The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-04
Too Expensive for Missoula to
Own a Water Plant.
REPORT TO THE COUNCIL
The Rates Are Said to Be Lower at
Present in Mssoula Than Any
Other City in the State of
Montana.

Webster and Aldermen Owens, Mix,
Gibson, Keim, Hersog, Broadbent and
Mcbride. Absent, Greenough. Con-
siderable business of routine nature
was transacted the principal business
of which was the reading of the re-
ports of the respective officials and the
allowance and regular expense and sal
airy bills for the month aggregating
about $3.50.
The feature of the proceedings was
the reading of the report of the special
committee appointed last spring to in
vestigate into the feasibility and prac-
ticability of purchasing the water and
electric light plants for the benefit of
the city. The report is a voluminous
affair and enters literally into all the
details of the respective propositions
Accompanying it are comparative
statements showing the prices charged
for water and light at Anaconda, Butte
Helena, Spokane, Great Falls and
Deer Lodge all of which show the rates
to be far in excess of those charged in
this city for similar commodities The
report is signed by Aldermen Owens
and Mix of the committee, Alderman
Broadbent declining to sign the report,
though he did not present minority
report, the gentleman confirming HIM
self to simple oral objection to the
committees findings. Relieved of legal
verblage, the report in substance is as
follows:
We, the undersigned, your commit
tee having been appointed by the hon.
orable mayor to Investigate and re-
hn lt.ic hill 4 .1-.l
OF the city owning its own water and
electric light plants, would respectfully
report and submit the following, to-
wit:
That after our appointment as such
committee, we instituted an investiga-
ton to determine the feasibility of the
city owning its own water plant and
our inquiry developed the fact that the
only water that could be made avail
able for supplying the city was the
water from the Rattlesnake creek, and
that or this water for considerable
period of each year, the apnropria ton
of the waters by the Missoula Water
company takes the entire flowage of
the creek. This water is used by the
sald Mlssoula Water company and it
IS necessary to it's water plant, from
which is supplied the city of Missoula
ana IFS inhabitants, the water being
USED by the city for fire, domestic and
other purposes, and any attempt to
appropriate any part of this water
would involve the purchase of the en-
TIRE plant and system of the Missoula
company with reference to the propo-
sltlon of obtaining water from any
other source, we find, on inquiry, that
the waters of the Big Blackfoot river
could not be made available for the
double reason, first, they are all ap-
propriated by the Big Blackfoot Mill
Ing company in and about their log
glng and milling operations, and in adj
ditlon the waters by such use are, to
some extent, polluted and filled with
debris so as to render them unfit for
domestic use, and second, the very
great expense of conveying the water
to the city and laying mains and later
ais would be so great as to suggest that
1T could not be successfully undertaken
by the city. To take the water from
Eolo or the Bltter Root rivers into the
city could not be done by gravity, as
the city of Missoula is so near the same
elevation as the mouth of the Lolo or
the Bitter Root and it would be neces-
sary to go so far up the Lolo or Bitter
Root to get sufficient elevation as
would practically render it beyond the
power OF the city to undertake to de-
Velop water plant or system from
either source by this method and to
attempt to bring water into the citv
by the pumping process would not be
contemplated for a minute by any one
having any knowledge of the situation.
so that your committee is of the opin-
ION and respectfully submit that in
their Judgment an attempt on the part
or the city of Missoula to establish an
lndependent water plant would not be
feasible, and we so report.
In this connection your committee
mas collected number of rates char,-
ed in several cities in Montana and
herewith submit same as exhibit,
marked exhibit A. From COMPARE
son OF Mlssoula rates as given in the
EXHIBIT with rates charged by other cit
les, 1T will be observed that the citv of
Missoula and the inhabitants are sun
piled with water at less cost than any
other place, whether plant is owned by
the city or by private parties or cor
poratlons, and at the same time the
people of Missoula have greater liberty
In the use of water. In fact, there is no
limitation, which your committee con-
s1ders very great advantage and one
perhaps the city could not extend 10
consumers of water We're it to acquire
and own its own water plant. That
the investment would necessarily be so
large and the responsibility devolving
upon the city to meet sem-annual in
tefest and payment on bonds would
make the cost of water to both city and
private individuals very much in excess
of what it is at present Your com
mittee is therefore impressed and SUBJ
NIT herewith as their report that at
TINS time it would not be advisable for
the city of Missoula to undertake TO
own its own water plant.
Your committee was further direct
ed to investigate and report as to The
adVlsability and feasibility of the civ
owning its own electric light plant. and
herewith on this proposition, submit
as their report and recommendation
the following:
The Missoula Light and Power coma
pany has now established their pover
plant on Big BlackfQot river at Bon
ner, Mont, and are manufacturing
electricity by water power. Your com
mittee is not advised of any location
in the vicinity of Missoula where water
power could be developed sufficient to
generate electricity to meet the de-
mand of the city of Missoula. except
at very great outlay of money, IN
Volving the expenditure of many thou
sands of dollars, at the same time in
curing the hazard of overflow and otI-nr