The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-17
CITY WATER WORKS
Unless the Present Company Will
Sell Reasonably, the City May
Build Its Own Water Works.


court house to consider the requirement
of the water works by the city was a
pronounced success. At the hour set
every seat was taken and it was plain
that tho leading tax payers of the city
felt Il deep interest in the movement, as
many of them were present who would
not have been there had not the qucs-
ton appealed immediately to their in
~terests. The meeting was called to or
der by the mayor, and Alderman J. NJ.
Gaunt. who brought this matter up at
the last council meeting, was made chair
man. Mr.. Bole was elected secretary of
the meeting.
In an address setting forth the objects
of the meeting, Mayor Webster said:
"A week ago tonight at the council
meeting the mayor was directed by the
city council to call a mass meeting to
discuss the matter of the city owning its
own water works. In pursuance Of a
resolution passed 10y the council this
meeting was called. 1t is well known 10y
all of us that if possible it is advisable
for the city to own its own water works.
1t is a matter 10 which all citizens are
Interested, and therefore this meeting
q tull'N tllut e w II L
and open discussion Of the matter. This
IS a subject which should be considered
very carefully from all points, as to the
present indebtedness of thc city and the
ACCESSIBILITY Of adding to the indebted
ness we already have. 1t should be dis
cusscd by the best and ablcst citizens,
and the council, | am sure, will be ready
to do all they can for the best interests
of the city and very resident thereof
The chairman then spoke as follows:
"ihe mayor has stated the object Of
the meeting clearly and I think Is uni
v~ersaily conceded by the citizens of Great
Falls that we should, if possible, own
our own water works, and TO have cheap
water we must own u " water
works. think every citizen is IN favor
OF treating the present water company
in It fair and square manner. They
came in the town when it took consider
able pluck. enterprise, energy and nerve
to put in such Il system of water works
aa we nave. ! ito not think it would be
right, and would not be in favor Of using
any unfair means, to deprive them of
the franchise they have, or to take away
from them anything they have gained
10y putting III The water works. 1t *
right they should have fair treatment.
They have put in 1t good plant: they
have fulfilled all their contracts with the
city, and tncy are entitled to d profit.
The water works. from the best inforlua
tiOn | can get, cost about 100000, in
Guiding their lndebt 'ducss, and | think
they euouid have al least that amount
Tor their planr, provided they VIII take
IT,"
There are some obstacles TO overcome
il the people want to " the water
Nrt1lc In H., Erlt vi.4, tI,nN- l.t.n tl,
franchise: the question. Of validity will
haye 10 be decided later in case they re-
fuse 10 sell, ! believe that if the matter
is talked over with Mr.. Phelps IN Il
reasonable way and a fair proposition is
made to that company they viii proba-
bly, sell. Their contract is for twenty
years, and ii they positively won sell for
a reasonable price, the question is, will
it pay the citizens to have water works
Of their wi We are paying at the
present time 5lG,ilo for hydrunt rental,
nut in a few years | think this would be
doubled. The population is increasing
and The demand for water is increasing.
The city council is not compelled by
ordinance to order water mains I'M
Ill thcy want them. Now, | bring this
before you to ascertain whether we shall
go ahead aud pay them the nydrant
rental that We have paid them up to this
time aud not order auy moro water mains
and build works Of our own. 1t seems
to m" that We should have works of our
own. think there should not be any
thing rash about it. ! think we should
20 ahou1 it in a eau ious way. The city
cIuuJt incur an Indebtedness to exceed
three per cent Of It's assessed valuation.
and ! believe under the present clrcum-
stances "" could not afford 10 buy the
water works, but Senator Power intro
iucUd 4 bill in the senate last week
which would allow cities to incur an in
dabtcducss for city and water purposes
not to eXcecd i've or SIX per cent, Will
that Indebtedness we could put in ii
water plant of our own. If it BECOMES d
law, and perhaps it viii, the obstacle wi
uc overcome.
This is IA meeting to have public opin-
ion expressed, and | want every one
present 10 feel at liberty to tolk on the
subject. 1t IL a public mass meeting Cor
the public good Of the city.
Mr.. Ford stated that he understood
that the present owners were trying tc
capitalize the company for ,:}iO,oO0, and
m ca-n n WAS p~urrhdfld tho city 81
would have to pay that amount.
Vi. Daniel Mckay also spoke on the
gubjeCt. He heartily endorsed the pur
chase Of the plant, or in case If inability
10 Ito that 10 construct water works OF
our own. Ia fact this seemed = be the
general sentiment OF ali present. Tho
question a. to what price should h" PAID
was discussed, uud Mr.. Cockrjll said
thar was Il matter that rested entirely
with the water company. We cpul,
not dictate To them tine amount OF
money they should receive; Wc could
only ask them to name their price, aud
al Il future meeting decide whether OF
not We could pay it; and if in IT," opinion
OF the citizens the price was cXtortion.
ATE TO consider the advisability of con,
structing works of their own. Several
others spoke among whom were Capt,
Greg Judge iluy, II. o. Chowen, J. \,
MarNai.ht, Mr.. Bole, Mr.. Houston and
Mr.. Hughes.