The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-02
ACTION AT NEXT MEETING
TIME ASKED TO CONSIDER THE
MATTER.
THE POOR LITTLE Bao FBLt CKs TAXED
An Anii-Spt Ordnance Fails to Become Law
Even The Aldermen Are Tired of Dark
ness The Street Car Lines
Unused Track.

The longest meeting, possibly, ever
held by a board of aldermen in this city,
was that Of last night. 1t met at s
O'Clock and it WAS twenty minutes of u
o'clock when it adjourned
The subject before the board for con-
sideration was the water question
whether the city should buy out the
Water Company or sell out to the Water
Company There were some influential
members of the board who seemed to
favor the latter policy, but fortunately
for the tax payers they We're in the
minority.
Then there was disposition on the
part of SOME to railroad things through.
For instance the very men who started
this water fight and held up the Water
ComIhny's bills, suddenly conceived
strong desire to pay the bills, and pay
them at once.
But on this also the board did the
sensible thing postponed action.
The report Of the Finance committee
touching the Water Company, which
was presented and asked to be adopted,
was as follows:
In the matter of the contract between
the city of Raleigh and the Raleigh
Water Company, the Finance commit
tee beg leave to report that that have
made very careful examination of the
question and have had several confer
ences with the Water Company looking
towards an amicable adjustment Of the
differences between the city and the com
pany. We found the Water Company,
at first. disposed not to make any conces-
sions, but at a subsequent meeting, with
a committee appointed by the stock
holders and directors of the Water Com
pany. more liberal spirit was display
ed By the Water Company.
Your Finance Committee after look
ing over the contract now in existence,
and comparing it with the contracts of
other water companies with other cities,
find that there is "a very slight differ
ence in the rates charged in Raleigh and
those charged elsewhere. The schedule
of rates under the contract are the
maximum rates, and III most every in
stance where The meter rates are charg
ed the maximum rates are not collected,
but d special rate made by the Water
Company.
Your Finance Committee requested
the Water Committee to do the follow
ing things:
First. Permit the city to use the au
tomato flush tank now constructed, and
any others found necessary to be con-
strlcted. instead OF requiring the city
to flush sewers 10 hose and nozzle; the
flush tanks to be set 50 that each will
flush not less than once in every twelve
hours, and not to exceed once III every
eight hours, as mightbe determined by
the Beard of Health Of the city and the
sanitary officer.
Second The Water Company to
keep the dead ends Of their mains prop
erIy flushed in order that there might
be fresh supply of water at all times
in such dead ends.
Third. The Water Company to agree
to furnish all the water necessary for
city sprinkling and city Improvements,
and not confne the furnishing of such
water to the sprinkling Of the business
streets of the city.
Fourth. A reduction iii water rates.
Fifth. In case it is found necessary
BY the Water Company to sell water at
meter rates the Water Company to
place meter in the houses Of the resi-
dents and to receive therefor a rental
tate of not exceeding fifty cents per
quarter. the owner having the right
il he sees fit, to pay for his own meter
and not be charged the meter rental.
.fThe representative of the Water Com
pany demonstrated to your committee
that the company was now scarcely pay
ing more than its operating expenses,
and fixed charges and that for great
many years had failed to even earn
such operating expenses and hxed
charges. and that a reduction of the
water rates would prove a very disast-
rous blow to the stockholders Of the
company and postpone for sometime to
come the possibility of a dividend; that