The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-10-08
THE WATER QUESTION
Special Water Committee and Engin.
eer Smyth Discussed it.

eer Smyth Discussed it.
The special water committee ot
the council and Engineer Smyth
discussed the question Monday
night of bringing mountain water
| to Corvallis. The matter under
consideration was the amendments
made at recent meetings by the
council committee to the ordinance
granting a franchise to Mr. Smyth,
which ordinance is now pending in
the city council. The result of the
meeting is that the parties are very
near an agreement. Except in
one instance, Engineer Smyth &C.
cepted all the amendments with
but slight change. or in most in
stances, with no change at all.
The meeting was entirely harmon
ious, and during the three hours
deliberations, nearly all the phases
of the water problem were discussed
from both the standpoints of the
city and the engineer.
The point upon which an agree.
ment was not reached was the
price the city is to pay for water
for fire protection, street sprink-
ling, sewer cleansing and City
Hall use. Engineer Smyth frankly
admitted that he was willing to
agree to flat price of $500 per
yc r for the present. He believed
however that Corvallis will increase
in population, and he said that a
reasonable increase should be made
for water for the above purposes in
proportion of such increase. He
said, however that he would sub
nit the matter to those associated
with Kim in the enterprise and be-
fore the meeting of the council
he would make known their
reply.
Mr. Smyth also asked that more
than 80 days be allowed him for
final acceptance of the contract.
AS originally proposed in the Or
dinance six months for the purpose
was provided for, and no bond was
required for faithful performance.
The committees amendment made
the giving of $1,000 bond neces-
sary, and allowed but thirty days
for. final acceptance. Mr. Smyth
made no objection to the bond, but
explained the necessity of an in
creased time limit, and the COM
mittee acceded to his request for
90 days.
Mr. Smyth also asked that the
wording of the ordinance be so
changed as to specify definitely how
often sewers; might be cleansed.
He said some future council might
be hostile to him, and might as a
means of warfare, require sewers to
be cleansed every half an hour.
He said he wanted the committee
to use all the water for cleansing
that was wanted, but he desired a
limit specified. The committee
saw the equity of the suggestion,
and it was arranged that the sew
er cleansing should not occur often.
er that once every "a hours.
Mr. Smyth was told that the
granting of the proposed franchise
o him would not prevent the old |
from doing business
trough its present pipe lines. He
aid that was all right, and the fact
iced not worry the council, that he
would take the chances on any
lght of that sort that might come
Up.
Just before the meeting ended,
he claim of the local company to a
ranchise, alleged to still be in ef-
act from the Pitman system was
mentioned and it occasioned much
urprise to Mr. Smyth. He said
e had understood all along that
be franchise of the local company
ad expired, and that he had been
roceeding on that basis. As to
that effect the claim might have
n negotiations, he was unable to
ay. He asked for copy of the
rdinances, and this he takes to
udge Cary, his attorney in Port
md for examination.
Of the members of the special |
7ater committee, some regard the
resent stage OF the negotiations as
cry favorable for a Enlargement
IS to the local company's claim to
n existing franchise, they do not
eem to think that will be an OBJ
tacle. They also believe that Mr.
myth and his associates will u1-
accede to the committees
roposal for an $500 fiat fire pro-
ection rate All this however is
uesswork, and the developments |
next Monday nights council
1eeting will have to be awaited
or reliable information on the sub
ect.
Estray Notice.