The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-19
CITY COUNCIL RECONSIDERS
Its Action Granting an Amended Contract TO
the Houston Water Company.
And at Separate Meeting Adopts the Minority Re-
port of Alderman Thompson Against
the Contract.

I minority on the proposed amended water
works contract. would say that the agree
ment made and entered into by the city of
( Houston and James NJ Loweree on the
I 3Oth day Of November, 1875 for term Of
| twenty-five (25 years, says that this con
tract shall suhsist for period OF twenty
| dive (2J) years from the date hereof, al
! the end OF which time the said city Of
! Houston shall have she privilege Of pur
| chasing the entire works at their appraised
value But il the city does not purchase at
the end Of twenty-five (25) years, the con
tract shall continue until the works are
finally purchased Ivy said city; and the
right to purchase the same shall inure
TO the city every frye 10 years thereafter
by giving twelve 12) months notice Of such
Intention"
You will readily see by the terms Of this
contract and the same conditions exist in
the proposed amended contract) that should
the city of Houston at any time desire
to own and maintain water plant, 1t must
be the plant that is now owned by the
Houston Water company.
The said Loweree and associates also
agreed ito build and maintain first.class
water works of sufficient capacity to meet
the present demands and future growth
for n period of twenty-five (25) years, or
for such longer period as this contract
may, by lts terms. subsist.'
The said Loweree and associates further
agree that said works "shall be capable
at any time IN ease of fire NJ throwing
six go streams of water at one time. one
hundred feet high through fifty feet of two
and one-haf (2Is) inch hose and one and
one-elghth Gi5) inch nozzle.
Your minority committee Is Of the opin-
ion that the Houston water company Is
not in a position TO comply with the con
oitlons Of that portion of their contract,
next above quoted and that as long as
they remain as they are the people of the
city of Houston will have numerous on
portunites to relieve themselves Of this
| bnrdensome contract by resorting to the
courts. But on the contrary, II the pres
sure clause in the existing contract is
eliminated then the already poorly served
people will have been deprived Of all
| chence for relief as the Water Works com.
pnny can easily comply with contract
that will only require pressure enough to
rur water through their mains
II is also specially agreed by the said
Ioweree and associates THAT should the
Houston Water company at any time fall
! ~ peil'IH lditululll rue sthtINl hDllsd-
tlons entered into by them in this agree
rncut. they shall then forfeit and lose the
rights and privileges herein granted to
| them by the said city Of Houston"
You viii see by the terms OF above
clause that the Houston Water company
agree to step down and out" should they
fail to comply with any portion Of their
agreement with the city of Houston.
Your minority committee is of the opIn-
lon that the Houston Water company have
failed 10 keep up with the growth Of tho
city and thereby failed to comply with the
terms Of their contract; and your minority
committee, as a representative Of the poo
pie, believes It to be my boundon duty to
recommend that your honorable body do
not alter or modify the conditions of tho
existing contract between the Houston
Water company and the city Of Houston
but that you do instruct your city attorney
to bring suit against said water company
for noncompliance with and nullihcation
OF this contract and for such damages az
your honorable body may think proper
and commensurate with the loss sustained
by the city. and by so doing you will re-
verse conditions and place the city or
Houston in a position TO dictate 10 the
water company the water rate to be
charged and the pressure TO be furnished
ia case Of FIRE, and the kind aud quality
Of water TO he furnished the consumer
Respectfully submitted
Jas. r. Thompson,
Special Water Committee in Minority.
The motion to adopt the minority report
prevailed by the following vote:
NeasThompson, Thomas, Rue, Tuffly.
O'Leary. Bennett Mueller
Nays-Sonnon, Aubertin and Robinson.
The council then adjourned
Alderman Sonnen had prepared motion
to submit the question of securing better
water supply for Houston to a committee
to consist of three aldermen. three business
men and three members Of the Tobor