The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-18
New Water Contract Given a Black Eye by
Petition from the Labor Council.
ACTION ON PAVING is FURTHER DELAYED.
Board of Health Will Be Asked for Opinion on
Water Contract-Council Will Take Up Park
Ordinance at the Next Meeting.

At the regular meeting or the city coun-
ell yesterday Aldermen TufHy and Halver-
ton we're absent
Some interest was injected into the pro-
ceedings during the reading Of petitions
when one was read from the Houston La
Dor council protesting against the proposed
new contract with the Houston Water
company
The petition was accompanied by a dele
CATION from the Labor council and after
II was read this delegation asked to he
heard and through their spokesman they
supplemented the request made IN the pc
titon the Labor council delegate laying
particular stress upon the opposition TO
that clause OF the contract extending the
franchise OF the water company for
period OF twenty 1--WE years, as Indicated In
the nrst clause OF the proposed new con
tract.
The labor delegates were advised thar
such extension OF time WAS not coutcm-
plated In the contract.
Their representative then asked that no
change whatever be made in the present
contract
Alderman Thompson favored granting
Attorney Sam ndmitted that he had said
and still maintained that the old contract
was better than the present one. II was
never contemplated IN che new contract,
however, that the franchise should be eN.
tended for twenty dive years lie had
drawn up the contract I'm obedience 70 The
suggestione OF the committee and Alder.
Aldernau Thompson said the solution
Of the present wutcr trouble was In tho
building Of reservoir aud the water com
p9ny did not want to build olr he
cause 1t cost too much.
Alderman Miller favored the now con.
tract. as in his opinion It would save the
city about $4,000 aud would give better
and purer drinking water. He regarded
u as better contract than the Old one
The water company can't guarantee pure
artesah water permanently, as the wells
may go dry. II was never contemplated by
the new contract 10 extend the franchise
If we are now getting - per cent bayou
we VIII get only 3 per cent bayou water
lie was In no why rceponslbic for the new
as a, member of the committee appointed
for that purpose and the draft Of the now
contract was the result of notes made by
all the members of the committee and
complied 10y him and Attorney Sam.
Acting City Health officer DR.. Br,unby,
being asked for an opinion said that in this
matter he consldercd that health should be
the first and most important consideration.
He said the present drouth was driving
People TO the water company for drinking
water and one case Of typhoid fever M
the bayou would set the whole town on
as 7. - -, "a.
ufe' II WIS al rlgnt 10 provide for fire
protectIon. hnt abe bcat,b ne ,En ..,a
-. " '"e oo'n
munity should I've nrst taken into consider
alton. There was more typhoid fever fl
hoeston today than at any previous tim
within twelve months lilo said that th
rr,,-.o,. ~, .,.,,...
f@|'f'se "a bctthB water from the bayOl
at any tlnle should no aIintn,tod
tnlcI or Ere Department. IIusscy heinz
asked Tor an opiulon, said that every tlml
the hre alarm WAS sounded the water com
IahE Went 70 the bayou. lie said with
,,t}i I iu' HtVaulefS Tue hre dcpdrtmni
.ays y HVIu Wv mace fourteen tines oi
ns, 1iiNu vlI VA the country ever relied
Cnp,nsn,, +" 'sott Pi,shuIt rom we water
la ~ SIiu lWlher that the pipes
sI.tVnny NnSt uuerteu as they Wcre Wluh
tense nrcseurn gSu,ru ~, aVShu an IN
stand \ benv dlrs,., ,.o ""utu Tt.u shklnoS
the uss ~ 6rc amt tC'SutN iV lhA"teg
feeT-n nteans az $40 az tHe most ti'
IhNe new engines Woni1 -, ihg,t' ~ -
600. and their operati"U vo1,1 i,t .3,,a-,',
psr anbItn, ~ ~, "' a,t W"u'u suet SVS91
hire proteetion Sy t6@ by,1S.o NJ 'uA.1n,s
would take over 800 additional hra nv
nranls. lie had rather have eighteen or
mrs g. ~ ~