, 1902-11-03
city for something which we have witt.
out money and without price.
Respectfully submitted
J. H. SYMONS.

o. \.
The foregoing is so full of incon-
s]istencies that it is but just TO the PEG
pie that it should be answered in some
detail.
First Mr.. Symons calls for a spc-
citic plan before the money therefor is
voted. 1t vii! be time enough t o make
a detailed plan of the works after the
people have signified their desire to
have the improvement made. There
has beer no time to employ engineers
and make plans since it was decided
to submit the matter to a vote of the
people. The important matter is the
decision upon the works; the plan
of the works is a matter of detail to
be figured out by competent engineers.
Second. He demands a special cleo
ton. with large expense. Merely a
bubble attorneys at law know so W.
how to i%nterpose.
Third. He objects to the interest
rate of five per cent. 1t has been eX-
planned by Mr.. Groesbeck and Mr..
Spicer that the bonds will not be of
fered at that rate. but at four per cent.
When the error made had been fully
discussed, this plan was decided upon.
If the people vote the bonds they can
rest assured the rate of interest will
not be five per cent. There is nothing
stated in the ordinance as to whether
nually or semi-annually. That matter
can be fixed by the city council to the
best interests of the taxpayers.
Fourth. He says the present sys
tenn is ample for all purposes except
irrigation. and to make more water
for irrigation purposes he suggests
that the people be required to pay for
it. Does Mr.. Symons hold that the city
may charge for something it does not
own? 1t has no financial interest in
the water system or the water. Every
pipe is either the property of the rail
road company, a private corporation
or an individual. The contract be
tween the railroad company and citl-
zens Of Albany county provides that
citizens of this county may have with
out charge the over-supply not used
by the company. The city may regu-
late the distribution of the water
through its police powers, but we
doubt if any good lawyer would hold
to the position that the city, under the
existing contract with the railroad,
has the power to charge water rates.
Fifth. He says We would not secure
an increased supply by increasing the
size of the water main; that a twelve
inch main is sufficient to carry all til
water flowing from the city springs.
That may be true. so far as the main
is concerned, but is there any reason
voir of sufficient dimensions to con
serve the water that goes to waste Q
the springs. and thus add to our gen
eral supply? Again. if the present
system is ample. how Inconsistent it
is for Mr.. Symons to say it may be in
creased by charging for water. In 9th
er cities every encouragement is Civ
en- a man who loves trees and grass
and flowers. We should not be hasty
about restricting the use of water for
this purpose. Rather, let us furnish a
greater supply.
Sixth. Mr.. Symons opposes the wa
ter bonds because they will increase
III debt. We cannot have anything
of value unless we pay for it. If we
wish a bathtub in our home we must
bear the expense. 1t is the same witt
the water. We have a very poor sup.
ply at the present time and every
year the shortage is becoming more
noticeable.
This is a question entirely apart from
party politics. 1t is submitted square
ly upon its merits. If the people want
the water system improved. they W
vote for the bonds. If they wish to con-
tinue in the old rut. they will oppose
the bonds. From a personal standpoint.
The Republican can stand it as long
as Mr.. Symons. or any other citizen.
We are located on the best main If
the city and have three water plugs
within a block of our office. Good wa
ter mains carry water to our homes,
but for the best interests of the city
W. will vote for the water bonds.