The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-08-07
Posses Ordinance Reducing
Voter RQIeS. Cut AVER
QgeS 45.54 per cent.
ALSO GRANTS THE RIGHT OF WAY
On Certain Streets to G. S. & F. Ry.
Company to Build Freight and
Passenger Depot on the
Larkin Lot.

The city council did business at
the Tuesday night meeting.
The water ordinance which has
been hanging fire for several weeks
was put upon its final reading after
little opposition by Alderman Gay,
whose central thought was that as
the city had made contract with
the water company for term of
years, it was legally and morally
bound to keep its compact.
To controvert this opinion the
clerk was instructed to read the su-
preme court decision in similar
case between the city Of Tampa and
the water company of that city
This decision at least removes all
legal objection to the annullment Of
the contract on the part of the city
of Palatka.
After the reading of the decision
the ordinance was placed upon its
final reading, after which it was
passed, all members but Alderman
Gay voting for it.
The new schedule make an aver
age cut in rates for city and indi-
viduals of 1854 per cent, and by
some this is considered heavy.
1t is not expected that the water
company will submit to the cut
without litigation.
The council of 1887 made the pres
ent contract and fixed the rates now
being paid. That they were too
high is universally conceded.
The right of municipal councils to
fix rates on water or other public
utilities for future generations of
citizens received severe jolt in the
Tampa decision, and the action of
the council on Tuesday night simply
registered in emphatic manner
local bolt which will meet with
hearty public approval.
NEW RAILROAD DEPOT.
The plans of the g. S. Il F. R'y. to
acquire a water front in the down
town districts of Palatka for pur.
poses of II freight and passenger de-
pot, published exclusively in the
News last week, came up in this
meeting by the railroad company's
asking for the right of way through
Peck, Laurel and Adams streets to
the Larkin lot.
The company had an ordinance
ready which was first read for infor-
nation, and then on vote of the
council placed upon its first reading.
There was no opposition to the or
dinance. Chairman Kennerly stated
that he was in favor of it, would
vote for it, but thought that a matter
of such Importance should not he
rushed. He favored delay of final
action until the meeting two weeks
hence. But the council was not fa-
vorable to delay and voted to waive
the rules and place the ordinance on
its second reading. Mr.. Kennerly
alone voted against this proposition
and asked the clerk to record his
vote.
Thereupon the ordinance was read
again and passed, all the ALDERMEN
voting for it but Mr.. Usina who de-
clined to vote.
The ordinance requires that the
railway shall begin prompt work on
the building of its depots after the
passage of the ordinance.
Those in position to know state
that within sixty days the g. S. d F.
will begin the work of laying track,
grading, bulkheading the river and
building it docks and depots and that
the company will spend at least $780,
600 on the work, rushing the same to
completion.
There'll be something doing in Pa
latka.