The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-09-17
CLAIMS HAS FRANCHISE NOW
Local Water Company-Specia1 Water
Committee at Work-Another
Ordinance,

IOI0 mltC6e at w WOTK-AnOIler
Ordinance.
Water franchises, water rates
and fire protection, were themes
discussed at a meeting Monday
night of the special water commit
tee appointed by the common coun-
Gil recently to investigate and re-
port with respect to offers made to
supply water for Corvallis. The
meeting lasted two hours. and those
present were, Councilman Henk1e,
chairman of the special committee,
Councilmen Allen and Heckert,
City Engineer Ske1ton, City At
torney Yates, Fire Chief Sheasgreen
all members of the committee, and
DR. Farra Of the Water Company,
and J H Wilson, his attorney. A
feature Of the proceedings was the
presentation of an ordinance en-
bodying the late bid of the local
company for a franchise, and the
reading and exposition of it by
Lawyer Wilson. The proposed or
dinance, in full, is to be found on
another page. Most of the evening
was occupied by Mr. Wilson in read
ing and explaining its provisions,
and the purposes of the local COM
pany.
Another feature was the claim
put forth that the local company
has now franchise. The declara-
tion to that effect was made by At
torney Wilson. and it created much
surprise among members of the
committee eff the local company
has franchise now, why is it ask
ing for another" inquired one of
the counci1men. eff that claim is
correct, we might as well quit busi-
ness and go home, remarked Chair
man Henk1e.'
Mr. Wilson responded that he had
no doubt that the old company
held such a franchise. He ex-
planned that when the council years
ago, granted franchise to the late
William Pitman, the grant was
made with no mention of a period
that it was to cover, and that it is
in existence today. DR. Farra furth
er explained that his company when
formed, had acquired the franchise
from Pitman. The so-cal1ed fran
chise that recently expired, he
said, was only contract with the
city, and did not affect the Pitman
franchise. /
SAMPLES OF WATER PRESENT
On account of the attention Civ
en- the local company's proposed !
the committee did not |
reach the Smyth ordinance for SER
ious consideration. The latter was
however, brought to the attention
of the committee by Lawyer Will
son, who asked permission to point |
out certain defects, and to compare
it with the, ordinance of the local |
company. He said he had samples
present of the Willamette water
and mountain water, and he invit
ed members of the committee to !
sample them. Mr. Yates asked if /
water was all he had in his bottles,
and when the assurance came there
was nothing stronger, the commit
tee men forewent the proposed
sampling.
Mr. Wilson assured the com nit
zee that mountain water could not
De brought to Corvallis at such
-ates as his company offered.
Chairman Henk1e responded that .
le didn't care anything about that
THAT is none of our business"
le said; .sAn offer is made us to
BRING mountain water into Corva1-
is at Portland rates, and all the
people in town want mountain wat
r. The council has no concern as
o whether or not the business
will pay; that is the business of the
,arties that have made the Offer
Mr. Wilson, in discussing it, de-
Jared that the Smyth ordinance
'ught to provide at what height
nd how near to the city, any pro-
'osed reservoir ought to be placed. )
fire Chief Sheasgreen said that
would not be necessary if the city ;;
equired specified pressure, which :
was the purpose of the committee
0 do.
MAY CHANGE SMYTH BILL
After Mr. Wilson had. finished
Allen asked the city
ttorney number of questions !
the right of the city to
rant an exclusive franchise, and
lie claim of the local company to /