The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-12
TACOMA WATER JOB.
The Council Thinks 81, 500, 900
Is Enough for the Plant.
A SALE MAY NOT De MADE.
Remarkable Change 81 Trent Of the
Opponento Of The Purchase Prop
Enthusiastically TelegRan.

TACOMA. Feb. 1l-rSpecial. 1.-The city
council this evening gave color to the
rumors of jobbery in today's Posr-lNTEL-
LIGENcER about purchase of the Tacom
Light and Water Company's plant With
Nelson Benefits telegram in hand ,
strongly urging" that $3.50. 900 be paid.
the council rebuked all who have joined
in favoring what seems to be . propo-
sition to fleece the taxpayers out Of $780,
600 by refusing to allow but 81 .500. 600. and
even at that figure it 10 questionable if the
people will sustain the council after what
has been said aud done.
About year ago the Tacoma light and
capitalists for just s., 45O. 900. During the
past year the company has put only $54.-
GOO OF its annual earnings into improving
the plant. Therefore, to now attempt to
load it on the people. as Mr.. Bennett
strongly urges" after seeing c. B.
Wright, at Philadelphia. strikes the aver
age citizen As smacking Of jobbery to the
extent Of just $500. 900.
The first move at the council meeting
was the resolution of Cove to pay only
100000 for the plant. Subsequently
this was raised to $1.5OO, 600, which was
the price actually put upon the property
by the water committee. The latter propo-
sition, however. is to include all Of the
company's realty holdings, amounting to
about $3.50 900. fumes, springs, good will
and everything in sight in the way of be-
longings. which foots up 81, sol, 900 all told.
About all the vital facts regarding the
attempted unloading of the plant have
been suppressed here. One of the most
significant of recent changes on this ques-
ton. outside of Nelson Bennett. is the
action of Councilman Steinbach. who 10
member OF the committee sent on to
Philadelphia to confer with c. B. Wright.
Before he left he protested against paying
even 81 $50, 600 for the plant, excepting the
gas plant. which is valued at $15o, 900. To-
day, after seeing Mr.. Wright. he signed .
telegram to the council favoring the pay
ment Of $4CO. 900 more than he was willing
to pay before going to Philadelphia.
As was stated in today's PosT-INTELLI-
GENCER, if the officials and citizens VINO
have faced about on the water question do
not offer speedy and satisfactory explains
ton, Tacoma will not own its light and
water plant until it is able to build one Of
its own. which, it is expected, will be in
from three to five years.
TACOMA, Feb. 1l.-[Special. 1.-The city
council at its regular meeting this after
noon voted to draft and wire its ultima
tum on the Light and Water Company's
proposition to sell its plant to the city. A
telegram was accordingly sent to the coun-
cil's committee now in Philadelphia.
authorizing 1t to offer 81 SOC, 600 for the en-
tire holdings of the company in this city,
including water, gas and electric light
works and real estate.
The council offers to pass an ordinance
calling for an election to issue bonds in
that amount, if the Light and Water Com
pany will accept the same. The COM
mittee was instructed to inform Mr..
Wright that this action is final and it
would consider no other proposition. The
latest figure placed by the company upon
its plant, exclusive of the gas works, was
81. 100000.
A telegram was received from Chicago
parties today. stating their willingness to
take the water bonds at q premium OF 5
per cent. In view of this offer it is thought
that the bonds could be foated at or AZ
per cent when issued.