Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-07-10

To the Honrable City Council
 of Pine Bluff. Arkansas;
 GENTIEMEN:=-
 l beg leave 10 return herewith un- approved by me the account of the Water and Light Company for water purported 10 have been fur nished the city under contract for the month of April, 1897, and which was allowed and ordered paid by your honorable body at it's last reg ular meeting in the sum of $563 95.
 Before the water works were es- abolished in our city, the Water Company, through the City Council, obtained from the people of Pine Bluff an exceedingly valuable fran chise and privilege for Establishing and maintaining and operating water works in the city. In mak ing this contract, and in granting these rights and privileges, the city authorities were acting for the peo- pie ard in order to obtain such privileges and franchise, the water company entered into a solemn con- tract with the city whereby it agreed that it would supply the city and it's inhabitants with water pumped, clarified, by settlement or Alteration, if needed, for public and private rses, and the ssouree Of supply is to be from wells bored or driven in the ground Now, in violation of this contract, in- adequate supply of water is being delivered to tue inhabitants of this city, not from wells, as provided in the contract, but in violation of same, is being taken, to greater or less extent, from the Arkansas river at a point near the mouth of Brumps bayou, and sold to our peo- pie. It is unnecessary for me to say that this water is unwholesome and polluted, because some Of our best and most reputable physicians and members of the Board of Health have so stated here and in the Fed eral Court at Little Rock, some of whom now make statement to me as is shown by their communication hereto attached. It is also known that the Water Company does not comply with it's contract as to fire protection and fire pressure. As to domestic pressure, there is grave doubt as 10 its being sufficient for the purposes for which it is needed, and for which the people are com pelled 10 pay. As to fire pressure, the contract provides that the Water Company shall be able to throw six simultaneous fire streams through 100 feet of hose and one inch nozzle to a height of eighty feet and they also agree to furnish effective fire streams without the aid of portable engines. " There is no compliance with these provisions.
 When the company have com piled with their contract as they agreed to do with our people, then the city should, in every respect, fully comply with.its obligations, as therein expressed, and pay the com pany the last farthing to which it may be entitled for services rem dered or, in the language of the contract itself, during the faithful operation of the works in accordance with the contract.
 You, the City Council, and my self, as Mayor, are the trusted ser wants and agents of the citizens of Pine Bluff, and the law makes it our duty to act for them, and, fer my part, I declare that so long as hold the trust reposed in me, neither the Water Company, nor other corpora ton or private person shall ever re- ceive, with ny app' oval, money from the tax payers Of this munich pality, without having given value therefor. To do so, would be wrong to them. They can alone look to us for protection In my opinion, the water company has not furnished the survice for which it now de mauds $663. 95, and for this reason and for further reason that it does not keep and perform it's contract,
 refuse to lend my name, as Mayor of the city, approving an order
 passed by a majority of the honor
 able Council directing that the same
 be paid. Respectfully,
 D. 0. BELL, Mayor