The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-12
CUT IN WATER RENTS
The Borough Council Throws Down
the Gauntlet.
OLD RATES TO BE CUT HALF
The Pipe Line has Beer Accepted and
the Work of Making Connections
VIII Proceed at Once-Im-
portant Meeting.
OLD RATES TO BE CUT HALF

@lNN@N NNNAA VI WV 'o
ough Counc was held last evening. The
town pipe line of the public water works
was formally accepted from the contrac-
tors, the plans for connections were ar
ranged, rates for water rents were fixed
and other matters hearing upon the opera
ton of the plant were adjusted.
A quorum of Councilmen was not Sc
cured until after nine o'clock and the de-
lay in getting together prolonged the meet
ing until midnight, but a good nights
work was lone and water should be dis
tributed soon.
The meeting may be said to be the in
auguration of the public water works.
Mr.. Gable, chairman of the water COM
mittee read a lengthy report on the official
test of the pipes and containing many i'm
portant recommendations, which were acted
upon seriatim.
The report on the test of the pipes was
substantially as already published and
stated. "Mr. Quinn, after making the test,
wanted to know if it was satisfactory and
wanted the pipes accepted. AS chairman,
L lplu IN II q hOb q odbAoldCbOl9 Ubou1 "
which he replied that he thought it was a
fair test, as all the pressure that
could be had by water pressure was on
and it was the only test specified in the
contract. We also requested him to leave
water in the town for at least two days,
which was done, and all leaks have been
repaired satisfactory to your committee.
While your committee has no
dation to offer in regards to accepting the
pipe, we do think the best way, in order to
get to work and give the people the water,
is to accept the same"
During a lengthy debate on the matter
question was raised as to the style of thread
in the fire plugs and finally a motion to
accept a pipe was carried with the pro-
vision that Quinn & Kerns be requested to
make the thread of standard style if it
should be found otherwise.
Mr.. Gable then read the committees re-
port on connections, setting forth that the
committee asked power to solicit bids to
have the connections made by contract,
''the borough to pay for digging and for
the corporations to make connections, and
not more than two feet of lead pipe to be
used for the connections, the property
owners to pay where galvanized pipes are
used and for any additional pipe required.
The borough to pay for not more thar six
CO. feet Of digging in length, at any one
connection. Any more required is to be
done and paid for by the property holder.
The time for the borough to make the con
n~ections will cease on the first of October,
1895. After the expiration of said time the
property owners are to make connections
at their own expense"
This part of the report was also adopted
and Mr.. Kerns moved that the committee
prepare specifications for bids to be adver :
tised for at once, the bids to be opened at a
meeting of Council to be held on the 18th
inst.
Mr.. Gable recommended that three con-
nections of six feet each be made for the
people at Turkey Run, that the superin.
tendent take the names of people who
want water and collect the rent for same
in advance, and that the parties having
charge of the hydrants be supplied with
the names of people entitled to water.
These recommendations were also adopted.
1t was also decided that the connections
at Turkey Run be made first.
1t was also recommended that all work
on the connections be lone by taxpayers of
the borough, which was adopted after some
discussion. Mr.. Gable said he didn't
believe in hiring dago labor. The collieries
are only working three days a week and
there are plenty men in town who are com =
petent and willing to dothe work. Almost
all the S145, 900 the works have cost went to
dago labor, he said, and he didn't believe
in allowing any more to go that way.
1t was decided hat this labor provision
be made part of the contract and the pro-
posal advertisement.
Mr.. Gable also reported that the COM
mittee recommended that 20 cents per
family be charged for water and all other
consumption be charged for in accordance
with one half the rates now charged by the
old water company, This recommendation
was also adopted, but not until after a
lengthy discussion.
Mr.. d. r.. James thought the reduction
of rates a dangerous move The old water
company duplicate, he said, does not
amount to more than $4,000, and to cut
that in half would make the revenue less
than the running expenses Of the plant.
Mr.. Gable said the tax mills levied We're
for the purpose OF paying the interest on
the bonds and one-thirtieth of the prin-
cipal annually. The water rents would
pay the running expenses. The committee
estimated the expense of running the
plant at from 81, 900 to $4,000 per annum
and the revenue from rents at from $751;
900 to $4,000. The calculation of rents