The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-27
News OF THE PEOPLE
Almost Unanimous in Indorsing
the Standards Position
THE WATER QUESTION
Is Generally Approved by the
People of Great Falls-The Time
Has Arrived to Settle the Mat
ter On a Fair Basis.

Great Falls. Tune 25.-This afternoon
the representative of the Standard
called on a number of men prominent
In the community in an endeavor to
get at the popular sentiment toward
the present status of the water ques-
ton, and also the judgment of the com
munity as to the position taken by the
Standard in its editorial of Saturday
morning. Although the day was sun
day and many were absent from the
city. or were unapproachable. temper
arily, it was apparent from the interest
taken that the attitude of the Standard
was generally approved, and voiced the
opinion and judgment of the majority
of those to whom the question will have
to be left for fnal decision. This opinion
was expressed regardless of party afil-
iations or friendship, and is, therefore,
the more conservative and reliable. Sew
ersl times there were expressions to the
effect that the Standard was the only
paper that had shown friendliness to-
ward the mass of Great Falls people,
and that fact, If no other cause exist
GU, was SuluSltnl W liIiiiit NhVHi ~
listen to its advice on this particular
subject. The questions asked of each
man interviewed were practically the
same in each case.
One of the first to be seen was j. w.
Roberts of the drug firm of Roberts a.
Bridgeman. He sal that he haid read
the editorial with great interest, and
believed that it was all right in its
views. The water works had been re-
duced to a price which, under existing
circumstances, was
A. Collins of the hardware firm of
Brown & Collins said he believed that
purchase at the price named was the
best thing the city coul do. 1t was
the opportunity of a lifetime. and ii
would settle the question which had
been agitated for years, and had been
fraught with nothing but bitterness of
feeling.
George II. Stanton: L would like
to see the city get the plant at the low
est possible price, but rather than see
the construction of an independent
plant it had better purchase at the last
offer made.
II. II. Ewing, city attorney: i be-
lieve that the city can reduce the price
lower tha 1915, 900, but the matter has
been under discussion so long that peo-
pie have tired of IL, and would like to
see it ended. The fact that by purchase
the city "Ouiu lhhitbihNNiS thhHt M
income is an advantage which is in
calculable.
John M. Bridge. member of the spe-
cial water committee which recon-
mended the purchase by the city at a
price not to exceed s340 900: The Stand
ards editorial was a surprise to me,
as VI doubtless was to many others.
was inclined TO believe ii a little pre-
mature, but l find hat the most of
those with whom / nave discussed the
subject entirely agree with the Stand
ards views. ! believe ii will have more
effect with the people than anything
which has yet been written upon Inc
subject, and while it has perhaps an
~ticipated matters somewhat, that can
only be attributed to the customary en-
terprise of the Standard.
Colonel James w. said he
thought that the city ought to force
the water company to come down to its
terms. and believed that 1t could do so
II ii kept the matter moving. He be
lleved that Mr.. Phelps would drop an
other SIT, 500.
E. b. Largent said that the city coun-
Gil had forced the price of the plant
down to a figure at which its purchase
was a bargain.
John T. Athey, clerk of the district
court: The council. both In its present
and in its past makeup, accomplished
wonder IN the way u ieuuSihS IN
price for the Great Falls water works.
II is down so low that it seems to me
that the city can afford to purchase II
merely as a present investment.
While the above list of brief inter
views is short. and does not contain the
views of all the people seen, at the
same time. the interest concerned and
the views expressed are so nearly unan-
tmous on the question that II may De
,aLen as an excellent and impartial
index of the feelings of the community.