People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-07


supplying customers and shall have
the right of shutting off water fol
nOn-payment of rent by private con-
sumers, and the right Of preventing
waste or wrongful use OF water.
In repairing, digging up, laying
down, or removing any mains, pipes
or hydrantS, the same shall be done
in such manner as to prevent scci.
dents and to binder travel on the
streets as little as possible, and the
ground and street where excavations
are made shall be filed 10 and restored
to their original good condition.
That in case OF a voluntary default
not occasioned by accident or unfor.
seen event as aforesaid, or by failure
OF the city to perform any Of the obi.
cations by it TO be performed at any
time before the expiration OF the said
three years in operating said works or
supplying water as herein provided,
the said city Of Wellington may
take temporary possession OF the
said works and appurtenances
and operate the same until insured
that the same will be effectually
operated by the owners, and any
expense incurred by the city in so
doing may be retained by the city oui
of any SIMS that may lie due the said
owners from the city and consumers,
as herein provided.
The one point in the contract which
the city failed to get through was the
rate to be charged for water for street
sprinkling purposes. The price here
t0f0re has been not to exceed $40 per
month. The cOuHcil wanted the
limit to stay at $40 In the new con-
tract the limit was raised to s25.
MOnley now pays only Sl2 The water
company evidently contemplates rails
ing the tariff on him. The city
kicked on the proposition awhile, but
finally concluded that it was a per.
s0nal matter with the water company
aud MOuley, and yielded.
The CITY indeed owes a debt of
gratitude to the attorneys and the
cOuncilmen who have stood up for the
city'S interests in the waterwOrkS
controversy. When Messrs. Ware
and Perry came here the last time
they came prepared TO run a good
sized bluff on the city and would
doubtless have succeeded had it not
been for the firm stand taken by the
council in the matter. 1t will be
noticed in the above contract that the
city reserves the right to take posses
sion vi and operate the plant if the
water company voluntarily shuts
down he works. That clause was
discussed at the executive session OF
the council last Thursday night and
the council agreed to strike it out in
case it was the only barrier TO the ac-
ceptance of the proposition. The
committee made a firm stand how.
ever for that point at Wichita Satur-
day and it was accepted. A factor
that undoubtedly entered largely into
the city's success in settling the diff
culties was the spirit shown by the
committee in going to Wichita and
calling upon MessrS. Perry and Ware.
Heretofore these gentlemen have
always come to this city and have
each time gone away without know
ing how the matter was going to end
The Committee found Mr.. Perry
at Wichita Saturday, where he
was waiting TO see how the
controversy was going to terminate.
He ard Mr.. Ware were evidently
greatly pleased at the spirit shown BY
the committee 10 seeking them. The
committee and MessrS. Ware aud Per.
ry got together after dinner and the
committee stated that they had come
tn settle the question then and there
or, don their fighting clothes. The
settlement was reached without much
difficulty. After the contract had
been agreed upon Mr.. Perry, the pres.
ident OF The water company, picked up
his grip and left for his home in Wes-
terly, R. |.
The proper thing for the city to do
now is to begin preparations at once
for providing a water supply at the
expiration of this contract. The con.
tract has only two years and three
menths yet to run. The matter will
probably be discussed at the next
meeting OF the council. There have
been several feasible plans spoken Of
for providing good and efficient and
best OF all, independent water supply
for the CITY.
Dave Gwinn. stationary engineer at
the round house, went to Wichita
Friday morning 10 hear RIvan sneak