The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-03-30
THE SCRANTON WATER WORKS
THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION.

pal administration. This doubtless
Is positive proof to the advocates OF
the proposed water works and to the
town authorities that their action in
this matter is not in accord with the
wishes of the town, nor have the pro-
ceedingS been In the interest OF econ
omy and REFORM which was the
vaunted boast Of the administration,
of what would be. They flew in the
face oflaw, reason and demands OF the
town, and contracted for the sinking
OF an artesian well, which was COM
pleted and rejected by the Board un-
der its contract. G.. w. eager, con-
tractor, made "A proposition to sell the
well to the town for $40 10, Il rcduc-
tiCn of S202 10 from original price,
which was accepted. The town own
ed the well. or what benefit could it
be to the town, save for the purpose
Of furnishing water to a trough for
watering stock? Considerate and
muniilcent city officials! But it was ar
gued that it was for water works for
''fre purposes" and that the water
should, by the laying Of pipes and the
erection of tanks, be utilized thus
and it was further claimed that the
concern would furnish the citizens Of
the town water for drinking and do
nestle uses at a rate per annum fixed
by the town authorities. Just here
the legality Of the proceedings arose
to their view. 1t was appreciated
that the term water works" included
by a very large majority in its defni-
ton the ~artesian well already con-
tracted for, the peoples moneypaid for.
1t was appreciated that the Code of
1892 condemned their actions, for sec
tion 294S plainly reads in English
''To erect, purchase. maintain, and
operate water works. and to regulate
the same: and to prescribe the rates
at which water shall be supplied t.
the inhabitants and to acquire by
purchase, donation. or condemnation,
in the name of the municipality, suit
able grounds. within or without the
corporate limits, upon which to erect
water works, and also the right Of
way for laying water pipes within the
corporate limits, and from such water
works to the municipality, and to eX-
tend such right from time to time:
or to contract with any person fer the
erection and maintenance OF water
works for a term not exceeding TWEEN
ty-tiye years, fixing water rates in the
contract subject to municipal regula-
tiOns. But Il contract for the erection,
purchase. or maintenance Of water
works shall not be entered into until
submitted to a vote Of the qualified
electors, and approved by majority
of them"
1t is quite clear that the artesian
well in question formed the major
part OF the water works y it was put
there illegally, as was the use made
of the grounds where it is situated.
If mere water pipes and tanks cOnsti.
tnte such works, and the source of
supply not included, a suitable pro-
vision in the Code would doubtless ap-
pear. But to shield the unwarrantcd
action, we were told that the whole
thing was for "fre purposes" only.
and that ''the lawyers said that for
that purpose it would be legal" So
with that assurance and in order to
be on the safe side, an election was
ordered to get the voice of the people
on further action in the matter. But
the ordinance passed November II,
1893, ordering said election doesn't
contain the word ''ire" or the word
purpose" 1t bluntly reads ''That
the question or proposition of erect
ing, purchasing, maintaing and oper'
ating a water works be submitted tt
IA vote of the qualified electors of this
town, to be held on the second Mon.
day in December, 1893" This cleo.
tion was postponed and another day
appointed-Monday. March 26, 1891
and in this last order it was to decide
simply between For Water and
against Water" and the ballots
were so prepared and cast.
The people have said they didn't
want water" the law indicates the
$40 70 well to be of bastardly origin
the title to the ground where it is sit.
uatcd has rival claimants, and the
w%ater-supply is thoroughly unreliable,
The vote Monday indicated that the
citizens did not endorse the economic
plans OF the town authorities, nor in.
clined to be proud of their aquatic
possession. What are they going to dc
about it? Cut it up into p0st-hoIes :
Recent repairs on it have cost $64 &c
which brings the total up to 1891 40,
not including the cost of the election,
and other incidentals. The present
officers went into Office pledged to re.
trenchment AMI reform, and behold
Have we had it Place the present
administration beside it's predecessor
and comparisons become odious.'
Yea, verify. With no lights on the
streets at night, with insufficient DO.
lice force, and with sidewalks and
streets that In wet weather, if not In
dry, are an abomination, a curse tt
the town and Il disgrace To- a civilized