The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-06
AND THEN COLLECT TAXES
OR KEEP BACK THE DOUGH
AND COMPEL TERMS.
FLUSH TANKS ALLOWED AND ALPS WELL
As lorg as These are Refus.d by the Water
Company there Can be no Pe,ce, Says
she City fttNney, Speaking for
the finance Ccmmii'ee.

Last Sunday the News and Observes
published the facts touching the refusal
Of the city to pay the water company 5
claim of $2,440 for the rental OF
hylrants by the city from January to
July. 1899.
Yesterday Mr.. w. l.. Watson the
city attorney, gave some additional facts
teaching the differences between the city
and the water company These differ
ences. he said. arose over a construction
tsf the, contract by the Finance commit
tee of the board of aldermen and by the
water company.
"In the contract with the Water Com
pany, said Mr.. Watson, the city has
more than the interest of mere party
thereto. for medical authority has estab-
liShed the proposition that IN large towns
and cities private wells are dangerous
and unfavorable to. the health of the
citizens by reason of the drainage of the
surface water from out houses, stables
and other sources of filth into the wells;
hence the citizens have a right to de-
mand of the municipal authorities that
they be given Il water that is pure so
that they may enjoy the most favorable
conditions for their health. This the
city attempted to do when they granted
a franchise to the Raleigh Water Com
parry, and made a contract with them for
supplying the citizens of Raleigh with
water.
In this contract tsection p it was slip
ulated. amcug other things that '"l'ie
source of supply shall he taken from
Walnut creek and its vicinity and from
Il noillt near what is now known as
Rhamkafte road. above any possible
source of contamination from sewage,
and conducted in pines to Jones, mill
site: Provided, that if the said Walnut
creek should at any time fail tor furnish
a supply of water adequate for the de-
mands of the city the said Natishan
Water-works Company shall provide an
additional supply from some other source
to be approved by the health officer OF
the city and the Board of Aldermen
There shall be built on the north side of
the pond or reservoir a cemented cistern
OF such size and capacity as to furnish
two million gallons of clear water in
fwenty-f0ur hours In addition to said
eistern there shall be placed a system
of Hyatt liberation. through which the
water for domestic uses shall pass for
the further publication of the water.
Said water shall be clear in appearance
and by analysis show a water at all
time suitable for all domestic purposes
and free from any injurious substances.
SAID pond or reservoir shall be cleaned
and the banks kept in such condition as
to give the best results in preventing,
as far as possible. the water from being
injured by decomposition or other impuri-
ties"
The Finance committee contends that
this contract has been, and is violated
by the Water company in this its most
imDortant clause And for these rea
sons:
/. The water is not clear, but on the
contrary is often muddy, varying from
a dark red color to a pale whitish ap-
pearance-due probably to some chemical
used in attempting to clarity it.
2 The water is not filtered properly
or it would not have the muddy appear
ance; but in addition to this several pri-
waite families using this water have found
live tadncles in the water they were
for domestic use.
One piIe supplying this water in q
public building in the city became stop
ped UP, upon wire being forced up the
pipe the outlet of which was very small.
shreds OF decayed flesh and bones were
gotten ort4-supposed to be the remains
of a small fish that had become lodged
IN the pipe.
3. The water is unfit for drinking,
culinary purposes, washing clothes, etc.
because of its muddy character and inn
almost no liberation.
f. The report of the committee of
appointed by the city to in
vestigate the water during the last Win
ter, wghen it was rendered dangerous to
persons using it by reason of the amount
of sulphuric acid in same. shows That
this trouble with the acid had existed
several years, and also called the atten-
ton of the Board of Aldermen to the
danger which threatened the city by
reason of the failure Of the water com
pany TO properly inspect or police the
water she'd
The citizens of Raleigh were promised
by the Water company in its contract
with the city, clear, pure water, fit foi
domestic use--the franchise was granted
upon that promise; the citizens pay for
tAi"t hiith VI Ndtti anu SSI III waiter LudI
rs muddy: that has contained live tad
poles; and that at times has enough sui
phuric acid in it to render it unsafe for
use.
There is also the question: Of flushing
sewers and cutters involved; and about
which the Finance committee and the
Water company hold entirely different
views.
The city of Raleigh in consideration OF
the water supply secured for the public
Use and as an inducement for the wafer
company to construct the water-works
rented for period of twenty wears one
hundred and twenty-five hydrants. Mt !
yearly rental, payable semi -annually. of
$3.50; Ito be used for the extinguish
ment of fires only except as hereinafter
provided"
The contract, fSection % says: '"rhe
said Water company in consideration Of
said city renting such number of fire
hydrants, hereby agrees to furnish water