The herald., 1898-04-27

that the plan is a device for the purpose
of enabling the present corporation to con-
tinue masters of the situation.
Mr.. Woltmann was seen last evening and
asked about the plan He mentioned this
aspersion on his principals and said: 1t
is unworthy of serious consideration. The
firm of Kessler e Co.. among those who
know financiers, would not be consider Il
for moment as capable of playing a de-
ceitful part such as has been suggested.
If they get the works the people can count
absolutely on there being complete
reorganization of the corpora ton, and that
not one of the present stockholders or Off
cials of the company will be continued. I
do not say this out Of any personal feel
ing, for the members of the company have
treated me with the greatest kindness; but
we are simply making business proposal.
If we get 1t we will want our own men In
charge, and we will own the property in its
entirety.
This is no sudden idea on the part of my
principals. l came out here in 1892 first
and tried to negotiate with the concern,
but then 1t was impossible to do anything.
1 have since then made three trips here
and three to Europe in working up the
IldtleT anu ldSl week tlc SENIOR IIl0nlD6r
of the firm, R. E. f. Flinsch, came here
and made a thorough inspection of the
property and looked into all of the legal
details. AS a result the plan we offered
the city was drafted and submitted. We
are not here with two or more plans. We
have said what we will do and will abide
by it. The firm has great faith in this city
and were led to this matter by the fact
Of their having other interests here some
Of them very extensive. such as the Trac-
tion railway, which they are interested in.
IF we succeed we will give the city a
broad gauge management and will spend
between three and four million dollars in
improvements and betterments, for the
present system Is very antiquated. We
will abandon the river water for two rea-
sons-there Is not enough of 1t, and what
there is is not good enough. The system
would be up to date in all respects The
reservoirs would be covered and all in all
there would not be city with better
system in the country. We will agree to
pay certain percentage of the gross re-
ceipts to the city. All companies by your
charter are compelled to pay per cent of
the gross receipts after the first five years
of their existence, but we are willing to
pay an agreed upon percentage from the
start and increase it afterward. 1t may
be said that we would aim to increase the
rates so as to make this tribute from the
people that way, but will say that we are
willing to stipulate that the rates shall at
no future time and under no circumstances
be any higher than they now are OF
course we are here with our offer on a
business basis. but we think that with good
management and improved facilities we
can make a fair return on our investment
and at the same time accord the public a
treatment that will be more than satisfac-
tory.
1--WE are ready to act promptly in the
matter. If our proposal should be accepted
we would be willing to go to work in thirty
days after being notified. We see our
way clear to settling all Of the pending
litigation between the present company
and the city on satisfactory basis.
IT think If the people examine our pro-
posal they will see at once its advantages
You will find on looking into the mat
ter that you cannot expect to sell any
bonds voted for city waterworks owned
by the city. The laws are such and the
legal impediments. as well as the difficult