Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-17
sPRINkLINc cos. SIDE

4 Claim That IL - Not Having Fair SHOW
Fsom the city.
To the patrons Of the Tri-City
Electric Sprinkler company: So
many inquiries are made every day
as to the reason of the nonappear-
ance Of the sprinkler this season,
that q public statement seems neces-
sary.
The city of Rock Island has never
made any arrangement with this
company for the furnishing of water
and the credit for service rendered
on which the company can exist.
The only arrangement heretofore
made has been a demand on the part
of the city for water rental five times
as much as was paid by the wagons
for water for the same streets. The
city has arbitrarily guessed at the
qusntity used and has also deter
mined as to the amounts to be cred
tied to the company for city sprink-
ling. This company has had NO
voice in establishing the charge
either on one side or the other. The
result is that the company has lost
money every year and can not go
further without q more equitable
basis. The meters put on the car
last year in Davenport demonstrate
conclusively that the city of Rock
Island has guessed twice as much
water as We have actually used.
We have endeavored 10 bring these
facts before the council, we have at
tended two council meetings and two
committee meetings and to the pres
ent time have not obtained q hear
ing. Our petition was referred to
the ordinance and water committees.
Since the reference two council
meetings have been held and the
committees have not yet met.
Thursday night we were notified OF a
meeting but the chairman of the
water committee was the only one to
receive us. Thus as in the past we
are compelled to meet the arbitrary
demands of the city or else abandon
our business and lose our plant.
We have not been able to realize
out OF the business all that the city
demands, though we claim to be able
to prove that we have actually paid
the city for a larger quantity of
water than we have used. As the
city will not listen to these proofs,
we offer to submit the matter to ar
bitration and to furnish bond tospay
whatever is found against us, we to
be reimbursed il a verdict is in our
favor. This would be pronounced fair
by every one.
We have actually gone further than
this and have invited the council to
investigate the matter in a spirit OF
equity, and have pledged ourselves
to accept the councils adjudication.
In the absence of any action what
ever on the part Of the council, it is
obvious that we are helpless and
cannot continue our business. We
are determined not to continue it
longer on basis that will not enable
US to pay expenses. Because we are
unable to force two and two to make
five. some feeling has been engen-
dered and we are confronted with
the threat that two wagons may be
secured to do the work as formerly.
The city realized $40 a year from the
two wagons. II we are supplanted
by two wagons. we ask wherein is
the city the gamer by the exchange?
Certainly that smile stretch OF ave.
nue., the main entrance to the city.
would not be wet down and rendered
as inviting to travel and trade as il
has been made by our system.
Let it be honestly conceded tina,
the general public derives q benefit
and let an allowance be made, not
for all this benefit, but for enough to
Offset the water bill and the sy stem
could not only be continued but ex.
tended. An allowance of 5000 per
year in water would only be cents
per year for each in habitant of the
city. Who would object? We are
not asking of Rock Island more than
we are asking of Moline and Daven.
port. Moline rates have been based
on Rock Island rates and a precedent
Of fairness established by Rock Island
we believe will be followed by Mo-
line, especially as the mayor of Mo-
line assures us that, in his opinion.
free water is no more than just.
Davenport will also agree to a pro-
position to pay for intersections.
We are furnishing the best SER
vice that can be found anywhere in
the world, and at cost of just one
half that in Des Moines and other
cities sprinkled in dabs by wagons.
That our service is appreciated by
our patrons We are thoroughly con.
WINGED, and we desire to publicly OK.
press our thanks for the spontaneous
offers of sympathy and assistance
our difficulties have called forth.
TRI-CITY ELECTRIC SPRINKLER Con-.
PANY.
COUNTY BUILDING.