The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-04-05
,na the Daily Item, March 81.

6ionai .hydran5s, Tor IRE protection,
foduced insurance rates, and many
pthsr advantages.
E. Alnut..favored a sewerage
system regardless Of whether the water
15lant was owned By the city or not.
- II s.. 6. N. Hurst and oShers showed
where sewerage without hrst owning
She water works was not good bust
ness propositi ton Not only because OF
<ase great cost of water which would
ave to be paid for flushing sewers,
but also because If q swerage system
Is put in while the American Pipe
Eyompany owns thea plant. the lncreas-
cd use of water for flushing sewers,
and the increased demand for sewerage
pnrposes By private consumers, would
50 greatly increase the revenue OF the
american Pipe Company that the Pipe
company sSonld Immediately increase
It's bonded indebtedness and run up
He comm srciaI value of the plant SO
high that the city will never be able
purchase
- Mr. Husst, aud evidently g large ma
s7ority, Judging by the vote, thought
best to purchase the water plant
now. and let the City Of Sumtef get
She financial benefits to be derived
9rom increased uses OF water by cItl-
zens for sewage purposes, and by nee.
x xessafy extensions of water ma1ns-and
tiie saving OF thousands. of dollars an
nraIly paid out for FIRE protection and
which must be increased as the city
groWs, instead of the City of Sumter
putting ia q sewerage system which
swIll Be gold mine For the American
pfpe Company The adsisabIHty of
litigation was not considered sound
advice In view Of the very binding
eonsracs-sbe great cost and doubt and
delay Of litigation and the Increasing
income Of The Wafea plant, whNe liti.
ration Is going un and the increased
commercial value Of the plant, ann
ssfae furtber disadvantages that if the
Courts decided that the contraeb was
binding, that the American Pipe Co.
would make the consumers pay 1.-The
costof litigation by increased cost OF
zFater.
ss Mr. Alsauont Moses offered asreso-
lntion tbat a committee of Eve be ap-
pointed to:inyestigate the mechanical
Esnditioa Of the plant, the committee
20 employ expert engineers and ma
chinists and that City Council be ask
u 10 nay the cost of the Investigation.
This motion, AMENDED by Mr.. j. u
Alnut to read, said committee to In
sestigate the advisability Of construct
aae q sewerage system at the same
ime as the water works are purchased
or 60 report whether it lis advisable 20
ovo
water plant is purchased or not.
Mr. Il. D. jennings did not think
un investiation Of the condition OF the
Haans would do any good as the City
1d Sumter is tightly bound by the
Contract ard the opinion OF the ex-
Defss will do no good as the Ameri-
can Pipe Co, holds the whip handle
and can dictate the price OF the plant
He thought it best to make the best
u6 very bad bargain by buying now
md getting ont Ut the hole before it
Is too late. 9.s-y...
MI. Jennings then offered as sub
ss;tute to the resolution Of Mr.. Moses
that the president appoint commit
lee OF three to circulate q petition
among the freeholders for the sigma
5ufes of a majority, requesting City
Council to order an election to vote
on the issue of bonds to purchase the
water works.
After debate on the previous motion.
and substitute motion. vote was
taken and, the substitute motion, to
circulate a petition was almost Inani-
mcus!y adopted.
The meeting then adjourned.