The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-11
IS THERE A JOB IN IT?
Tacomans Agitated Over the
Water Works Deal.
CHEAP PLANT At FANCY PRICE.
Lieut.. Dodge, Formerly - Pert Towns
end. CAshiored From the AP0y-xho
Michigan . fetal Wrosk.

1AcoxA, Feb. 10-[Special]EIhe Inn
preston has gone out that. besides the
city council, several prominent business
men are interested in the sale Of the light
and water company's plant to the city at
this time. Some Of the men who formerly
fought the water company, il il now al
legged. are to Be promised large sums a.
commissions If the plant can now be dis
posed OF 1t figures ranging from 81 SOC. 900
70 $1,000, 600 One gentleman, not now in
the city, it il said. will be paid the sum of
4300. 600 if the deal can be pushed through.
Originally the light and water committee
Of the city council recommended that
81. $50 900 DO paid for the plant. Today J.
W. Berry, chairman of this COMMITTEES,
said he proposed to ''raise the devil with
the water company" because of the insin-
uations that he had been paid, and had
received money out Of the s'deal."
Mr.. Berry Is also in receipt of telegram
from Nelson Bennett, dated Philadelphia,
IN which he recommends the purchase Of
the water. light and gas plant, for the sum
Of 81. 800. 600. A year ago Mr.. Bennett was
the head and front of the opposition to the
Tacoma Light and Water Company. He
was instrumental in tho formation of q
citizens water commission. which carried
on an investigation with view Of secur.
ing for the city new and improved water
system.
Less than . year ago Mr.. Bennett sub
mitted to the city council . bid to build q
new water system for something less than
t4O0.O 200 under the price which he now re.
commends should be paid for the electric
light and gas plants added. together with
ali ri ~ Wy
Griggs, who a. an extensive contractor i
familiar with the value of such property,
says. lis not worth I cent over $500, GOO. :"
In addition to this, Col. Griggs brands the
proposition to load the plant on to the
city at the figures asked. $3.50. GOO, as .
.momstrous job, and claims that at that
price that there would b fully 81 COO, 600
IN the deal.
As means of comparison. It IL said by
gentleman who lived at Portland at the
time tho city bought the plant of the
Portland xWater Company for about
l6O0, 200, that the Portland system was at
that time worth more than the Tacoma
system at present; that it had cost more
money. and was capable of furnishing
much more and much better water than
the Tacoma plant.
Not long ago many Of those who favor
the purchase of the water plant were de-
nouncing the supply and exhibiting vari-
Gus putrid substances found in It. Some,
including Mr.. Bennett, used to bring their
supply of water for drinking purposes to
the city from suburban springs.
OF course the people will have to pass
Judgment on the proposition by vote. and
II there is not . speedy and satisfactory
explanation of the motive of many of the
principals concerned, there Gan be little
hope of the city securing control of it,
light and water plants. OF course those
pecuniarIy interested In thu life of the pri-
vats corporation now in control. are re-
ioicing At the prospect Of the people and
the company's agents being 1t logger
heads.
An electrician In the employ of the COM
pany said the other day that the city was
paying $40 for electric lights at present,
which could be furnished at profit at -
At the Trades Council meeting last night
the light and water company's proposition
TO sell its plant to the city was discussed
ct length. It seemed to DO the sense Of
the meeting that il the city were to make
the purchase the price should be consider
ably reduced below the company's latest
figure. Among the reasons given for not
buying were the quality of the water now
supplied, the deprecated plant and the
fact that in the event of the city's building
new works money would be paid out in
the city instead Of being sent to Phila-
delphia.