People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-10-03
The Waterworks in Court.

WaterwOrks went into court early
jhis morning by the city filing a suit
10 the district court asking that the
Of the waterworks company
be cancelled.
Yesterday afternoon when the city
got the mains opened suf-
fcieDtly so that they could turn their
attention to the pump house, they
found things pretty well mixed up.
The engines and pumps were left in
tact, but all valves, check valves and
stOp-corks had been "monkeyed" in
great shape. About everything that
ought to be open was closed and vice
versa. John H. Wolfe superintended
the putting.in Of all the machinery in
the pump house and he went over it
carefully. Finally one pump was
turned on. 1t threw a good big
stream but it went into the reservoir
instead Of toward the standpipe. But
by dint Of two hours hard work, Mr.,
Wolfe got everything into shape and
by $50 p. m. the pumps were working
smoothly and rapidly reflling the
standpipe. BY nine o'clock the stand
pipe was entirely filled again.
During the afternoon there were
divers and sundry rumors of probable
conflicts between the waterwOrks peo-
pie and the city authorities. But
none OF them materialized. In all
probability there never was the least
foundation in fact for them. Never
theleSs the city very wisely kept
good strong guard in the pump house
all day yesterday and all night last
night, Eut if the waterworks people
ever had any intention Of trying To
regain possession Of tie works forci.
bly,, they probably would not attempt
it until the city relaxes its watchful.
ness.
Last evening the water committee,
in pursuance Of authority delegated
to it by the city council, selected Hon
W. Il. Spicknall as superintendent Of
the waterworks and the wants and
wishes Of consumers should be made
known to him. 1t may be some time
before the city authorities get the
business Strengthened out as Mr.
Thralls has possession Of all the book;
and records of the company and re
fuses the city access to them.
1t was evident to all that before a
final adjustment Of existing difficult
ties could be reached, the courts mus
be res0rted TO- The primary object Of
the city in taking possession was Il
afford the people Of the city watel
and to furnish such protection from
FIRE as may be possible, when needed
A conference Of city authorities wa
held last evening and it was decided
to file suit to forfeit the franchis,
at once. The papers were ready ant
filed this morning as soon as the dis
trict clerks Office was opened and tn,
summons was served upon j. NJ
Thralls before eight o'clock.
We have no intimation as to wha
course the waterworks company will
pursue. Our opinion is that ther
are abundant grounds for forfeitinI
the franchise. This may be mad
more evident by a test Of the works
in accordance with the terms OF tn
ordinance, now that the city has con
troll Of them. As we understand II
none Of the waterworks people CLAIM
that they can comply with the term
of their franchise. They evidentl
believe that without such complianc
they cannot recover hydrant renta
from the city; otherwise they woul,
sue the city. instead Of shutting dow
their works and ending the liabilit,
Of the city 10 them for water rental
The waterwOrks people nigh
bring about very interesting stu
alton. Should they fail TO make an
defense TO the city's suit. in thirt
days a judgment could be rendere,
in favor Of the city should court be Il
session. This would end the city
right OF possession to the waterwOrk:
1t would also end the water company
obligation to the public to furnis
water. The waterworks could the
be shut down. But they could not b
operated.
II, when the waterworks compan
shut down their works yesterda
morning, they meant business;
they meant what they said and did
if they were not playing hoss" an
making a great big bluff; if the
really meant to terminate their fraI
chise by abandoning it, here is yer
easy and cheap method of accomplish
ing that object. 1t won't cost theI
s25 outside of attorneys fees and vii
unquestiOnably put them in a pos
tiOn where they can and must shu
down and up good and tight, unit
they make a new deal with the city