Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-08-13
Water Works Talk.

Thirteen years ago, July II, 1890,
the good people of this city suppos-
ed they were laying permanent
foundation for system of water
works to be owned and operated by
the town, when they voted to bond
the town for the sum of $25OO.OO for
FIRE PROTECTION, as the notice
reads. The bonds were sold, sys-
tenn was started and maintained &C
cordln2 to the resources at hand
which has given fairly good salts
faction and protection to the bust
ness houses and such residences as
are afforded protection with the
limited number of feet of hose
available.
This spring the old tank was pro-
nounced unsafe, and those in
charge of the municipal affairs of
the town deemed it advisable to
bond the town for an additional
S25OO.0O to erect standpipe, extend
the mains to the standpipe and ex-
tend side mains or laterals to other
parts of the town, where the citizens
have been without fire protection
all these years and yet have and are
paying water and bond tax uncom-
plainingly. This was a popular
measure as shown by the recent
election when handsome majority
was given in favor of the proposed
measure. The authorities went on
and advertised for bond buyers and
sold the bonds on excellent terms
Ringing on certain proceedings had
thirteen years ago. They also ad-
vertised for bids for the erection Of
a staudpipe etc. and let the con
tract to the S. @. Hunter Iron Works
of Atlantic for $2225.O0 subject to
the sale of the bonds. The bond
purchaser, II. c. Speer e. Co., OF
| Chicago, proPounded few cues
tions to the Council all of which were
easily answered after porting over
musty papers to secure the desired
information except this one which
has proved the last straw to break
the cancels back" viz: Has your
| town ever voted to establish
water works for the use of and to
be maintained by the town? On
furnishing the Speer Company
with all the data on hand they
write back and say that the voting
of the bonds recently, or in fact al
the first election was illegal and
they respectfully beg leave to with
draw their bid.
Section 720 of the Code of Iowa
says the Mayor and Council may
order an election to esta blish sys.
tenn Of water works for the town. y
This they never did, but only voted
to bond the town, consequently an
election will have to be ordered, il
it is decided to not let the matter
drop, to first vote to establish water
works; second, to bond the town as
was done at the two previous cleo.
tons. The election can be held on
Friday, Septembe 4th, the next day
after the last notice of publication
and as bond purchasers are aware
of all prior proceedings in the mat
ter the proofs OF the election, if il
carried in favor of the two PROPOSE
ton would be all that would have
to be submitted for their inspection
and decision and the work could be
in shape to be proceeded with no
later than the middle of September
We have been rather tedious il
our explanation of this matter blu
think it only fair and just that ou1
citizens may be informed of thu
true condition of affairs. No ont
of the members of the Council O
1890 is to blame in the least, it was
simply an over sight-that of get
ting the cart before the horse, fac
which none of the council succeed
ing them have discovered until tn,
attention of the present efficient cit,
fathers has been called to it in tn,
abrupt manner shown.