The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-04-26
WILL ENJOIN.
Council From Employing Mountain
Water Engineer-EmerY Says So
So Does Yates.


The statement is made that the
city council is to be enjoined in
its effort to secure preliminary
survey and estimates for the noun
tain water system. Councilman
Emery made the announcement to
the council at a meeting Monday
evening. and w, E. Yates declared
after the meeting, that he was pre-
pairing papers for the injunction
proceedings. It is not known when
the matter will develop, but it is
expected at any time. With the
exception of Emery. all the council
present are in favor Of going ahead
with the survey il spite of the
Yates-Emery opposition, q and the
case, if brought, will be fought to
a finish, by the council.
The matter came up when an Of
dinance was proposed, authorizing
a special committee of the council
consisting of Rennie, Avery and
Hanseli to contract with >. N. Mil
1er for a preliminary survey of the
water route and tofurnish estimates
of the cost of the system. The
committee recommen4gd 1.-THE pas
sage of the ordinance, but Emery
objected to its introduction He
claimed that there is no need fof the
survey until after the people had
voted on the question OF whether
or not they want mountain water
and that it is the purpose of certain
taxpayers to enjoin any attempt by
the council to employ an engineer
and secure a survey. Engineer
Miller, with whom the committee
had concluded terms for the sur
vey was present, and in his speech,
Emery notified him that there is op-
position to the pending mountain
water proposition. Councilman
Avery replied, saying that sur
vey was first essential to any act
ion on the water question. Until
they could know by a competent
engineers estimate about what the
system would cost, people could not
vote intelligently on the subject. In
fact, a survey might BY determining
that the system would cost more,
than $4,000, eliminate the neees-
sity of vote at all. Mr.. Avery
continued that unless a survey be
made at once the system could not
be installed this year, and added
that the only persons to be benefit
ted by the delay would be- holders
of stock in the old Water Company
which company would greatly prof
it by continuance of present con-
ditions. Councilman Emery re-
piled that he was not acting for the
old Water Company but as the re-
preventative of heavy taxpayers
who want the mountain water plan
defeated.
When the ordinance came to a
vote, Mr.. Emery explained his vote
~aying, that he would vote against
the plan to employ the engineer
and get the survey, because he did
rot want to be held personally liable
for the cost of the survey. Mr. Az
cry explained his vote, saying that
ie would be glad to stand his part
along with the rest Of the council
men if necessary in order to secure
the survey, and for that reason he
voted yea. Councilman Rennie ex-
planned his vote with much direct
ness. He said that the people had
been clamoring for mountain water
and that practically all of them
want it. Some of them differ as to
the best plan TO get it, but all can
not be suited. A survey is neces-
sary before any other step is taken.
There ought to have been survey
long time ago so that in discus
sing mountain water people could
speak advisedly. A survey is an
important thing for the town, be-
cause even in dealing with a pri-
vate company for mountain water,
it is necessary to be advised. In
the present situation III Corvallis,
some step for a better water supply
is extremely important. Most of
the town is actually without fire
protection. No part of the town
is adequately protected. Laying
aside all reasons of health every
consideration suggested that steps
for more water are Of vital import
ance to everybody in Corvallis.
Councilman Hansell also explain
ed his vote. He said he concurrcd
fully in the remarks of Mr.. Rennie.
With large part of the town who'll
1y unprotected against fire. he felt
that something should be done to
improve conditions. The lowering
of insurance rates that would re-
e. 8 ~ = q.