The record-union., 1893-02-22
The Subject Discussed by the Citizens
Committee.
Mr.. Henry Again Explains the Feat.
ures of His Proposition-Prompt
Action to Be Taken.

1iaAi, y. IL. HUBBARD, w. ID. Stalker, ii.
Weinstock, G. A. Stoddard, f. r. Dray,
+. A. Miller; also Clinton L. White, J.
ID. Henry and others.
City Auditor Young called the meeting
TO order and II. Weinstock was chosen
Chairman and Joseph Steffens Secretary.
The proposition submitted to the City
Trustees on Monday by Mr.. Henry was
read by the Secretary, as published in
lhe REcoRD-UNIoN yesterday.
Mr.. Hall said that, next to the fact of
Inc deslrabllity ofhaving clear and pure
water, was that of the comparative ex-
pense attached to the present and pro-
posed systems.
Mr.. Henry was then requested to en-
Aghten the committee on this point. He
went over the ground in substantially the
same language as when before the Trus-
tees on Monday, and which were pub
hshed quite fully in these columns.
dc enumerated the various items of
cost TO the city during the past four years
IN operating It's present system of Water
Works. amounting to SOS, 900 81. His
proposition was to pump into the mains
through meter owned and in charge of
Inc city. In looking over the ground he
decided that II was best to lay the main
himself, TO go with the plant, the work to
be done under the supervision of the
Trustees
His proposition was to sell the plant to
the city now, the same to be paid for
hiteen years hence at the then actual cash
Nalue OF the real estate, pumps and build
lngs, to be determined by arbitration.
n long discussion ensued between Mr.
Henry and the members of the commit
lee, he answering all questions pro-
pounded to him in relation to the various
points covered by his proposition.
In reply to question by Mr. Vein
stock, Mr.. Henry said his idea was to sell
the plant to the city for cash, but bonds
would be just as acceptable to him if the
city preferred that means of settlement.
Many OF the city water systems in the
country, he said, are now operated either
under purchases of the kind proposed by
him or will be when the terms of contract
expire.
Mr.. Henry said he would be frank with
the committee and would say that his
prospective profits, after supplying the
city with water at the same expense it
was now under, would result from his
conducting the work with improved ma
chlnery and on cheaper basis; the differ
ence between the present cost and that
which he would be under being what he
would make. His plant. he said, would
cost him from 100000 to $3.50, 900, and 6
per cent interest on this would pay him,
He would provide himself with dupli-
cate machinery, as he did on his street.
danger of the city being without water
through accident.
1t will cost him, he thought, from S25,-
coo to $4,000 10 experiment sufficiently to
determine the extent of the supply to be
obtained, and he would be risking this
amount on the enterprise.
There can be no increase in the popula-
tion OF this city, said Mr.. Henry. without
3 good water supply and a sewerage sys-
tenn. With these an increase in popula-
ton must come. and l estimate that the
last five Of the fifteen years would yield
me profit on the enterprise through the
additional water supplied to the city with
the same machinery in use.
He sald he was willing that other citi-
genS should share with him in the enter
prise to the extent of 40 per cent, but he
desired to hold a controlling interest in
order to carry out his ideas in its man
agement.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Hall,
Mr.. Henry said the experiments should
cover the dry months, wherefore it would
take just about year from now to get
the plant in operation, as in the fall orders
for the machinery would have to be
placed after the experiments had been
made.
To Mr.. Dray Mr.. Henry said the water
would have TO be acceptable tothe city
before the latter would enter into any
contract, and the wells would of course
have to be of a proper depth-say about
100 feet, which is below the second strata
of clay.
A long discussion ensued between
members of the committee and Mr..
Henry relative to the comparative cost of
the present and the proposed new system,
some holding that it did not really cost
the city within $4,000 year OF Mr..
Henry's estimate, but the latter coritended
that his figures were based on those
shown by the city's books.
Mr.. Henry said that in order to settle
the matter at the coming election the
Trustees must act within a week. Ii the
proposition was not All agreeable one to
the people of the city he did not want it
accepted.
Mr.. Weinstock asked why it would not
be as well to merely obtain an expression
from the people, and then let the Trustees
take a little time to consider the matter
themselves.
10 this Mr.. Henry replied that it would
suit him-he simply wanted the people
TO say whether or not they would be
willing 10 have the Trustees enter into
such a contract.
Mr.. Henry then withdrew. and the
committee had little family talk" OF
their own.
Mr.. Weinstock said that he had given
considerable attention to the water ques-
ton, and \. Abbott had been working
on similar proposition for some time.
The latter had hoped to soon propose TO
do just what Mr.. Henry had proposed,
but as to whose plan would be most ad-
Vantageous to the city he did not know.
lie believed that subcommittee should
be appointed to inquire into various mat
ters connected with the water PROPOSE
ton and report within a few days. If
something be not done now it will be
nine months before the question can
again be submitted to the people. If the
people approve of having new and bet
ter water supply, then the Trustees can
take action.
From the discussion which followed it
seemed to be the sense of the entire COM
mittee that the city needed a better sup
ply and purer water, and that it would be
desirable for it to own its own works, but
that this was out of the question now, be-
cause of the lack of funds.
Committees were appointed as sug-
gesteG, and they are expected to report at
q meeting of the general committee to
be held on Thursday evening at ia j
street.
Committee to ascertain If others have
similar propositions 10 make-F. Dray,
T. Is. Hall and 2. y. Miller.
To obtain financial data and compara-
tive estimates-Joseph Stetfen, c. II. Hub
bard and Ii. Weinstock.
To report on the condition of the pres
ent water works machinery-G. a. Stod-
dard, w. ID. Stalker and j. II. Roberts.
Chairman Weinstock was made an eX-
cfficio member ofall the committees.
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
Ex-sheriff Sprague of Butte is here on
q visit.
The Red Men will give domino party
this evening.
.1ls %ln A ~