The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-02-08
The Water WORKS Question.

future, the only course for the city 4
pursue is a strictly business one
Corporations, as individuals, should b
held to strict adherence to all con
tracts made and entered into, ant
the Lexington water company is N
exception to the general rule.
In the first place tie granting Of
franchise by a Municipality to an,
man or set Of men, is a serious propOSi
tion, and the special privileges thu
franchise carries with it should neyei
be granted without a minute exami
nation into all the facts and The
lacing in the contract Of every pos
Sible clause that may tend to protect
the city granting the franchise
against possible arbitrary and unjust
future rulings Of the grantee or gran
tees. When the present charter
was granted to the water company
the city should have exacted an in
Identifying bond from the corporation
for a faithful performance Of duty
and strict adherence to the contract.
As this was not done, however, the
people Of Lexington are forced to
make the best of a bad bargain
Experience is a valuable teacher,
and the city of Lexington, in gran
ting future franchises, will surely see
to it that any party or parties secur-
ing such privileges are amply and
safely bound, under an adequate and
unquestionably good bond to carry
out in good faith any agreement en-
tered into with the municipality.
1.-THE INTELLIGENcER, always con-
sentative and eyer just, has no val to
make on the Lexington watercompany
so long as it lives up to its contract
with the city; but when it ceases to
do that-and it is generally conceded
that it has done so-then the Lex
ington water company invites crit
icism by violating its obligations and
places itself beyond the claim to any
feeling that otherwise might
90 out to it.
The remedy rests with the people,
who are sovereign through their rep
.resentatiyes, in the granting Of fran
At the expiration Of the
term Of the present franchise, il an
extension is to be granted TO tits
company for a future term of years,
tuen tie this corporation upso strong
" that the pound Of flesh can at any
ime be demanded when it violates
my clause of its contract with the
lily, looking to it that that company
cannot hide behind the plea Of in
.olyency when an effort is made to
it to live up to its just obliga-
tions.
If the present company refuses to
so indemnify the city and give us good.
service at reasonable rates, then at
nee proceed to put in another plant
to be managed by the city or else find
some company that will come here
and furnish the desired relief, That
can be found for this purpose
there is no doubt.
Unjust be borne in mind, however,
that at every move made by the
people in the matter Of seeking relief
from existing conditions, threats will
be made to shut off water-an at
to intimidate the city. Such
changes cannot be made without ac-
,ompanying hardships, and while we
10 not believe that the Lexington
company would carry into exc
these threats so long as it is
jaid for its service, yet If such be the
'ase the only thing to do is to get
llong as best we can without that
until another service is secured
Show to the eastern members Of this
corporation that the people are in
'arnest in demanding tbat they live
Up to their contract, that Lexington
will stand no more foolishness, that
threats of water starvation will avail
nothing, and in u opinion they will
'ome to time and do the right thing
If not, then act and act promptly
Of any attitude that this
corporation may assume.
The wholesale Indictment Of bood-