The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-03-17
The WAFER QUEsnloNAeAIN.
own Council Hears Explanation Of
Water Company Action Taken
Other Matters

'''''' ''"-~f q" ID. IAllNIt a. T.. iNlI'
+. l.. Erambert, W. +. Davidson am
' dr. Anderson.
The Fprmville Water Companr
whose proper officers had been sum
moned 10 appear before the council d
show why it had not forfeited ITS fran
chlse by neglect 90 keep the amount %
pressure in The staudppo as called fol
100 contract We're present. Mr.. j. p.
Andre Mottu, president of the water
company, was present and was repre-
secuted before the council by Mr..
Alexander Thorn, am attorney Of Nor
folk. judge a. ID. Watkins represented
the interest Of the town. Mr.. Thorn
addressed the council for some time.
and practically pleaded guilty to the
charge of not having had sufficient
water in the standpipe one time.
bat reiterated the palliating circum-
stances which We're given the coun-
cil at a former meeting by Mr. Cor
iey the superintendent Judge Wat
kins submitted that it be incorpo.
rated in the towns contract with the
water company that whenever il shall
oe found that the standpipe has not
the required quantity Of water ene of
500 shall be imposed and for REPETITION
OF same offence fine of double that
amount. Ii was also suggested that
instead of any fine being imposed there /
should be clear forfeiture Of franchise.
Mr.. Mottu asked that instead of
making the resolution either 500 fine
or forfeiture of franchise that it be made
not exceeding $50 for each onense.
Mr.. Thorn, whose fist remarks TO the
council were followed by Judge Wat
klns, closed the experimenting. lie
said that S3S 900 or $4,000 had been
expended 10y the water company i'm
putting i'm its plant here, and it had
proved 10 be a most disastrous invest
nent. The company had attempted 10 Z
un the works at the minimum cost
he only salried man being Mr.. C0rlev. /
Who is superintendent, collector and }
jumper. Mr.. Mottu. the president. ]
lever received "a dollar for his services. Il
md all the receipts have gone to pay Z
lr. Corley and his assistants, not r
ent having ever been returned upon 2
he capital invested. Mr.. Thorn said il
he company could not shoulder any q
'rgely increased expense. Farmville, h
he speaker said, gets the entire benefit u
T this investment, and if the company %
criticized, and justly so, il has this
} plead in justification namely: They
ave built the plant and paid for il and a
he whole revenue is going TO some fC
ody else. The highest wisdom ON the "
art of the council is TO recognize these -
'ld, powerful business facts and 10
eet out such treatment to the water
mpany as will be helpful to them.
r. Thorn said that as a guarantee
'out the cost and results as he had
lted them he was prepared TO say if Ut
e town believes the water company i'll
n be run upon a better basis, and can y"
managed better, the owners are "'
Hing to sell the whole plant at loss
between $4,000 and cost, and will "a
Se the towns bonds for every cent. ao
= concluded by saying that if one 1t"
ing was to his mind truer than az
other it was that any one coming to -.
with an enterprise Of y"
should be treated with We
'olute iustice-not that he should 'oi
We any peculiar rights, but equality io'
4 equitable fairness. Then is it pr
ht ia this light to put an additional Coz
Q on the water company without o''
responding additional pay? a.
Judge Watkins suggested that the 'ee
neil should go into executive session "o
determine what measures to adopt,
ereupon Dr. Anderson said he -"
ught it bat right and proper that '0'
promoters of the motion upon Ius
ich the water company was sum- C"'
ned to appear here, should discuss ,Io
matter in their presence and not in iis
cutive session.
lr. Bugg then arose and said that WEI
question Of profit to the water COM VI
~ from their investment could not
considered by the council. He yea
,ht have sympathy for them, but + d
ing entered into this contract with uell
town they should meet their obi II
ons even If it be at a loss There w.
no question. he said, but that the 0oi'
.pany had failed to meet them. S'ei
re was not the slightest ill-feeling ven
aid, yet he felt it TO be the duty of ''s
council 10 see that the water COM
Us contract is carried out Mr.. Bugg '0"
rred to insurance rates which had "ei
.,.,,,,,.., 49,, .,,.,,.,,,.. ~ ,I,o ,o,,.,,, vac
ract for water, and told Of the help
condition of the people at the re-
fire because Of the neglect of the y
pany To have water i'm the stand fine
chu
ferring TO the reported staguant Ricl
iitiou of the water, Mr.. Corley, the H.
said the mains were nev
al a. /. Ia. int Il