The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-24
In Towns About
Arkansas CITY,

From the Daily Traveller.
In obedience 10 a call issued BY the
mayor about one hundred citizens an1
taxpayers met in Highland hail fas'
night 10 discuss and take such acton a.
might seem wise and expedient n rela-
ton 10 a proposition submitted az an in
formal meeting OF the city council Il
Mr. Chapman, the representative or the
boudholders OF the Arkansas City Water
company.
Mayor Sparks was elected chairman
and Frank J. Hess secretary or the
meeting. The mayor gave history OF
the negoria tons that nave been pend
ing s-uce he assumed the duties o.
chief executive OF the city ana me
proposition submitted BY the bond
holders
The proposition made by the council
informally, is 70 pay The boniholders
s27.5oo for past hydrant rental and
s4S75 per annual for the future use OF
he hyirants, watering troughs, etc
for a period OF about ten years, which
terminates the franchise and contracts
OF the water company.
was based upon the courts decree that
the city is justly indebted TO the water
company in the sum OF 5000 year
since 1881, OF a total Of $4,000 on fifty
hydrauts and the possible liability Of
the city on the 1es additional hydrants,
which would make an aggregate OF over
$1,000 a year. He stated that the city
slad paid s., 500 attorney fees and that
he was unable 20 see that any Dement'S
had been derived therefrom-
Mr.. Love being called FOR. stated that
under existing conditions no one had
the authority to make or accept PROPOSE
tons on the part OF the bondholders;
nat the bonds. like notes. have no legal
existence after judgment nas been rem
decei for their payment He added that
values on all property in this anc other
cities had snrunk from so 20 800 per
cent and that the value 81 the water
works plant had deprecated in ike
ratio and that lis owners should realize
mis- fact Mr. Love argued that = is
impossible 70 NEE; the proposed hydrant
rental by taxation and favored inacticn
on the part OF the council. permitting
II
coed win the collection Of the judgner
against the city. Mr.. Love also stated
mat the city had no legal right TO re-
nit the taxes OF he wser company and
that such policy was unjust and
vicious
Ex-Mayor Cunningham said the city
vas in a distressed condiuon-rhat il
had assumed obligations, unwiseIy,
that IL canuot now fulfill
Mr.. Chapman beng present was call
ed for and spoke upon the subject at
Issue He stated that il the city was
distressed IL could not be charged
against the water company for the city
had net paid q cent 70 the company
since 1881, notwithstanding the company
had all these years maintained f7s by
drants, which stood like good soldiers
watching and protecting the property OF
the citizens
Speeches were also made by ex-Mayor
Newman and Gilbert and Frank J.
Hess, g L. Brown, Aldermen Hover
ton. Dye. Hutchinson and others
Before adjournment. which occurred
about midnight, Mr. Love introduced
the following resolution:
Resolved. That it is the sense Of the
taxpayers in mass meeting assembled
In Arkansas City, Kansas, that the
propos ton proposed by the city coun-
81 70 settle the water works litigation
should be rejected"
{ l. Brown proposed a substitute 70
ths effect that the matter be referred
70 the council The substitute was de-
teated by vote OF 20 "a The vote
On The original resolution was then
taken, which resulted in it's favor. 10
- Il