Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-20
Common Council Adopts Water
Franchise Ordinance.
OPEN BIOS IN DECEMBER
Maximum Charge for Water to Con.
sumers and Fire Hydrants Fixed in
Measure-Malns Must Reach City
Limits Before Streets are Disturbed.

An ordinance containing u new water
franchise and providing for The advcr.
tisement and granting of tho same was
adopted by the common council in all
journed session last night after Il dis.
cussion which lasted over wi hours.
The ordinance Is the one drafted By
the city attorney and city clerk anu
recommended by the fire department
and water committee, with changes i'll
several sections.
The ordinance as 1t was originally
drawn, called for blank. number Of
fire hydrants 10 be furnished the city
free OF cost. placed the maximum
charge to be made for fire hydrants
furnished the city at blank md the
maximum charge for water furnished
consumers Mt blank" This was lone
with the intention of having the bid.
ders for the franchise fill in the blanks.
What Bidder Must Promise.
After much discussion. provisions
to the following effect were inserted
after the blanks: Not less thnn TWEEN
ty hydrants to be furnished the city
free of charge; the charge for fire ny.
drants not to exceed $25 per year: the
charge for water furnished TO consum-
ers not to exceed Is cents per thou
sand gallons.
Messrs. Christie. Harris, Kellum and
Marshall favored making The maxi
mum charge for water 20 cents per
thousand gallons, but they were voted
down.
One of the most important provis.
ions of II ordinance is 4 clause which
sets forth that the company to which
the franchise is granted shall not be
gil to lay pipes within the city until
the mains from It's reservoir have been
run to the city limits. 1t also requires
that the Mains be completed to the city
limits within Il year from the time the
franchise is granted.
Large Bond Required.
A bond of $4,000 must be given by
the company, SECURING the franchise
and in event the provisions OF the fran
chise are no complied with Mis- bond
as we'll as all rights granted by the
city will be forfeited.
The council will meet OH the night
OF Tuesday. December 5 To receive bids
for the franchise. The ordinance mus;
go before the aldermen at its next
meeting and after it, has been adopted
by both branches and signed by the
mayor 1T must be advertised for four
weeks before the bids are opened.
1t Is supposed that both the New
port News Light and Water Company
and Mr.. James NJ. Cumming, represent.
ing the Peninsula Pure Water Com.
pany, will submit bids.
Mr.. Livezcy In Chair.
The council met last night shortly
after s O'Clock, the body having adj
Journed two weeks ago to meet for the
particular purpose Of considering the
water franchise matter. President d.
s. Jones was i'll and unable 10
be present. SO Vice-I'rcsidcnt w.
b.. Livezey presided. The other
ember present were: B~aIlcntine,
Christie. Davis. Harris. James, Kellum,
ketchum, Marshall, Via, West and
Wilkins.
Before the meeting was over Mr..
Kellum offered n resolution. calling
upon Mayor Buxton to see that the
dog ordinance is rightly enforced.
Mr.. kellum declared that this orli-
nance had been enforced i'll a halfway
sort of fashion up to this time. The
resolution was adopted.