Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-01-17
FIXED FOR GOOD.
The City Council Re-Grants the Water
C0mpany's Franchise-Fifteen
Additional Hydrants for
the South Side.
A Talk with Engineer Howells-Imme-
date Arrangements for lrrigating
the Adjacent Valley Lands.

The city council met in regular session
last night. There were present the mayor,
Aldermen Palen, Garcia, German, Catron,
Mondragon and Romero.
City Engineer Robertson made a par
tial report on stone street crossings and
the matter was referred for the purpose
of securing bids on the work
On motion of Mr.. Catron the city
engineer was instructed to get bids on
the cost of laying sidewalk on Palace
avenue in front of the Preston property.
The committee on ordinances and
licenses reported the ordinance extending
the franchise of the Water& Improvement
company, with several amendments. One
the council authority to read just the water
rates at the end of ten years, and this was
championed by Mr.. Catron. On the
adoption of this tho vote stood 2 to 3
against this amendment. Mr.. Howells
was present and explained the injustice
that would be done his company by plac-
ing any such restriction in the ordinance.
Alderman Garcia then moved to accept
the report OF the committee with the ex-
ception of this amendment, and the mo-
ton was adopted, Alderman Delgado ap-
pearing and voting in favor of Alderman
Garcia's motion.
The ordinance granting extension of
tho franchise was then formally adopted
by vote of five in favor; Alderman
Palen, who is director of the Water
company, excused, and Alderman Catron
having left the council chamber.
A committee of the Board of Trade
urged some action on the sub ect of city
sewerage. Tho matter was referred to
the committee on sewers to report plan
of procedure, such report to be made at
an adjourned meeting of the council
Friday next at 4 p. IN.
j. V. Conway appeared and said he was
not making any prosecution against City
Marshal Gray and the charges were with
drawn. On motion of Alderman Garcia
the city marshal was reinstated.
THE WATER FRANCHISE.
Engineer julius M. Howells, of the
Santa Fe Water d Improvement company,
was much pleased, when seen by New
MEXICAN scribe to-day, over last nights
action by the city council.
On November 10, 1891, the council
granted this corporation twenty-five
year franchise to supply the cit, with
water for fire, domestic, irrigation and
street sprinkling purposes, their water
system TO be completed within one year,
Seven months later the Municipal Invest
ment company, of Chicago, purchased,
through Hon. l.. A. Hughes and other citi-
zeLs, the old water pant and went to
work in good faith. How diligently they
have labored the public we'll knows, but
tho contemplated Improvements finally
reached so large scale that it was i'm
possible to complete them on time, hence
the necessity of asking new franchise
This was granted last night, much to the
ediication of the people generally. AS to
rates, this new franchise makes no changes
in the original ordinance and in which
the rate feature was thoroughly canvassed
and voted as satisfactory in all respects,
being in all cases below the rates charged
heretofore. The original, as does this
ordinance passed last night, provides for
giving the city forty fire hydrants, as
against twenty-five now in use. These will
be located chiefly on the south side and
will suffice to extend the fire protection
limits out to Ramona heights. This new
ordinance also provides that the enlarged
water system shall be finished and in
operation within one year from date. At
the present rate of progress five months
will see this accomplished.
Referring to the subject of rates to be
charged water consumers Engineer
Howells said all reasonable men would
have to agree that the company could not,
in the very nature of things, adopt rates
that would prohibit the use of water, the
acequias and city wells serving as check
on this, and the cost of impounding the
water was too great to admit of holding it
in the reservoirs for extravaganza prices;
the company must be liberal perforce and
encourage the widest use of water in order
to get out of it reasonable revenue on
their investment.
Mr.. Howells was also gratified to say
that last nights action of the council as
sures the immediate construction of the
additional reservoirs which will make
10000 acres of suburban land available
for fruit farms. Had not this action been
taken last night, he said, all work on the
new water system would have been stopp.
ed to-day, but as it is, not only will the
present working force be enlarged, but
bonds will be sold at once, and all pre-
parations made to go right forward with
the suburban farms irrigation reservoirs
and canals.