Evening journal., 1896-12-14
THE NEWS Of NEW CASTLE.
THE TRUSTEES AND WATER co.
REVIEW OF THE TROUBLE THAT
HAS NOW BROUGHT ON HEAVY
LITIGATION.

iAo NOW DhOOAIll YIN hIAN
LITIGATION
Interest has been revived in the
legal fight between the New Castle
Water Company now that the new
committees work promises to bring
about some interesting developments.
The suits now on the trial list mean
great deal to the citizens of New Cas-
tie, more than they have imagined, as
the immediate payment of about S10,-
600 and the subsequent payment OF
$4,000 a year of the peoples money is
involved.
Just what the water company will do
In case IL loses Is not speculated upon,
but Il will probably continue business
at the old stand, with some new blood
injected in its veins.
Nearly thirty years ago, when water
works facilities were needed in New
Castle to induce manufacturers to To-
cate here, town meeting was held and
q large number Of citizens not only
agreed to take stock, but raised large
subscriptions to encourage the estab-
lishment of a water works plant here.
The company was formed and char
tered with James G. Shaw and Stephen
i. NJ Tasker at its head.
To further encourage and foster the
water project, the board of trustees
then I'm office made a covenant with
the new water company, agreeing that
an appropriation of SO 600 a year, pay
able semi-annually from the revenue
of the farms, should be made until
such time as the net earnings Of the
new enterprise reached or exceeded
SO 600 annually.
A few years ago the people began TO
kick and held town meeting to seek
relief from that $4,000 burden. They
memoralized the trustees, holding that
the water company's net earnings ex-
ceeded 1000 because they charged
against their earnings all unpaid
water rents.
Accordingly the trustees, believing
that no Sc Of men had the right to
bind another for all time to come, and
that the water company was self
supporting industry, revoked the cove
nant.
Immediately the water company en-.
tered suit through its attorneys
liam G. Spruance and Edward G.. Brad
fOrd-hrst, for a renewal of the cove
nant under which consideration theii
enterprise was established and second
AJl NhN Sum vi bppl ldAioho Win III
terest due since 1892 when paymen
ceased.
But the trustees fortified Themselves
with strong counsel-Colonel Benjamin
Nields and John II. Rodney-and the!
prepared for a hard fight Trustee Edw
Challenger was appointed a committee
to confer with counsel and here il
where tho trouble began. Mr. Chal
lenger reported back to the beard tina
he and counsel could not agree, tha
he had demanded that the fight begii
on rock bottom and that expert testi
mony on the water cOmpany's &C
counts be put on the stand to shoN
that they had forfeited their contract
His report displeased Attorney Rodne
(who is also a trustee) that he imme
diately withdrew from counsel. Nj
Challenger then threw up the Who'll
thing and resigned from the commit
tee.
A few evenings ago DR.. J. ]. ,Blacl
who is chairman of the trustees, al
pointed a committee of five to confe
with counsel in palce of Mr.. Challen
ger, and President James G. Shaw, {
the water company (who is also
trusted was made the fifth member.
This brought Mr.. Challenger to hi
feet with "A protest to the presiden
and he said that the whole thin
looked like compromise But the con
mittee stood and met Friday nightwi
Mr.. Shaw present Mr.. Challenger an
other trustees may now frame a form;
protest against any semblance of con
promise.