San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-01-13
The Waterworks Question

laying in closing contract with
the Waterw orks company because
the latter demands the privilege of
using the streets for an indefinite
number of years. If this should
really be the only cause it can be
taken for granted that it is given
for the purpose of retarding the
negotiations. The company is to
obligate itself, according to the
new contract, to lay specified dis
lance of new pipe annually. We
will say that an additional 100000
will be added to the already
existing capital and even if
this should not be the case,
the company should have guar
antee that it would be protected In
its rights, before making COM
promise or concessions to make
which, at the present time, it is not
obligated to make.
What is good for one may be also
good for another. We should say
that the Waterworks company has
shown a disposition to meet the
demands of the city in most con-
| ciliatory manner. In regarding
the proceedings in its proper light
it must be seen that the city has
received all that could be justly
claimed and demanded, cOnse-
quently an attempt to blame the
Waterworks company for the de-
feat of the negotiation or hold the
company responsible for the same
cannot be thought of.
The action of the city council to
circumscribe or cripple the Water
works company, meets with no APP
prevail from the thinking citizen;
| but on the contrary, thoughtful
men are counting up how much
the city and the citizens could
have saved, if a settlement had
been agreed upon.
The WaterwOrks company does
not make any unreasonable claims.
1t has shown from the beginning
of the fierce opposition that it is
willing to take all demands and
propositions of the council in
proper and favorable consideration.
The company can not be blamed
when it objects to arbitrary declar-
atiOns of its rights being null and
void.
From the TeXaa Staats-ZeiJung. Jan. II.
Instead of dispatching the water
works question in good earnest the
city council is spending its time on
subjects that not alone seem doubt
full but smack of the ridiculous.
Owing to the fact that the Ala
mo and Madre bitches have held
such scant supply of water late
ly, caused the mayor, at the last
meeting Of the city council, in
seemingly just and righteous in
dignatiOn tOS throw the whole
blame upon the WaterwOrks COM
pany, claiming that the water had
been withdrawn purpOsly, which
was great loss to citizens living
adjacent thereto. But since then
competent authorities have estab-
lished the fact that the low
water is direct cOnse-
quence of the diminished
water supply from the head and
springs of the river which refutes
the charges Of the mayor. Only
one thing remains and which can
be recognized by the observing cit
izcn, is to accuse the WaterwOrks
com pany of actions that would
make them unpopular with the
people, if they could be induced to
believe them. The purpose aimed
at however, has not materialized,
and the fallacy Of the charges
was sufficiently established. On
the contrary, the gentlemen au-
thOrs" OF the plan, by which they
intend to malign the rep
utatiOn of the Waterworks COM
pany have only injured them
selves, for every one will recOg-
nize invidious spite of the partici-
pants and few Will sympathiZe
with them.
The citizens desire that the ad-
ministration will take the straight
road" in dispatching this water
works controversy in such a man
ner that neither party needs to
suffer. We would consider it I'M
just if the city administration
would need to hinder or cripple an
enterprise, unfortunately this
seems to be the case,) by its stub
bornness, when that company has
done so much towards the develop
ment of our city. The people will
never give their consent but will,
at the proper time show their dis
APPROVAL of the same.
Up to this time, the so called Re-
| form a Administrative has had but