Evening journal., 1904-07-08
WATER COMPANY
ACCEPTS CHECK
City Solicitor Says City S
Rates Cannot be Raised
at This Time
PUMP WATER is POLLUTED


Professor Chester Of Delaware COL
iese-eensrsl Test Of the Wells to
be Conducted.
New Castle, July S.-city Solicitor
Alexander B. Cooper declared that in
his opinion the New Castle Water Com
pany could not legally at this time
raise the rates for water supplied the
city for fire purposes. James G. Shaw,
representing the company, aequieseed
and City Council has drawn a check
for sio0 in favor Of the water company
for six months rent.
When City Council met In speciai ses-
sion last night to confer with James C .
Shaw representing the New Caste Water
Works Company regarding the advance
In water rates the mayors office was
crowded to the doors by representative
citizens to hear what explanation Mir.
Shaw had Of the company's action in adj
vancing rates. City Solicitor Alexander
B. Cooper was present in the interests of
the city.
Upon calling the meeting to order Presl-
dent Reynolds stated IT'S object and asked
Mr. Cooper his opinion on the subject.
In reply he said that upon Sitting the
question he concluded that the water COM
pany had no legal right TO advance rates
at this time and had so Informed Mr..
Shaw. The water company had agreed TO
supply the city for $500 per annum ana
could not charge more in the middle OF
the year.
Mr.. Shaw acquiesced IN this statement
and said that under the circumstances
the company had been compelled to sub
INIT TO the Inevitable. lie Sad hoped how
ever that council would be able 10 as
sist the company IN its present predica-
ment as water was now being furnished
az a loss ana the company could not run
without an Increase. The water plant had
cost N250Oo and OF this $1,000 had boen
sunk and il was now being run on a
SoouoO bases OF an the stock OF the com
pany but 5000 Of It was held bv Neu.
castle people and Of that amount he beIl
5000. the outside stockholders thought n
hardship that they got no returns from
the money invested
Inc question Of fire plugs and their con-
eiuon ana ownership was discussed. Mr..
sna" said the plugs. forty in an had been
examined and all but two were found to
oe ~ good condition. From the ones that
were Out OF order the brasses had been
stolen Mr.. Shaw contended that In casos
ol hre' plugs were injured by excited
nremen turning them the wrong wav ana
thereoy crossing the threads.
me question Of whose duty II was N
look after the piugs elected the state
ment from Mr.. Shaw that the comnan,,
held the right TO inspect the plugs mas
much as they belonged to IL and ia s,,,..l
against loss OF water during TESTING r,o
mad no objection to an experienced man
opening fire hydrants but he must bo ~
companied by an empioye OF the O,,,or
company After some discussion Count,
ordered the plugs that were out of or5.r
repaired and all fire hydrants msrlo.i
with a painted arrow 20 indicate which
way the caps were to be turned In opopir.
them. A new plug was reported ho,,i,e
been put ia by the water companv 4,
Sixth street. In many instances Mr.. s,,o
claimed that the steam engine was rpr
too rapidly and would not take tho vat,
as it should
In responce TO a question regarding IN,
condition OF certain water mains in III,
city Mr.. Shaw said that since the adven
OF the trolley a number of water pine,
had been injured by e'ecirolysis and ther,
was a bill amounting 10 about 500 now II
the hands Of the railway people awaitln,
settlement and over which a controvers,
existed.
IN explaining the charge fo- water fo
the fountain Mr.. Shaw stated that thl
company never contemplated charging fo
r Na'e- that was not used. The bill Of 81
4 covered the entire year. 1t wac allowed.
= Bath Tubs Retained.
In speaking Of the cutting on Of spigoti