The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-18
WlEEI.aMlAlK|lllE|:. AlK|lllE| !. BID.
,jgs4 gd fl9N98 nege1 1asH
TO PUT IN A COMPLETE oolMd MdPFlLE Wat
ER SYSTEM FOR THE CITY
81 p OF CORVALLIS. a {.
Wants Light Franchise, too-Al-
bany Capitalists Would In
vest-Expectation That
Things Will be Do
ing in Coming
Weeks,
< 8 hnF--+--+lii------- Z 4 ss3yavIa- !

Ing IN ColnlnS
/ Weeks,
Corvallis Is likely to be in a fer.
ment of discussion of local affairs
in coming weeks. Local states
men and financiers will have big
loadlon their shoulders. The wat
er question, and probably the light
ing question for the municipality
are matters that seem to be in fair
way to provide food for thought.
negotiation aud debate. The fran
chise of the local water company
expired year ago, and the fran
chise of the present lighting com
pany comes to an end in Jrne
Visions and theories for renewal Of
the franchises ard the develop
| ment and extension of the two
systems are ali ready revolving in
the minds of townspeop.e. They
revolve faster since the council
determined to advertise for bids
for the water franchise. What the
outcome will BE-, remains to be seen
One prospective bidder, for fran
chises from the city has already
been in tewn. he is Charles
Hogue. He spent Wednesday and
Thursday in Corvallis, returning to
his home at Albany yesterday.
He to- various persons that he
represented people who had money
TO invest in the very sort of fran
chises that Corvallis wants to sell.
He indicated that his peonle would
be bidder for the water franchise.
1t is also known that they have an
eye on the light franchise, Some
of them are supposed to be stock
holdersin the Albany Electric Light
Power and Water company. There
they operate light, water and pow
er plants all in one. They say it
is more economical. It is probable
that their ultimate proposition will
be to effect similar arrangement
in Corvallis.
While in Corvallis, Mr.. Hogue
made thorough study of the sit
uation. He took soundings of the
Willamette river bed. He looked
tip the plan of mountain water
system. He figured as TO deep
well system. He studied a filter
ed Willamette river water system.
He expressed the opinion that
water system was out of
the question. He said that he
thought it would cost SO much,
that capitalists would not take
a-ho1d of it on that basis. He took
home with him a copy of the plan
adopted by the city council. He
said the fire requirements in one
respect were somewhat unreason-f |
a able. Three streams of water
through an inch and quarter
nozzle seventy five feet high
might be feasible and possible on
four or five of-the principal streets
ot he town, he said, but they
would be unnecessary and alto
gether too expensive for outlying
limits. A main that would pro-
vide for one stream the required
heighth would be enough, he said.
for Jobs addition, and that is, he
thought, about as much as any in
vesting company would propose to
supply It was pretty clear from
his conversation that Mr.. Hogue's
bid will likely be on basis of
river water filtered
through sand, six inches of which
Mr.. Hogue says, will clear any
water OF all bacteria.
Several persons have urged
members of the council to adver- .
tise for bids for light franchise
at the same time with the water
franchise. The councilmen say it
cannot be done without a special
meeting of the council, and the
adoption of such lighting plan as
the city wants. 1t seems unlikely
that such meeting will be called
Generally speaking, there is belief
that the two plants could be
operated but for small amount
more than one of them now costs,
and that corresponding reduction {
Of rates might be made whenever
the municipality completes its ne
gotiations for the new order of
things which 1t is expected will
come to pass within the next few