The daily sentinel., 1900-02-20
PLANNING FOR
USE OF WATER
City Council Struggles With Ordi'
nance Which Provides For or
ficers and Their Salaries
and Water Rates.

The city council held a meeting yester-
day afternoon, pursuant to adjournment,
for the consideration of the ordinance
which will regulate the new water sys-
tenn of the city.
All the members were not present at
first, but they we're iu attendance before
the close OF the meeting and the passage
of the ordinance.
The essential features of the ordinance
are as follows, without going into the
details
1t provides for the election by council
of a general superintendent OF the water
works at monthly salary of $4,000.
1t was at first thought that the council
would provide for the election of the
general superintendent by the people,
but it does not, and the council will make
the selection.
An engineer will be elected by council
at monthly salary of $500.
The street commissioner will have his
salary increased fifteen dollars per
month and he will act as the commiss-
ioner Of the streets and field superintend-
ent.
Besides the above officers who will
work directly with the control of the
water, there will be engag by the city
a mechanic who will have charge OF the
connections to be made with the mains
and all other outdoor work.
No fixed rates for water were provided
for in the ordinance. This matter caused
considerable discussion but good ar
rangement was fiLally made, which
seemed to please all the council On
account of the fact that the city would
come N competition with n private wat
er company which could change its
rates from week to week or from day to
day, il it saw fit, it wss ut cessary to
make it possible for the council to pre-
vide rate which would meet competi-
tion, without having to change the or
dinance each time. 1t was then agreed
that the most feasible plan would be. to
from time to tine fix water rates by res
olution.
Licenses will be issued for period OF
six months. The superintendent will
have charge of the issuance of the same
and will notify the mechanic where mains
are to be tapped, etc.
The manner for charging for water at
first will doubtless be as follows:
AS the city has not money on hand at
the present time to make the connection
themselves, they will, upon application
make the connection to the curb and
charge spot cash to consumer for con-
struction, which will have to accompany
the application for license. This
amount OF money which he practically
loans the city, will be gwen back to him,
oy credit on water rentals.
A committee Of five, one from each
ward, and the mayor will constitute
general committee having full charge Of
the affairs of the city water works.
The ordinance also provides for the
penalty for the pollutic Of stre4 ms
which in any way ma. affect the water
| supply of this city.
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
very harmonious and good work was
done by all the members, who seemed to
take lively interest in seeing that the
ordinance provided fully for every thing
| necessary.
The ordinar CO was compiled by City
Attorney Carnahan, who took for his
model the ordinance adopted by the city
OF Trinidad, when they purchased the
| private plant and it became city proper
ty. He made many essential changes
which the city OF Trinidad found neces-
AIRY to make after their system was in
full operation and altogether Mr.. Carna-
han has provided the city with an ordi-
nance which is a model.
A constant test Of the water pressur
of the new system, preparatory to the
tast upon which the acceDtance of the