The morning call., 1895-02-21

the board resolved itself into committee
Supervisor Taylor took possession of the
chair. The Mayor, however, took an in
terest in the proceedings, and during
the examination of Mr.. Booker of the
water company asked several leading
questions bearing upon the supply of
water furnished to the city for public
parks and buildings.
There was quite large number of prop
ertyowners and rate-payers present, who
took an active interest in the proceedings
Many of them came from the Clarendon
Heights district, and urged through their
representatives. that the water company be
compelled to extend its mains through that
district, not only for the benefit Of the resi-
dents in their houses, but for the use of the
Fire Department in case of fire breaking
out in that section.
The first speaker of the day was ATTORNEY
w. . Brlen, who stated that he was rep
resentative of the Clarendon Heights peo-
pie. He said that last year when the water
question came up the water company had
been pledged to fill the reservoirs on Claren-
don Heights, but noproviSion had been made
for extending the mains in that district.
The mains had not been constructed, and
as result at the present time the residents
IN the district were not only suffering tor
want of water but in case of fire they
were wholly at the mercy of the fiery ele-
ment. AS on previous occasions, if a fire
broke out all the engines could do would
be to arrive on the scene and remain idle
while valuable property was being de-
stroyed. Clarendon street from Fifteenth
to Thirtieth is wholly unprotected. 1t
seems rather homogeneous, said the speak
er, that such dire possibilities exist while
only several blocks away there is an
abundant supply of water in the reservoir
What the property-owners want is relief in
some equitable manner. The property
owners wanted to know whether the water
company intended to extend the mains
or not.
John A. Miller also addressed the COM
mittee upon the matter of giving citizens
an equitable adjustment of water rates.
What was wanted, he said, was an ordi-
nance which does not give the water COM
pany so much leeway. The rates should
be upon business basis, and no special
privileges should be granted. Charges
should be made for what water is used 1t
is an insult, he added, for the water COM
pany to ask for the passage of law fixing
charges at a specified figure, no matter
what quantity of water was used. The
Supervisors should make record for them
selves by giving the people chance in
preference to the water company They
should adjust rates upon business basis
In regard to wastage charges, the COM
pany should be compelled to give record
of the waste before serving notice in rela-
ton to it.
AT this juncture Supervisor Dimond
arose and said he thought the whole mat
ter was proceeding IN an irregular manner.
He offered a resolution which was based on
the plank in the Democratic platform of
last year regarding the water question. 1t
was to the effect that rates should be fixed
SO that the company would be secure II its
interest on its running expenses; also on
its bonded Indebtedness, and furthermore
guaranteed per cent on its capital
Mr.. Dimond said he hoped that politics
would not be considered in the matter, he
being one of the Democratic minority on
the board, but at the start he thought the
affairs of the company should be gone into
in order to determine the matters which he
spoke of.
Chairman TAYLOR declared his resolution
out of order, and the hearing of property
owners and rate payers was resumed.
S. A. Kirsell read petition signed by
citizens in which the present water ordi-
nance was declared unjust in the fact that
1t Disseminated between the large and
small consumers. 1t is hard on the latter.
who have limited incomes. The rates are
out of proportion, the petition went on to
Say anu UIley were, only IndQe TO SatlSfy
the greed of the water company, which
wants per cent interest on its investment
of $20,000,o00. The petitioners want an
order fixing the price at a uniform meter
rate. 1t was also asked that the board in
vestigate the affairs of the water company
as to the actual cost of furnishing their
supply of water; also as to the money paid
out to attaches and attorneys, and whether
any funds were used for election purposes.
81 have also another petition, . said Mr..
Kirsell, after his first one had been placed
on file, lin regard to the city owning the
water works.
He then read petition in which it was
set forth that the water that is now sup
piled by the water company is very i'm
pure and unfit for drinking purposes, and
that the charges for it are unjustiiable in
their excessiveness. In view of these facts
the petitioners asked the board to inau-
gurate plan whereby the city could be
supplied with new and plentiful supply
of flowing water in place of that which the
water company now keeps stored in res
ervoirs and which would be owned by the
city This petition was also placed on file.
Patrick Rooney was another property
owner who wanted good water supply for