Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-03-30
THE PUBLIC MEETING
To Discuss Water Works Question
Not Largely Attended.

To Discuss Water Works Question
Not Largely Attended.
The meeting called for Monday evening
by Mayor Wilson TO discuss the proposed
water works bonding proposition was not
very largely attended but it held quite
late and considerable talk was had on the
question pro and con and in a general
way. Mayor Wilson called on J.W. Walk
er Of Fenton who was present, a man well
yersed in water works systems having
been in the business of installing plants
for many years. He ssid he had made a
careful investigation of the needs Of this
city and had looked over the plans as
made by Riggs & Sherman and consider
ed the system could be put in for S65,ooo
the amount estimated, he favored the
placing of tank on the bill west OF the
river rather than using the stand pipe.
Mr. Wilson stated that in talking with
city officials while at the municipal league
in Ionia and in cities where he had been
that municipal ownership was preferable
to corporate ownership, he said he hal
expected that the city clerk would have
been present with number ofletters from
different cities owning their own plants
and give other information regarding a
municipal system. Mr.. Wilson wanted the
voters to give the matter careful study
and said that he was ready to carry out
their wishes in the matter.
M. j. Demorest was in favor Of munich
pal ownership when we have a general
system but did not thing best at the pres
ent time to throw away what we already
had as it was good enough so far as it
went.
Alderman Clarke talked briefly his re-
marks rather favoring municipal owner
ship. it was noticed however that he
thought it might be possible to make ex-
tension of the present system adequate
for the time being.
Leonard Smith was called on and his
remarks favored the present proposition,
he quoted figures in maintaining his posi-
ton taken from municipal and franchise
schedules.
w. P Hetherington was opposed to the
proposition. He thought the people
would make mistake by voting to bond
for so large sum as proposed and quot
ed from the report of the committee
which was sent out to Port Huron, Sar-
MIA and other places to investigate last
summer which report closed as not fav-
oring municipal ownership. He favored
the granting Of franchise rather than
to have the city place itself under heavy
bonded indebtedness. He read a letter
from A. N. Belding. who has large prop
erty interests here, hoping that the voters
would consider the question carefully be-
fore voting to bond.
w. D. Ballou said he was not quite
ready to decide upon the matter at pres
ent. He thought we needed sewers
! first.
w B. Travis favored municipal rather
than corporate ownership but questioned
| ~ ~ WOliAll 1 NC bOoL W hCldJ lllC llidllSl
of bonding few years.
ID Leonard made a strong plea in
opposition to the bonding proposition. ar
gung that the city ought not to mort
gage itself for years to come; that while
some municipal plants might pay running
expenses they did not pay the interest
and the bonds.
DR.. J. F. Pinkham made some caustic
remarks in asking questions on the sub
jet which showed that he favored the
present proposition.
F. A. Bush said that he was not tax
payer but was in favor of municipal own
ership rather than of granting fran
chse, if there was money in it for COR
poration he thought there would be for
the city to own and operate its own plant.