Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-09-20
PURCHASE Of WATER WORKS
That Was the Question ,Agitating the
Council Last Night-Argu-
ments Presented.
The Question May Re Presented to
the People for Final Adj
%judicatiOn.

Gil Monudy W Cousiuei tuo 4ucstiou vi
the submission to the people of the ques
ton of purchasing the water works.
Mayor Webster presided. Prior to the
meeting an executive meeting was held,
at which Mr.. Phelps on behalf Of the
company submitted an opinion from his
lawyers, Clayberg, Mcconnell & Co., a
to the proper procedure in the premises.
After transacting routine business a Pc
tition was read signed by r. S. Ford and
others, reciting that it was understood
that the council intended to call a spe-
cial election TO vote on the proposition to
purchase the water works and franchises
and stating that, in the opinion of the
subscribers, this would be detrimental
to the best interests of the city for the
following reasons: First, that the price
asked by the company was double what
the plant was worth; second, that the
debt Of the city, county and school
district was To- SO large that an addi-
tional burden would have II tendency to
drive away investment in the commun-
ity. For these reasons the petitioners
asked that the movement to purchase or
obtain possession of the plant be aban-
doned and the matter be laid away
among the archives of the city clerks
office. The petition contained the names
of a goodly number of citizens and tax
pa ers, among others being that of e.
W. King, superintendent OF the water
works.
Alderman Williams made a motion
that the question be deferred till another
meeting on Wednesday next.
Alderman Dunn thought that some
action should be taken on the petition
and that the water question should be
delayed or set aside for the present.
Alderman Fitzgerald thought that the
question of purchasing the plant should
be dropped till such a time as Phelps
could be compelled to take a reasonable
price for his plant. He was willing to
pay him $4,000 Of 100000 more than
the plant really cost but objected to pay
ing him a profit of S25O,Q00.
Alderman Young said that the water
company did not start this ball a-rolling
but the people. 1t was an issue at the
last election and he thought it ought to
be brought to a conclusion one way OF
another. The city council had not eU far
made any proposition whatever to the
water company. The question was, did
the city want to acquire the plant; some
of the names on the petition to drop the
matter were the same parties who Il
short time ago had urged the acquire
ment of the plant.
Alderman Williams quite concurred in
Young's remarks. Some of the names
on the petition were the same rs those
who were present at a private session
some months ago at which the council
was urged to acquire the water works
for the city. Two years ago the plant
could have been purchased for a much
lowersum than that asked today and a few
years hence the price asked would be,
undoubtedly, higher.
Alderman Fitzgerald said that the
pee pie were still in favor Of owning the
water works, but not at a cost of 100000.
The fact of the matter Was the council
was not trusted. The price was too high.
Alderman Young asked who was car
rying the debt of the water company
now. The hydrant rental was 5lS.20C
and the city was neld for that amount
on the bonds of the company. AZ far as
he was concerned, if he was convinced
that the people had lost confidence in
him as their representative he would re-
sign, and be thought other councilmer
felt the same. This question should be
decided by the people now and once
for all.
Alderman Fitzgerald asked Alderman
Nn1rr NH n prioa ha yrnulH hn u,illinr n
pay in the event the people voted favor
ably to the proposition to increase thei
bonded indebtedness to purchase tn
water works, and Alderman Young re
piled that he would answer that ques
ton when it came before him.
f. S. Ford asked to hear from A. j
Shores. and Mr.. Shores said that he ha'
been reported as regretting what he sait
at the Thursday evening macs meeting
This was not correct. He regarded tn
present proposition to submit to tn
people the question of whether they woul
vote TO increase their bonded indebted
ness for the purchase of the water plan
as a skiljfully devised scheme of tn
company. IL it carried. it would plac
in the hands of the council unlimite
, power to run the city into debt up 10 a
, duulllDuhi I per C5ut' ilullt. Inc tlHl
: was not suspicious for purchasing til
plant, in view of the hostile legielatio
Of last winter. The newspapers All
, some of the council Seemed to be il
= Huenced by Phelps money. and til
I reason why the heavy taxpayers wei
opposed to going on with the matter
present was that they feared the co
ruption of the tax payers and peopl
g Personally he would like to see II
> matter dropped.
n r. S. Ford said that he was convince
h that Phelps was now anxious to Sc
q although he had always claimed othe
wise. He would rather pay S1,O0O,O
! ten years from now than 100000
IT present. He was willing to let N
h Phelps keep his water works and tai
no chances rather than increase Il
city's debt at this time.
L. q. Phelps said that he had expe
enced no change of heart. 1t was true no
as always, that he preferred to keep l
N property, but he objected to being Ike
in hot water all the time. Three diff
Ia emit times he had been notified by I
8 citizens of Great Falls that they desir
to acquire the water works. His answ
I'd had always been that he would sell
IN tboy da,;ral IN h,,v ~ q fair prica ahs