The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-22
CITIZENS ARE AROUSED
VAUDEVILLE Unit in Opposition
to the Reservoir.
FIGHT FOR ITS REMOVAL
Citizens-The Plan Denounced
as 9 High Handed
Outrage. "

The citizens of Walkerville are
| aroused as they never were aroused
before. They have expressed their senti-
ments in no uncertain terms. The mass
meeting Saturday night was one of the
most exciting ever held in the hill
city, not excepting the many political
| gatherings. And the reservoir in course
of construction by the Butte City Water
company, at the head of the gulch on
the eastern suburban line of the city,
is the cause.
! AS previously stated in these columns,
Superintendent Carroll Of the water
company notified the city council of
| Walkerville of his company's intentions
! to construct the reservoir. The council
| referred the matter to committee.
Before the surface soil had been
| scraped off preparatory to excavating
| for the immense masonry tank, the cIti-
zens of the hill city began to form ideas
regarding the work. Soon speculation
| took on the form of conviction and con-
| viction found ready expression at the
| indignation meeting Saturday night.
The citizens are unit in opposition to
the reservoir. The meeting was called
| by Mayor Briney, City Attorney Clin-
| ton, Alderman Sims, Judge Lewis
| Chancellor O'Donnell, Joe Annear and
| others. Alderman Sims presided. Mr..
Annear, the mayor, Chancellor O'Don-
nell, Joseph Broughton, ALT Johns, Will
| lam Rumble, Alfred Castle, John Ham
| ilton, Attorney Clinton, Judge Lewis,
Judge Marsland, Robert O'Neill, Fred
| Waters and Joseph Trevarthan spoke in
opposition to the dam and Superintend-
ent Carroll of the water company de-
| Tended the company. Chancellor O'Don-
| nell made the most fervent protest, his
| utterances at times bordering on the
| sensational. In substance the chancel-
lor expressed his views as follows:
I'm case like this all citizens should
take an interest, as well as those who
are directly affected by the proposed
dam. 1t Is matter that concerns all.
Now 1 ask, what part has the water
| company taken in this matter? 1t did
not ask permission to build the dam.
1t merely resolved to build without
leave or license. Representatives of the
company politely told the council that
they were going to build a reservoir in
this city. A poor man who desires to
build hen coop or an addition to his
house must first obtain permission from
the city council. If he builds without
permission he is liable to fine. But
this corporation can build a reservoir
without leave or license, without even
| courteously asking the councils per-
mission. We are not all fools. We are
not to be sighted. We will tell this
company that our rights must be re-
spected and that they are not to be re-
jected. We are not going to handle this
matter with gloves, nor do we propose
to plead the case We know the reputa-
ton and character of this water conf
pany. Go down to Butte and see for
yourself what kind of goods they de-
liver there. Are we going to submit?
(Cries of no). We are not that kind of
people. l say, gentlemen, that the
Butte Water company will never build
that reservoir as long as I have the
health and strength to put up a defense
against the proposition. (Applause) 1t
is time that the citizens Of Walkerville
rise in their might and say to the COM
pany We are as big as you
THE road that leads up to that dam
has always been a travelled thorough
fare. The narrow gulch through which
it winds it's course is lined with homes
homes built with the earnings of years
of labor. Many of these homes repre-
sent every dollar owned by the occu-
pants. There are living in this gulch
old women and widows whose every
cent is in their homes. With this great
reservoir above them containing it's two
million gallons of water could these
widows and children sleep of nights
with the thought of a deluge racking
their brains? They would have to sac
rifice their homes-their all.
Gentlemen, there is no half way in
this matter. If they persist in building
this dam We must fight, tell them that
we have rolled up our sleeves for ac-
ton. (Applause.) There are hundreds
OF other places as good as the site Sc
lected for the reservoir, where life and
property would not be menaced by it's
presence. say we should tell this COM
pany in plain words not to build the
reservoir on the present SITE"
Warmed up to the sensational point,
the chancellor, addressing himself to
Mr. Carroll who sat near the platform,
said: This is cruel. it is I'M Christian,
yea, sir, it is barbarous, Mr. Carroll.
don't care how many engineers testify
TO the strength of the walls. don't care
how solidly it may be built, the walls,
30 feet high, will be there; the dread,
the fear, the danger will be there Gap
plause and shouts.) My friends, if the
company persists we should adopt the
civil law for our projections; if the civil
law fails, let us take the criminal law.
And, say, if these fail, we must go to
the company and say: Take away
your reservoir, quick!' I advocate law
in this matter; but say to the water
company: You can't imprison all of
this town, the Silver Bow county Jail
won't hold Them The water company
is entitled to no respect or sympathy.
Gentlemen. let us back up the mayor
and council in this matter. If the COM
pany persists let us give them some of
that law which acts like perpetual mo-
ton"
1t was plain that the sentiment of the
100 or more citizens in the hall was with
the chancellor, for when the speaker
took his seat there was prolonged APP
plause.
Joseph Broughton, one of the largest
property owners in the city, next spoke.