Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-31
MY b COMPROMISED
Council and Electric Light Company
Talking q settlement Of Rate
Controversy.
Messrs Jones and Hovey in the City
Progress on the Water
Extension.
Big Pump Pit Being Built-sewer
Repairs Being Made The
Public Service.

~ uUllC 5E6rVlC0.
The probabilities are that the con-
troversy between the city and the Mar
shalltown Light, Power and Railway
Company relative to electric rates will
be compromised and that the present
suit brought in the federal court at Des
Moines to prevent the putting into ef-
feet of the rates under the Harris ordi-
nance will be dismissed Mr.. C. ID.
Jones, president Of the company. and
Mr.. $. B. Hovey, secretary, are in the
city from independence and havs. been
IN consultation. with various members
of the city council. They have agreed
with several of the members TO accept
the rates fixed in the previous ordi-
nance-the one that is now in force
and to make a few concessions In this.
The ordinance In force fixes the rate
at ~ cents for all electricity used up
to, in dollars and cents 50 worth per
month, with reduction of one and
more per cent for larger quantities.
Alessrs. Jones and Hovey agree, if the
council will continue the ordinance in
| force, to give this reduction on amounts
equivalent to 81 and over and to fix the
minimum amount at Is cents per month
instead of 80 cents, as at present. a
majority of the councilmen seem TO fa-
vor this compromise rather than go into
long and expensive litigation, with de-
feat among the possibilities, while
hn1f
a force of workmen has been engaged
during the past two days In digging the
big pit in which will be placed the sue
ton pump to draw the water from the
new wells on the north side of the river.
This Pit Will be twenty three feet in
depth and is being put down at a point
lust northeast of The receiving we'll at
the pumping station. II is a necessary
part of the water extension, because8the
suction pump needs to be on a level
With the water ling. This machine Will
pump the air from the pipe line run
ming tothe wells, thus causing the wa
ter to flow more rapidly into the receiv-
Ting Well.
Five Of the driven wells being put
down! in the gravel beds on the city land
recently purchased for that purpose
| have been completed, and the work in
thls regard is progress sing very satis-
| Iactorlly. The necessary pipe for the
Dig main to the pumping station is ar
irving and il is}hoped by the water com
mittee to commence the laying of this
pipe in the near future.
91ox
1 the various wells 10 the pumping sta:
4 ton will be the big task in connection
With the completion of the water ex:
tension. The line will be 5000 feet il
length, every joint must be tightly
sealed to make the suction pump sel,-
Niceable and 70 prevent possible con-
1 tamination, and owing to the grea
amount OF water in the ground at the
present time and the depth at which
4 the pipe line vi IA have to be laid. some
/ of the work will Of necessity be done
below the water line.
An interesting sight is witnessed a,
1.-The sewer outlet. where the eighteer
acres recently purchased by the cit,
i for the sewage disposal plant are being
I cleared of the timber. LaPlant Bros
have the contract for removing the
trees and are using big capstan
\ Ropes are hitched 70 the trees ana the,
are being pulled up by the roots, some
times leaving a hole in the earth large
Elenough for the cellar of an ordinary
house. Another force of city employee
lis engaged in chopping the trees into
fire wood and it is thought this vii
bring in enough revenue to pay fol
clearing the land. Engineer Pierson'.
plans for the plant have not yet beer
4 received, but are expected daily. wher
the actual work on the plant Will com
mence.
Another force of city employees is en-
gagged in repairing the broken Soldiers
4 Home sewer. which has been causing
considerable trouble and making itself
Il offensive to residents Of the narthwesi /,
4 ern portion of the city. This is Bis
4 task and an unpleasant one The worl
4 has progressed far enough to enable
i Dunn & Gilman 70 proceed with Their
! contract of taking up the iron pipe OF
the so-called Bunce water extension.
4 = + p