The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-25
It's a Fair Figure.

~
IN in the matter of the long and
tedious water fight in Great
Falls. This mornings news on that
subject is interesting: 1t points toward
speedy conclusions.
In a general way. this question is un-
derstood by the public in Montana. The
controversy has carried many side is
sues and a good deal of III feeling, but
the essential fact is that, when the city
Of Great Falls proposed to buy the plant
OF the private corporation operating
there. proposed buyer and seller were
hopelessly far apart. Many months &
a letter was sent from the Standard Of
flee to a w~ell-known n public-spirited
citizen of Great Falls-a republican in
politics-which said, in part:
-. All these questions of ownership
of the water supply resolve themselves
into this-that II the administration and
management of the service are honest
and iudicious, the argument is altogether
i'm favor of municipal ownership and con-
troll. The conditions are peculiar in Great
Falls to this extent that the city Is not
compactly built. and II the cry for extern
sion Of ma ms to outlying neighborhoods
gets into politics-that is to say. into ward
elections and city council proceedings
the opportunities to deal unfairly with a
good many property owners, or with the
owners of large intermediate tracts, will
present themselves. II the work of ex-
tending the mains Is methodically carried
out-as Is the case In the best-managed
cities. where boards of public works pur-
sue an enlightened p~olicy-all the taxpay-
ers in Great Falls will have much TO gain
and nothing to lose or risk by the pur-
chase of the Phelps plant. . In re-
ply to you other inquiry. the frank answer
is that the Standard will never advocate
the purchase Of the present plant at AH.-
600 or at any like figure. II Is well
enough. as far as the newspa pers are con-
cerned. to let the council fight have its
run and not prejudice the case with news
paper interference. BY and by Phelps will
probably come down In his figures, as al
ready suggested. " . . When he comes
a good, long way. wouldn't IL be expedient
for the aldermen to try to meet him-not
half way, perhaps, but a little way?
We quote this letter, in part, because,
while il was not written for publication,
II was an expression Of the Standards
opinion on a vital question in Great
Falls and because the letter probably
came under the eye Of some of the citi-
zens in Great Falls whom this water
question deeply concerns. A word or
two in summary Of the situation is
necessary. In May of last year. at the
suggestion of the city council. the
mayor of Great Falls appointed a joint
committee of citizens and aldermen in
structed to investigate and report, first.
the cost and the present value Of the
Phelps plant; second. the amount Of
bonus. II any. that should he added to
the actual value-in view Of existing
contracts, etc: third. the ACCESSIBILITY Of
city purchase at the price thus deter
mined: fourth. the wisdom of indie
pendent construction. in disregard of the
existing plant.
For present purposes 1t Is enough to
say thai the price reported by this joint
committee. in October. 1897, was s34o. 900.
The city offered that figure: II was re-
fused. A counter offer came late in De-
cember. 1t was s445. 900. In February
Of this year the joint committee made
another report recommending independ-
ent construction.
In discussion Of the Great Falls water
question. the Standard assumes hat IL
the city buys, II will accompany the
purchase with such city legislation as
Will be imperative for the handing of the
plant. its improvement and extension
under a comprehensive policy that will
be absolutely s~afeguarded against the
risks of unfairness or fayoritism or ex-
t~ravagance or politics, as suggested in
the letter which we have quoted. IL that
safeguard be provided. it appears that
the time has come when the water
question in Great Falls can reach n sat
isfactory solution and that speedily.
Gradually MIR. Phelps has lowered his
figure from s445. 900 to 1876, 900. This
question OF price has had years of dis
cussion; the Standard has never been
persuaded that they make a good argu-
ment who try to how hat the commit
: tees figure. s340. 900. was too high. No
citizen has gone over the figures more
carefully or more times than the Stand
, ard has. in consultation with those
; whose ability to deal with city-wateT
problems IL has good reason to trust, II
would unquestionably be good public
policy for the city of Great Falls 10
' advance now and meet Mr.. Phelps right
. where he stands. In the light Of years
Of discussion and investigation and in
quiry. the property Is worth the hsur
II IL is worth having at all-the stand
, ard cannot see that there is eneht for