The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03

shin. and no matter what action the
may take to the contrary. the
agitation will be kept up until that end
is acquired
second-The policy Of the water COM
pany Of issuing bonds partially based
on the city's credit. greatly In excess
of requirements, for extending and bet
tering the plant. Is a menace TO the
welfare of the city. II was prompted
no doubt by the provisions Of section
% OF h ordinance granting the fran
chise. which, in substance, Is as fol-
lows: THE city shall have the right
after Is years to purchase the plant
at the appraised value thereof of three
disinterested persons, subject to any
first mortgage Oh other membranes
upon the same; said membranes and
mortgages to be redeemed by the city
at their par value" 1t 10. therefore.
apparent that IL the city waits until
the enc of the 15-year period before
taking n steps in the direction of ac-
curing a water supply 1t will more
than likely find itself in a more un-
favorable position thai at the present
time. After nine years OF profitable
business. we find the water works en-
numbered to the extent of more than
500. 900 in excess of its present value.
At that ratio II is. a mere matter of
arithmetic to determine h amount of
- - hIS " a@ ~
year period. 1t is safe to say that the
indebtedness al that time will more
largely exceed h value Of the plant,
and, under the terms of the ordinance.
the city cannot purchase unless 1t pays
or assumes to pay the same at not less
than the par value thereof. 1t is. there
fore. plain that no appraisement will
have any legal force unless h amount
thereof equals the company's indebt-
edness.
Third-Th law which was passed by
the last legislative assembly, and
which was vigorously fought by the
water companies. gives the city the
right of Independent construction, re-
gardless of the existing system. While
1 believe that no future legislature
will attempt to pass a law so noxio
to the people as the Bennett act was. or
repeal or modify the existing law in
the interest of the water companies,
yet 1 believe 1t safer to act at once to
the end that a final determination of
the question may be reached as soon
as possible. To sum up the situation
as 1t now stands. the city has the right
to construct q plant to be owned and
controlled by it, but notwithstanding
1t has offered the existing water COM
pany a liberal price for its plant, which
includes a bonus equal to the total
amount of the hydranr rental for the
remainder of the contract period. the
water company has refused the offer.
1t must. therefore, submit TO competi-
ton. and 1t can only be a question Of
a few years when the city's plant will
receive all the patronage. As to COM
petition. the water company has no
right to claim greater exemptions
therefrom than any other business en-
terprises in this city.
i heartily recommend TO the incom-
ing council, i'm accordance with the
plans outlined by the present council.
the early submission OF the question:
Shall the council be authorized to is
sue bonds for the purpose of construct
Ing a water system to be owned n
controlled by the city?
Under the resolution passed by your
honorable body early I'm the year, that
portion of Fourth avenue north lying
between Park drive and Fifteenth
street Vas constituted a special i'm
provement district for the purpose of
grading. curbing. planting OF trees and
otherwise improving the avenue within
the district, in accordance with the
plans adopted by the counc for boule-
varding the streets and avenues for the
residence portion of the city. The i'm
provements, with the exception of the
maintenance thereof, are now completed
n present a very attractive appear
otit " MUM mn ct eaid III O
vor of improving other avenues under
this system whenever practicable.
During the year all meritorious petit
.tions for sidewalks have been granted
and the sidewalks laid. The general
work of keeping in repair the streets
and crossings of the city, so far as our
means would permit. has been efficient
ly performed, and a storm water sewer
for the benefit of the residents of the
west side has been constructed and paid
for out of the general fund.
Out of the library appropriation for
the last year $500 was set aside for
building purposes, and. as the appro-
priation for the ensuing year carries a
like amount. there is now 81, 900 avail
able for that purpose. The growing
| needs of the library for book room will
necessitate at an early date the building
of an addition to the present building.
The parks, under the management of
the park commissioners, have received
careful attention, and those under inn
provement are in a thrifty condition.
During the year most of the litiga-
ton in which the city has been involved
was settled. The suit against the coun-
ty for the recovery of penalties on de-
~linquent city taxes was decided in IA
vor of the city, and as a result 81, 612.3 5
was paid into the city treasury from
that source. The suit of David Young
against the city for alleged salary was
also decided in favor Of the city; a SIM
liar suit-Martin VS.. the city-was dis
missed. The injunction proceedings in
stituted by a number OF the owners of
property abutting on the Central avenue
pavement to restrain the city treasurer
from selling property to recover the
special paving assessments thereon was
compromised satisfactorily to the city,
and the suits nave been dismissed. The
city will now receive the full amour,
of the assessment, together with inter-
est from Dec. /, 1896, the same being
payable in three annual installments
from that date; the first installmeni
has been paid. and a number OF the
owners have paid their assessments in
full. BY a recent decision OF the SUI
preme court the judgment recorded In
favor of the defendants by the district
court in the suit instigated by the city
to recover on the bond of the late city