Arizona republican., 1903-12-17
Berryhi|I COmpany's
 Big Book Store, Corner lst and Washington Streets.
VIEWS OF CITIZENS
Other Expressions Regarding Way to
 Get City Water Works.

A further inquiry among the busi- ness men Of the city discloses that there is a disposition now that the bonds for municipal waterworkS system have been voted, to make a deal With the Phoenix Water company if the figures can be agreed upon. w. C. Foster said yesterday that he, nor so far as he knew, any one else, desired to destroy the value of the private company. He was quite sure that there was no such disposition in the Citizens committee and >he believed that the council would act largely on the advice of the committee which had charge of the water works matter from the begin ming. The mayor and at least two mem bers of the council are members of the committee and all of them have been prominent and active in its delibera- tions.
 Mir. Foster believed that the proper way to get at it, in the event the water company submits a proposition, would be to secure disinterested appraisers who should take into account only the actual value of the property. The members of the citizens committee are agreed upon one thing and that is that | the first move if any is made, must ba by the water company.
 Vernon L. Clark. also of the commit tee, favored the acquiring of the old plant if possible without injury to the city, but like all the other members, he is opposed to the listing of its fran chise or good will among the items which the city would be expected to buy.
 Joseph Cope, when approached for an opinion respecting the next move that should be made by the city, said: "'The citizens ought to wait on the com1any and see if it's plant can be bought for what it is worth. I presume a committee will be appointed to con duct these negotiations. It would be tke proper thing to buy the plant if it can be advanta geously done. While speaking of this matter, there is one thing that should be looked into. believe that an arrangement can be ortered into with some big smelting company like the Copper Queen for the casting of water pipe out of the slag from their furnaces. This may not be possible. but it looks feasible. The slag is largely of iron and lead and impen- etrable by water It might be brittle to handle. but once in the ground it ought to last and it ought to make cheap pipe as the raw material is now going 4''---'
 to waste '
 A. w I.amm. of the Phoenix Station cry and News company said Having voted the bonds. the city ought to go ahtad. I haven't taken an active part in the movement but I think the city should at once either buy the old plant, or construct a new one, and if they buy the old one they will probably have to build the most of it over again"
 City Treasurer C. F. Leonard's reply to the usual question was: ''In justice to MT. Sherman. the bondholders and all concerned. the city should offer to buy the plant at what it is actually worth as a foundation for a. new one; that is, if the company wants to sell it. ldon't know whether they would sell 1t or not
 H. A. Dfehl expressed himself as fol- lows: The interviews published in The Republican yesterday covered the ground quite comprehensively. We don't want to be unfair toward Sherman or anyone else. but we must have a good rlant and are willing to buy him out at a right price. l would like to see the plant on a paying basis for the city if possible"
 D. p. Kyle used the following words: ''It makes no difference what the com- pany has done. the city should be far with it now and should offer the com pany all the plant is worth, even more. if necessary to harmonize matters. The town should be propertly piped and with plenty of plugs. Later it may be nossible to get water in the upper val ley or foothills from artesian wells or electric power from the TOnto dam."
 lack Burrows said: "If the present plant is for sale there should be com mittce appointed at once to consider a proposition from the company. If the committee and the company cannot earee the matter should be settled by arbitration"