The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-31
TO GET EXPERT
INFORMATION
TO INVESTIGATE
WATER QUESTION.
Proposition to Have Board of Three
or Five Civil Engineers Estimate
the Value of the Scranton Gas and
Water Company's System and Also
an Estimate Of the Cost of Obtain
ing Water from Other Sources.
More Letters from Citizens.

1t Is extremely probable that Recorder
Connell will, in the near future, suggest
to councils the advisability of author
izing him to appoint commission of
expert engineers to make a thorough
investigation of the water question and
prepare complete and exhaustive re-
port on all it's phases.
A number of the citizens who have
replied to his circular letter on the
question have strongly advised the ap-
pointment of such commission, it
being contended that this is the only
feasible method of securing anything
like an exact knowledge of existing
conditions.
Such commission would be COM
posed of three or five capable civil en-
gineers with some experience in the
construction of water plants, and would
be directed to make an estimate of the
value of the Scranton Gas and Water
conpany's plant, as well as to investi-
gate the other possible sources of water
supply and make an estimate of the
cost of constructing an entirely new
system. Not until such information is
obtained can any intelligent solution Of
the water problem be worked out.
The recorder continues to receive let
ters on the water question by every
mail. Over twenty-five have been re-
ceived since the publication of the ar
ticle in The Tribune last Thursday, and
OF this number there Is not a single one
III which the general proposition of
municipal ownership of the water sys-
TEN is opposed.
One of Scranton's leading CITIZENS, who
has always taken a firm stand against
the rates charged by the Scranton Gas
and Water company, writes:
II believe, as a general thing, that it
is better for cities of the size of Scran-
ton to own their own water works and
light plants, but our own peculiar con-
ditions. to my mind. render it imprac-
ticable for us. for it seems impossible
with our large preponderance of ignor-
ant and corrupt voters to secure real
patriotic, public spirited and honest
otftceholders in many of our wards. In
deed. 1t is more to be apprehended that
IL these public utilities were subject to
the administration of such councils as
we have had lately. that they would be
managed for private gain rather than
for the public benefit.
THE Scranton Gas and Water COM
that its interests are best subserved by
such treatment of manufacturing
plants and public institutions as will
induce the former to come to our city
and do business here and that it is a
corporation In which the publc have
rights as we'll as the owners, and that
the public intends to exact an adequate
remuneration for the public rights they
have surrendered to it,
\ clergyman of wide repute and of
liberal views writes in favor of munich
pal ownership, and then objects as fol-
lows to any other plan than the pur-
chase Of the Scranton Gas and Water
companys plant:
Il would consider it desirable for the
city to purchase the plant of the Scran-
ton Gas and Water company, because
from the standpoint of morals and
economics that is the proper thing
to do. 1t would be morally wrong to
practically ruin the work which one of
our citizens begun in good faith and
completed at immense expense, with
out Offering him just compensation for
work done and for the property in
Volved.'
AN expert engineer. who is probably
as we'll qualified as any person in the
city to give an expression of opinion
on the water question. favors the eA.
pending of s1O,0Oo,oOO by the city, if nee
essary, to purchase or establish a water
system of sufficient size to furnish 4O,-
100000 gallons of water daily.