves upon the reasonable
ness and fairness Of submitting this question
to a vote Of the people.
Il is not known definitely. and cannot Be
until bids are had. wha, the actual cost of
putting in water will be- Neither is IL def
nitely known what a company will take 70
put it in for a grant Of the franchise, and
cannot be until bids are had. II, however,
We can get some individual. company or cor-
Doration to pat the water in-ssy for as muci
as we are informed Meyersd4ls pays-s5oO
per year foT fire protection, or say as much
IS we pay the Electric Light Company there
iofOre championed by the Stqad1rlij S720 per
year, We would in our opinion be saving
money as borough by granting such par
y the franchise, and thus avoid the erea-
ion Of bonled Indebtedness for the bor-
1ugh to pay. for doubtful water plant.
Our ordinary tax duplicate which We issue
yearly, aggregates about $1,000
Receipts from sca les, about..........-...-- 400
Fines and Licenses, -
ro,., eo-,z "a