The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-08-31
THE WATER QUESTION.

Fifteen years ago Johnson City gave
away a 9O-year water franchise, fifteen
years of the time has expired and boys
then are now middleaged men.
The town has paid enormously fir
the water it has used from fire hydrants
and many of them are not on inch
mains as provided for by contract.
Hundreds of dollars have been paid
for water furnished the school children
while at school and at the same time
the parents of these children have paid |
for the water they drink in their home.
In other words the water the children
drink is paid for and if they do not use
it at home they are entitled to it else
where.
Did you know that although the city
pays about 81, 500 for about 60 fire ny
drants it is not allowed to use water
except for fire e2tinguishing purposes?
That it has to pay big bill for the wa
ter that is used to sprinkle the streets?
Did you know that our water rate is
based on Chattanooga, Knoxville and
Bristol rates, and that every one of
these are pumping stations and pump
ing station prices are charged, whereas
our water company does not have to
run pump except during drought?
This is important and ought to be Sc
riously considered and 70 board of al
derman should again burde12 this city
with 2O-year, or other term-fiNnchise,
until the proposition has been submit
ted to popular vote.
johnson City had prior rights to the
spring water from Buffalo mountain
but its rights are not regarded and are
not enforced by the council, and rs a
consequence we are compelled to drink
during a dry spell impure water pump
ed from Sinking creek below barns and
hog pens, while the lake at the Soldiers
Home is supplied with pure water di-
verted from our natural supply. Is
this right? Who is looking after the
rights of the people?
doubt if a set of aldermen have the
right to grant franchise to take effect
five years after date and [ am willing
to join others in providing the money
necessary to pay the expense of testing
the legality of such franchise.
{ Morristown's fire plugs and street
lights do not cost the city a cent. If
it is a good thing for the water COM
pany to have free franchises it would
be good thing for the peaple to own
( the plant
Why should the council give away a
valuable franchise when it is SO eager
! ly sought and so valuable to the hold
ers? Is it not worth 10 per cent. of the
gross income of the water company to
be allowed to dig up streets and fur
nish water at big prices to o present
population Of 1000? AT least 100 fire
plugs and free water for all city purpo-
ses should be had if another franchise
is granted, together with 10 per cent.
of the gross earnings.
/ understand the income of the com
pany last year was about $4,000. Is
it not worth something to furnish water
to consumers who pay this sum annu-
ally with bright prospects for q large
increase of business? The water com
pany has no pumping station to main
tain and no expense but to lay pipe
and collect water rents
Let the present franchise expire and
submit to the people the question OF
municipal ownership with the right to
build a new plant or take over the old
one at fair valuation to be fixed by
experts. There can be no excuse fol-
making new franchise five years be.
fore the old one expires. Aldermen
: are supposed to represent the people
and they can best do that by letting
them vote upon the question,
The water rates should be reduced
one-third because the present prices
} are based on pumping station charges
, BY all means do not grant fran.
. chise now to anybody A 90-year fran
chise was given to the Traction com
pany when the city should have had II
per cent. of the gross income. What
is thought Of man who never gives
, away his own property but who is Sc
free to give away the peoples property
rights? 1t is no duty Of ours to furnish
free franchises so that the company car
float more bonds at public expense.
Why not enforce the terms of the
present franchise and have the com.
pany put in 100 plugs on G-inch mains
at but little more than is being paid
for 60 and many of them on 2,inch pipe
lines in violation of the contract?
JAS, A, MARTIN,