Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
Different Accounts OF Action Do
Not Agree.
COUNCIL WANTS THE PRICE STATED
President Underwood, However, Seems
to Be Holding Back an Offer to Sell
Until He Knows the City Is Able to
Buy-conferenc This Afternoon.
From Tuesdays Daily.


Upon the result of conference this
afternoon between President Under
wood of the City Water Supply COM
pany, and Alderman w. W. Rankin, at
the office of McNett & Tisdale depends
the calling of meeting of the council
this evening and also whether there
will be any further offer on the part
of the water company regarding the
disposition of the plant Evidently the
council is not disposed to consider
very favorably the proposition made
by the water company yesterday and
wants now to know what price would
be accepted for the plant and system.
A special meeting of the council
was held last evening at the city hall
fer the purpose of considering the
proposition made yesterday by the
City Water Supply Co., relative to
changes that concern offers to make
in its plant and system if given new
| franchise. Only the members of the
council and representatives of the
water company were present at the
meeting, outsiders being excluded. It
was learned today however, that lit
| tie of definite nature was done al
! though several points in the compa-
ny's proposition We're discussed at
| Tenth and Mr. Underwood, the presi-
dent of the concern, explained some
parts of it which were not understood
| by the aldermen.
| This afternoon President Under
wood and Alderman w. w. Rankin are
| in conference at the Office of McNett
& Tisdale and l,.ayor Picker is await
ing the outcome OF their meeting to
decide whether or not he will call
special meeting of the council for to-
night According to the aldermen, Mr..
Rankin asked President Underwood.
last evening to name price which
the company would be willing to ac-
cept for its waterworks, and Mr.. I'm
derwood agreed to do this today.
TWO Versions.
Mr.. Underwood's version is, how
ever. is that the question put to him
was as to whether or not the company
would be willing to accept an offer to
purchase if made by the city, if price
could be agreed upon. Mr.. Underwood
answered this question to Mayor Pick
Ter this afternoon, by telling him that
if matters could be adjusted satisfac-
torily to all concerned as regards
price and legal obstacles or possible
Il UDSldClSS, luS SOuipuhy "ouio w WIZ
ing to sell its works. but he seems
backward about naming price I'M
less he is assured that the city is in
a position to buy.
A Point at Issue.
About the most important reason ad-
vanced by the city officials for not be-
ing willing to accept the proposition
made by the company yesterday, is
that this proposition makes no pro
vision for an intake above Harrow's
7 branch. This is one of the points which
many of the citizens favor strongly
3 Harrow's branch drains a good por-
r ton of the West End and it is claimed
} that it is not safe from a sanitary
! STANDPOINT to take water from below
its mouth. However, so far as 1t can
be learned, the company is strongly
against making this kind OF an ar
rangement, on the ground that it
$ would involve too much expense.
In the opinion of many who ara
watching the developments of the WI
: terworks matter this is the big point
upon which the city and the water
company cannot come together on an
!, agreement Several of the most in
; fluential citizens hold out for an in
/ take above the mouth of Harrow's
branch which, to all appearances, the
water company stands out just as
strong against making provisions fol
it. Mr. Underwood refuses to make a
II statement for publication with regard
to the matter or any of its phases.