Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-26
MASS MEETING AT MARKET
STREET THEATRE ATTENDED
BY MANY.
CITY MAY ACQUIRE PLANT

City Solicitor Jacques Explains How
ottun1wa May Purchase Plant With.
out Taking Any obligation-other
Prominent Speakers.
From Wednesdays Daily.
"My principal reason for favoring
the ratification of the franchise is be- /
cause by that means the city may be-
come the owner Of the plant without
spending a dollar, save the money in
the treasury" said City Solicitor w. H.
C. Jauues at the mass meeting in the
Market street theatre last evening.
The reason was but one Of many
shown by Captain Jaques, T. D. Foster
H. l.. Waterman, I. N. Mast, DR.. A. o.
Williams and several others who ad-
dressed the audience gathered to lis
ten to the discussion of the water
works situation and to hear plans for
a settlement of the difficulty.
The meeting was called at a special
session of the Commercial association
last Friday evening. A number of
speakers representing various walks
of life were asked to address the meet
ing and many of them responded. I.
d. Foster was chairman OF the meet
ing and after calling the meeting to
order he spoke in art as follows:
Introduce y Remarks.
II presume yo' all know the purpose
for which this acting was called this
evening 1t is to discuss our city wa
ter proposition as it comes to us I'M
the shape OF "a; franchis passed by the
city council, and which is to be pre-
sented to the voters for their approv-
al or their disapproval. This city
has arrived at a critical stage as re-
CARDS its water supply. You all
know something of it by the inconveni-
euce you have been put to in the past
few days. The matter is a serious
one and deserves the closest consider
alton of the voters of the city.
Wrong Impressions.
There seems to be a misapprehen-
sion on the part of a large number of
the citizens as to what effect the pas
sage of the franchise will have. The
impression seems to have been formed
in the minds of great many that the
city by passing the franchise will
an unscrupulous corporation, looking
at the present from the past. Now it
is hardly necessary for me to state
here my position regarding the old wa
ter company for remember standing
on this same platform and Of using my
best endeayors to defeat the passage
of an ordinance to the old company.
That the city has been used badly by
that company in the past goes without
saying. We all know something of
this because we have experienced
their meanness advanced toward our
people in the inadequate service and
more than ever by their overbearing
manner toward our citizens. In ev-
cry franchise the company looked for
we were treated as if no one in the
city of Ottumwa was entitled to recog-
milton.
But since that time there has been
a change in the temper and disposi-
tion on the part of the old waterworks
people. 1t seems to me that they are
realizing they have run up against
something different Realizing that
the people of Ottumwa have right to
defend, that will be defended at cost
and considerable sacrifice. Two or
three attempts were made to secure a
satisfactory contract with the owners
of the waterworks plant without any
apparent concessions having been
made.
Will Negotiate Fairly.
But after the election some few
months ago, they realized they had
to do something to meet the wishes
of the people of Ottumwa and show
the disposition to negotiate fairly, in
a business way,a gentlemanly way and
in considerate way. And when that
dawned upon them, they consented to
several of the concessions to which
they had demurred. And now / be
lieve they have no intention, but OF
giving an honest water supply to the
city.
''The ordinance was passed by the
council and accepted with one or two
minor exceptions. So as they have
changed from their original position
we ought to change and give to them
what majority of the council, elected
by the people, decided upon. 1t seems
to me at this time we ought to come to
: an understanding. We must have a
q waterworks adequate for our growing
city and this is the only resource we
have.
Fruits of Rejection.
I'VE come to the point of what will
happen should the franchise be reject
ed. There is no question, it seems tc
me, about this. And that it's rejection
will bring about serious consequences
! grant that many have wells and els
terms and are Independent as far a!
they are concerned of the waterwork
Il.,tt L
end there. These people have chill