The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-07-16

The time has arrived when the borough
must push the public water works to
completion at the earliest possible mo-
ment This is not a statement made to
harass the Borough Council when it is
low in conflict with the contractor of the
new works, but is warning based upon
facts which, as presented here, will no
doubt impress themselves upon the minds
of the Council and the people at large
with due effect.
This morning HERALD reporter heard
a rumor that the plant of the Shenandoah
Water & Gas Company had been sold to
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron
Company. As Mr.. c. Il. Titman has re-
centlylrbeen a heavy purchaser of the
water company's stock he was considered
the best authority on such a deal if it had
an existence, and the reporter sought him
but failed to get any satisfaction. Mr.
Ttman would not admit, deny or even
express an opinion as to the probable
truth of the report.
In all emergencies where a good piece
of news is at stake the newspaper meu
have knack of getting at the facts by
hook or crook and this case was not an
exception.
The HERALD is in a position to state
that the plant of the Shenandoah Water
& Gas Company, by an agreement signed
to-day, has been conditionally sold to the
Philadelphia & Reading Coal &, Iron
Company.
To be more explicit, the agreement
signed to-day provides for arrangements
by which the plant of the water company
is to be connected with all the collieries
Of the p. & r. company and as soon as
the connections are made the water COM
plny is to begin supplying the collieries
with all the water it can, and when the
plant of the water works is completed the
plant of the Shenandoah Water and Gas
Company, or at least the entire supply of
the plant, is to be turned over to the p. &
r. G. & l. Co.
1t has been impossible to ascertain
what consideration the water company is
to receive for its water, how much water
the collieries will require, or what con
sideration will be paid upon the transfer
of the plant to the p & r. G. & |. Com
pany, but it is said that pending the com
pletion of the public water works the
cOllieries will be entitled to draw from
the plant whenever they need water and
there is any for them. The town will not
be cut off to afford supply for the col
lieries OF vice versa.
From this statement of facts the Coun-
ell and citizens should readily realize how
important it Is that the completion of the
public water works shall be pushed as
fast as possible, The erection of the pub
lie works was urged because the old com
pany could not sufficiently supply the
town, and, if that assertion was correct,
how much more so will it be when the
collieres begin to draw from the plant
1t is understood the stockholders of the
old company are very anxious for the
completion of the new works so that they
may cOnsummate the final deal with the
+. n H. C. a. /, Co., and be relieved of the
expense and trouble attending the opera
tion of the town portion of the works.
IL is also stated upon reliable authority
that Mr.. G. h. Titman, of town, has be
come the owner of the majority Of the
water company's stock, having recently
purchased the shares owned by Messrs.
Charles Bowman and John A. Gather.
1t is quite natural that the announce
ment of this deal will create much discus
sion, but whatever comment may be
made upon it the Shenandoah Water and
Gas Company cannot justly be rendered
subject TO criticism. 1t has had chance
to sell its plant and accepted it. The
borough had chance to make the pur-
chase and would not do it. That there
should be very much surprise over the
deal is not in the course of natural events,
as early last May the HERALD sounded
the warning. Reference to a copy of the
paper of May 10th will reveal the follow
ing
WILL THE PLANT GO.