The indicator., 1904-07-09
PUEBLO, COLORADO, SATURDAY, JULY g. 1904

in bringing about this much needed
relief"
The original franchise to the South
Pueblo Water Co. was granted Novem-
Der II, 1879, for a period of %
years which would expire November
| II, 1904
On June 2nd, 1890, however, the
company, which had dropped the
South" from its name, was granted
and extension of its franchise for 25
years, making it expire June 2, 1915.
The city council granted the exten
sion on representation made by the
Pueblo Water Co. that in order to
furnish better fire protection AMI to
meet the increasing demand of the
city, it would be necessary to expend
large sums of money in the making
of improvements, and that unless the
extension were granted the company
would not be justified in making such
| improvements.
As will be observed in the quotation
from the circular letter it is alleged
that the franchise granted to the
company in 1879 will expire in
November next, it being apparently
assumed that the extension of the
franchise in 1890 is not legal, the
letter advancing no reason therefor.
1t is an open secret, however, that
it is generally believed that although
the city council did pass the ordinance
granting the extension of the fran.
chise that the said ordinance was
never published in any newspaper as
is required by law, and, indeed, when
along in the latter part of April last,
committee from the Business Mems
Association visited the city hall with
a view to gathering data in the mat
ter, the city clerk had no knowledge
of any existing publishers affidavit to
the effect that such ordinance had
been published.
That part of the transaction has
more recently been cleared up, though
George J Dun augh, of the water
company, hearing Of the question in
dispute, placed the CITY clerk in pos
session of such information as enabled
him to find the required affidavit.
He has given to the water company
a certified copy of the ordinance
granting the extension to which is
attached the affidavit of A. 7
Hasslock, business manager of the
Pueblo Press, to the effect that the
said ordinance was duly published in
the Press in the issues of June 2, 3
and 4, 1890, and which would have
the effect of legalizing the ordinance
granting the extel sion of 20 years
from June 2, 1890.
1t is alleged that previous to that
date bill was passed by the state
legislature denying exclusive water
franchises after that date to any
concern but no authentic confirmation
Of the statement has as yet been OBJ
tanned.
The water company takes excep-
tion to various statements made in
the circular letter, and inasmuch as
there has been no conference batween
the two parties it would seem that
the proper thing to do is to arrange
for a meeting at which the matter
can be talked over.
There is nothing quite so satisfac-
tory in such controversies as to have
an open and fair discussion, and per-
haps in this instance it is possible
that the company is only waiting to
he asked to do something, it not hav-
ing been so approached up to date.
1t would not be bad idea, either,
to find out what the company asks for
its water works. for as there is a
fairly strong sentiment in Pueblo in
favor of municipal ownership, it
might be that price could be agreed
on and the south side become the
owner of the water system Just as
the north side owns its water system
And so having perfected an organi-
zation the thing to do is evidently tc
see lust what the water company has
to say in the matter as it is the Other
party to the controversy.
In regard to the Pueblo Water
Company's franchise in Bessemer THF
INDICATOR will say that in March
1894. Bessemer consolidated will
Pueblo. and in December Of the SAME
wear the city council passed an ordi
nance providing that thereafter the
original Bessemer ordinance would b.
mil and void and that Besseme
should come under the provisions o
the Pueblo ordinances the same q
though no separate water franchis
for Bessemer had ever existed.