The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-03
PLENTY OF TIME, SAY THEY
THE PROPOSITION REGARDED
AS QUITE TOO PREVIOUS.
NOT A MEMBER SPEAKS OUT FOR IT
While Seven Declare Their Unqualified 0pposi-
ton, Three Are Non commttal and Five
Ae Out Of the City or Could Not
Be Seen Yesterday.

Apparently Il killing frost awaits the
bland and budding proposition to extend
the franchise of the Raleigh Water
Company another twenty years, if it
shall come before the board of alder
men tonight
At any rate not a single member of
the board could be found yesterday who
would say he was in favor of the ex-
tension, and of course there is no reason
why any guardian of the public welfare
should be backward about stating his
position. The whole matter is open and
above board, and as plain as the nose
on the face of Cyrano.
SO many of the board as could he
found were seen yesterday. Several are
ont of town or were absent from their
places of business and no statement
could be had of them. Of those who
We're seen seven expressed unqualified
disappr0val, two opposed 1T as a general
proposition and one was non-committal.
Three members, Messrs. Pegram, Drew
ry and Miller, are out of town and two
of those in the city | failed to see,
Messrs. Hamilton and Parrish
To all the question was put: "Do
you favor extending the franchise of the
Raleigh Water Company for twenty
years." The replies are given below:
THESE OPPOSE THE EXTENSION
C. c.. Mcdonald: I'm in favor of
the city owning the water works, but
I'm not in favor of its buying them at
their present bonded Indebtedness.
They have much watered stock that rep
resents nothing and is worth nothing
Above all I'm opposed to any extension
of franchise or renewal of contract.
There's plenty of time to consider this.
| am in favor of the city owning both
its water works and lighting plant and
am persuaded that it would get better
and cheaper service in both that way
Samuel Bogasse: Il am not in favor
of any new contract at all; | should
prefer to get rid of the one we have
il it were possible. | think the city
should own the water works and am
opposed to anything that will postpone
such step"
r. c. Redford: II am willing to ac-
cord the water works company all the
rights and privileges due them, but so
far as the 20-year extension Of the fran
chise is concerned | am not in favor
of it. Their franchise has seven years
yet to run and there is plenty of time
to consider it,"
J.. Wilder: ''You have already stated
my position | am strongly opposed
to any extension of the water com
pany's franchise at this time"
FL. III. Croker: Il am opposed to
20-year extensions of the franchise
do not think the board has any moral
right to take such action at this time.
The franchise has seven years yet to
run and the extension IS matter for
future boards to consider Your paper
has expressed my sentiments exactly.
Any action at this time would be prema-
ture."
j. - Correll: you can say for me
that / am opposed to the extension of.
the franchise. lit is good many years
yet before the present franchise ex-
pires. We are tied hand and foot by
the present contract; | see no reason
to give them a stone to hang about our
necks before throwing us into the
pond"
G. +. Cooke: II am unqualifedly OPP
been unable to get what was needed UNI
ders the present contract and does NOT
want twenty years more of it, | ann
in favor of municipal ownership of
water and lights; when the present con-
tract expires that can be considered.
NON-COAINIITTAL.
w. Il. Jones: II decline to state
what my position is"
j. $. Wynne: Il do not know what
the report of the committee will be and
do not like to express an opinion in adj
vance. ! prefer to hear the matter dis
cussed first. | will say, however that
| do not think any new contract should
be rushed through. The board should
wait and see what the people demand.
Maxwell German: "As general
proposition / am against it. / do not
know however what the advantages of
this specific proposition are and do not
know what benefit it would be to the
city. This might put a different face on
IT,"
Aldermen Drewry, Pegram, Miller, Par
IRISH and Hamilton.
MAYOR PEWELL'S VIEWS.
Mayor Powell is very pronounced and
outspoken in his views:
I'm opposed to any extension of fran
cllise." he said, land i am firmly of the
opinion that the growth, prosperity and
good health of the city demand that it
own its water-works.
'Proyision is made in the waiter COM
Eany's contract for selling ont to the city
by the appointment of two appraisers by
the city, two by the water company
and the fifth TO be appointed by these
four. This, however, would be quite
expensive and should not be resorted to
If an agreement could otherwise be reach
ed between the city and the water COM
pany.
MY idea is that the city see if lit
can't come to an agreement with the
stockholders of the water company as to
what would be a fair price for the plant.
and let the next Legislature authorize an
icelIa of bonds fo q1ay deo, ~