Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-06
BOND OR NO BOND.
QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
After Free Exchange of Views the New Water Company Is Relieved of Max
 ing Bond

A called meeting of the city council was held at o'clock yesterday after noon to consider the granting of fran chise to the proposed new water works to be built by Mir Caldwell Brad shaw and associates, full mention of which the Age-Herald has heretofore made. Present at the meeting were Mayor VanHoose and Alddf men Ward, Harrington, Ullman, Enslen, Pearce, McCartin, Gillespie, Mcknight and Jones.
 Chairman Gillespie of the judiciary committee, to whom the proposed con- tract was referred. said the committee had had a meeting, but that MT. Cald- well Bradshaw and associates objected to making a bond, as stipulated by the council. MT. Bradshaw submitted a com munication setting out their objections to giving a bond, and also stating their plans for building the water works into the city and what advantages would thereby accrue to the city. The new company agrees to furnish free such water as the city needs for flushing tanks, sewers, etc, and for fire protection. They also propose furnishing water to consum- CTS at 20 per cent less than they now pay.
 Alderman Gillespie says the bond, as agreed upon by the committee, gave the company six months in which to experi- ment and ascertain if they can get suf- ficient water at Gate City, and at the eX- piration of that time they have the op- tion of making the bond and putting In the water works, or if they fail to se- cure an ample supply of water the ordi- nance granting the franchise will not apply They make no bond until they be- gin work, and in the opinion or MT Gill lespie the city should have protection against accidents that may occur While the work of putting in the water mains, etc, progresses
 Alderman McCartin objected to the clause requiring a bond, on the ground that corporations were supposed to be solvent, with visible assets which could be made liable for any accident
 Alderman Mcknight said the question of requiring bond of corporation was never mentioned until the new telephone company was before the board and as the new water works company was com posed of all home men he favored letting them in without bond.
 Alderman Ullman didn't want to re- uuire the company to give bond indem- nifying the city from any damage that might occur to the city for failure 10 build the water works, but he did think they should give bond for any accidents to individuals that might make the city liable.
 MT. Caldwell Bradshaw said the com pany would be liable for damages for any injuries that might occur by req son of negligence of the company. He said the fact that such bond was re- quired would make it more difficult for the company to secure financial ald. They would have to get money from other sources, he said, and the bond would seriously hamper them in getting such money, if it did not entirely defeat their plans.
 Alderman Jones moved to strike out the bond clause and the motion was sec onded by Alderman Ward.
 Mayor VanHoose called Alderman Jones to the chair and addressed the board, opposing the motion. He said not a foot of street railroad had been lald in the city in the past several years without a bond Other corporations were required to give bond. He was anxious to have the new company in the city, but wanted the city's interests protected. The bond is very reason able one only s1O000 One damage suit alone may bring you up to your hab ities. The committee was agreed on the proposition to require a bond and not a word was said to the contrary until some time after the meeting. It was following a good precedent, said the mayor, and he earnestly hoped the mo- tion to strike out that clause would not prevail He said he was anxious not only to have that company, but all other water companies that desired to come into the city. ,
 Mr Bradshaw said he met with the committee. but did not assent to the clause requiring a bond. He sald the comparison Of a water company ana railroad company was not falf. mere was no similarity between 1t. Tn tne construction of street railroads the streets are torn up, which is not the case in building water works. When the irst lick is struck in the city limits the com pany-will have quarter of mlliion or dollars of property, which would be l1a- ble for any accidents attributable to their negligence.
 Alderman McCartin advocated the mo tion and Alderman Ullman favored a bond to protect the city from any naolii- ties resulting from acts of the company
 The vote on the motion to strike out the bond clause resulted as follows:
 Yeas-Aldermen Ward, Harrington, Pearce, McCartin, Mcknight and Jones -6.
 Nays-Mayor VanHoose and Aldermen Iyllman, Ensley and Gillespie-4.
 Alderman Gillespie offered resolution providing for the publication of tax mo- tices and the issuance of executions against delinquent tax payers; also one providing for the collection of poll taxes
 On motion of Alderman Ward the rules were suspended and the resolutions adopted.
 On motion the board adjourned until 5 o'clock this afternoon.
 When weak, weary and worn out Hoods Sarsaparila is just the medicine to re- store strength.