The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-09

purpose of bringing about city owner
ship Of the wiiterworks. he said:
Not necessarily"
| - i'll another Getting be heidi"
Probably" was his reply.
| 1t is believed likely that the directors
| of the Commercial club devoted most
of their time to listening to the views
/ of City Attorney Spencer. Mr.. Spencer
| las some plans for the present man.
agement of the case which will doubt
less be disclosed in a short time He
does not seem to take much stock in
] the plan which the councn proposed
for a conference with the attorneys Tor
the water company and the insurance
companies, the object being to arrange
a speedy hearing Of the pending law
suit which prevent the city taking
charge of the plant.
City Attorney Spencer is also said to
be rather inclined to the opinion that
the city is not getting what 1t bar
gained for in the waterworks plant,
and he may take a stand Of direct OPP
position to the purchase OF the plant
A few days ago Mr.. Spencer said;
II do not think that the city is bound
by any obligation to buy the water
works plant The company agreed to
deliver possession on April 1, and hav-
ing failed to carry out their agreement,
do not see that the city is further
bound
There is some reason to believe that
the plant is not in as good condition
il was before the flood when the
Il
main leading to town is propped up
on an insecure sort of a trellis, which
is liable to be washed away or fall
down. thus causing the main to break,
thus causing the city to be entirely
shut off from water. The fact that the
city water is often very muddy and
dirty indicates that something is radi-
cally wrong with either the wells or
the pipes. Whether these suspicious
are well founded can only be deter
mined by an expert examination.
An expert could also determine
whether the mains now in the ground
are of sufficient size to warrant the
construction of extensions to the dry
districts on these existing mains
1t is likely that as result of the
negotiations between the city attorney
and the Commercial club, some action
will be taken at the next council meet
ing. which will tend to hurry matters
up a little. The city may decide to
at once to investigate the condition of
the plant, and find out, if possible,
whether there is any radical defects
in the system which would make it
necessary to largely rebuild the exist
ing plant before it would be adequate
ago the council passed a resolution
authorizing such an investigation, but
nothing at all has been done. 1t is
supposed to be waiting until such time
as the company announces it's willing
ness to deliver possession of the plant.
So far as can be diScerned to the
naked eye, the company will not fall
over itself in it's eagerness to change
the present state of affairs. The COM
pany is continuing to hold up the city
for high water rates, and it can afford
to sit back and let things take their
course. The longer the present state
of affairs continue. the more revenue
the company will get out of the plant
1t has even been intimated by some
that the suits brought by the insurance
companies are inspired by the water
company for the purpose of block
ing the deal for city ownership.