Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-30
BENSON DEMANDS WATER
Northwest Suburb is Aroused on Bond
Issue Proposition.
VOTERS READY TO ISSUE 500, 900
legal opinion Backs I'd the Village.
Determination 60 Provide Ade-
qu"te Fire Protection ana
House Service.
VOTERS READY TO ISSUE $4,000

Citizens Of Benson, the suburb lving 60
the northwest Of Omaha, will vote rr,,as-
day at a special election on the propositior
o' issuing $4,000 in bonds 70 secure tbat
amount OF money for the installation of an
Independent village water works svston,
The bonds will bear interest at ner cont
may be In whole or in part redeemed after
five years and will run twenty wears 70 mo
turity. 1t will require a two-thirds ma
jority of the votes cast to approve the
issue. The question was submitted 10 the
people by proclamation Of the village board
early in July.
Benson at present has no water works
system or supply other than that furnished
by family wells. Fire protection is lacking
The place is constantly growing. having
jumped from a population OF about GOO FIVE
years ago to an estimated population Of
200 at present Neither the village NOR
the school district is bonded for a penny
or has outstanding obligations Of any kind.
Advocates of the water works bonds feel
sure they viii carry, saying that the only
opposition comes from outlying residents
who feel that. they may be taxed without
having the mains extended to their homes
and reaping any benefits.
Legal View of the Case.
Frank A. Brogan, who is a member of
the Benson School board, explains the stu
alton like this
When the subject OF water SUNNY was
first preached several years ago the peo-
pie Of Benson were given to understand
by the Omaha Water company that II did
not care to make an extension in view OF
the fact that its ownership Of the. entire
plant was uncertain because of the an
preaching expiration of it's contract and the
municipal ownership sentiment in Omaha;
further, that it was doubtful II suficient
pressure could be given Benson to properly
supply it, leaving fire protection out OF
the question, unless a new pumping sta
ton or reservoir were built in the vicinity.
Meanwhile the village has been growing
at a rapid rate. Various plans for get
ting water supply have been discussed,
including one of paying a bonus to the
Omaha Water company as the Country
club and Krug park people did
THE Benson Improvement club, which
took a leading hand in the matter decided
that the best scheme would be an indie
pendent water system. Experts were en-
ployed to go over the ground and make in
vestigations and they assured us that a
plant, consisting of a steel tank for gravity
pressure, gasoline engine and pumps and
mains to supply the business part and
thickly settled residence sections. could be
put in at cost running from $4,000 to $40.
300. We found water from wells on the hill
side northwest of the center of the village
to be perfectly pure, and the idea is to get
the supply from a series, of wells sunk to a
depth of perhaps sixty feet Benson's area
Is almost one-third that Of Omaha and the
plant proposed will not be large to take
care OF all of 1t. but It will suffice for pres
ent needs. The plain bond proposition is
submitted and details as to location, capa-
city, etc, are to be worked out later If
the bonds carry It is proposed to have the
system in use by this winter.
Aim to Make seIfsustainfnE.
The intention Is to make the waterworks
self-sustaining, either by charging rates
high enough to bear the costs of operation
pay interest on the bonds and create a
sinking fund or by taxes levied direct upon
the people benefited. We realize that II
would not be equitable to tax a man OF in
an isolated part of the village whom the
mains will not reach.
I'm case of the taking over OF the water
works system of the Omaha company by
Omaha, or a water district taking in
Omaha, South Omaha and the surrounding
villages, or that the municipallzation prof.
ect fails, It will be possible for Benson to
connect with the larger system and sell its
pumps and engines, having the most costly
part Of the plant. namely, the mains, still
available ana no loss. Many prospective
home builders. have been kept away by the
lack of water. AS the town is on a hill
sewer systems are not vital and will not be
for some time. We have electric lightins
from Omaha and for this reason do MOI
miss gas. Water is the one convenience We
haven't got and want to have"