The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-08
Mr., Dial REPLIES.

works. IDeSo gentlemen write
great deal in general terms and
say but little in particular. There.
fore, possibly II would ba Of inter,
est to the taxpayer that | specify
J will endeavor to be brief. When
| was Mayor the last time the
Council had some money on hand
and decided to drill the Artesiuu
Well. This was done at IL cost O.
between $4,000 and $4,000, which
was paid for and settled before Oul
term expired and this amount was
not to be refun1ed-it WAS SO con.
sidercd before tho bonds were
voted. We all knew it would take
at the least calculation the $50 ,00C
of bonds to complete the plant
This disposcs of that much Of Mr.,
Davis piece. AS to the other part
Of the debt Of about $4,000, / will
state the original incandescent line
only extended from the power
house to the square--and IS all The
proceeds of the bonds bad been eX-
pended il was II cessary to 60 into
debt to extend the incandescent
lights to different parts of our town
and we also extended the water
mains. From these extensions the
town is realizing a large per cent on
their cost-pOssibly four or five
hundred per cent. Certainly no
Il can object to them. The lines
will ever have to be extended fur
Their where parties agree to have
water and lights. | think it well
for every citizen to be posted on
these matters. Mr.. Bale has adj
the papers. Go there and examine
them from the very beginning and
have them printed il necessary
they are public records.
Now as to the operation of the
plant: Before Christmas we had
it running until II O'Clock at night
at the following expenses: Coal
about $4,000 per month. Mr.. Jack.
SOn operated the machinery at Il
salary of $40 90 per month, David
son assisted him and trimmed the
lamps for $500 per month. Hen
derson, fireman at $500 per
month--.aggregating $500 and
800 90 for coal making 1888 90, eX-
expenses per month with an in
come of about 100000 per quarter.
Therefore | was trying to make
ends meet and WAS urging every
II | could to take lights and wa
ter thereby increasing the income,
and was negotiating with the rail
road to take water--but the party
who had control Of that matter only
offered $500 per month for both
roads. Surprising they needed 90.
600 gallons per day we could not
see that this would pay the extra
expenses and offered to furnish
water at the same rates as they
paid at Spar,anburg or at any
place on the line. This was not
accepted. Therefore we did not
realize anything from that source.
[ am glad to say other par
ties were generally taking water.
Mr.. Wilkes has seen proper for
some reason unknown 70 me to
mention B~arksdale & Barksdale's
stables. In order that there may
be no misunderstanding about this,
| will state: Mr.. w. ID. Btrksdale
called to see me about taking wa
ter, price, etc. [ explained to him,
urged him to have il put in and
gave him a book containing rates,
etc. This is all 1 know of the matter
except as below stated. AT our va
rious' meetings Mr.. Wilkes would de-
liver interesting, learned and scien-
tifc lectures on the m~alleability
and pliability Of lead iron and kim
dred subjects--and insisted and in
sisted upon the plumbers making
lead connections. After hearing
several Of the said lectures.--upon
his motion it was unanimously
decided and entered upon the
minutes that the plumbers must
make said connections and | being
Chairman of the Board was re.
quested to have the matter at
tended to accordingly. a few days
thereafter Mr.. King called at my
office to see about making a con
nection for Mr.. e. w. Martin. |
told HIM the Commissioners had in
structed me to see that lead con-
nectiOns were made and we must
comply with the rule. lie said he
would not do so---that it cost more.
| told him not to make any
connection at ail---that | had no
power to change what the Com
ullSSlOHeTS mao uOnP. ~ lew lays
after that, on Sunday, | went to
Charleston returning Tuesday at
| O'Clock, when Mr.. Bale told me
Mr.. King would not obey our rule
and was making iron connections.
| inquired Of Mr.. Wilkes and he
stated that he had authorized
Mr.. King to proceed--without con-
sultlng Capt. Jones or mysclf--and
he expected to do at all times what
he thought TO be to the best interest
Of the town. OF course I explain
e to the young man it was rather
fresh for mt to undo what all had
decided upon in regular meeting,
particularly after l had told Mr..
King Of the rule which Mr.. Wilkes
knew. I presume this wa his idea
Of propriety--if he had ever
thought Of such a subject. OF
curse wanted Martin, and Barks-
dale d Barksdale to take water
also wanted the Commissioners and
plumbers to adhere TO our require
ments when made. II the rule was
a bad one it could have been
changed Tuesday afternoon, and
certainly nc one could have suf-
fered by waiting from Sunday un-
til that time.
The city council asked the Com
missioners to run the plant all