The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-18
SELMA AWATERPLANT
QUESTION OF ITS PURCHASE OF
 INTEREST TO CITIZENS.
Committee Having the Matter In Charge Issues an Address--Roads of Dallas Reported in Bad
 Condition.
Advertiser Bureau.

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, March 17.
 Since the question of the city pur- chasing the present water works plant tated, the citizens have tried to get some of the details of the proposed purchase. When the election was orr dered a few weeks ago for bond is- sue of $l50.000 with which to pur- chase the plant now in operation or to be used in erecting new system, the citizens again became clamorous for information.
 Last week both Mayor Atkins and Chairman Grayson. of the special com mittee of the council. tried to allay the suspicious of the citizens. But their efforts were apparently without avail.
 At the regular monthly meeting of the City Council last Monday night, Chairman Grayson offered a resolution which was to the effect that the com- mittee be empowered to issue to the citizens of Selma an address on the question of municipal ownership of the water plant This resolution was pass ed by the council without dissenting vote. The address which is given out and signed by the committee on the water works question is as follows: To the People of Selma.
 The municipal council at it's last meeting authorized the undersigned special committee on water works to issue an address to the people,
 From all that we have been able to earn on the subject, we believe that municipal ownership of the water works in Selma would be greatly to heyadvantage of the citizens. By con- ieGting the dead ends'' of the pipes md making other Improvements in he plant clearer and purer water ,ould be furnished. If the city owned he plant, these Improvements would De made, as the ownership would be permanent. With the question of mu- iicipal ownership being constantly agi- ated, the present owners are MateriaI- ~ inclined to make no more improve nents than are absolutely necessary.
 If water works plant is purchased pr constructed by the city, it is the purpose of the authorities to have it nanagedFby a commission similar to :he Sinking Fund Commission" thus 5 :aking the matter out of politics As .he Sinking Fund Commissioners and he Councilmen serve without compen- sation, we think three good men could oe found who would be willing to do likewise, except that 1t might be neces- sary to pay one of them a small salary for keeping up with the details of the business. It would certainly be more agreeable to do buSineSS with man. agement controlled by our own people than it is to have all the orders to come from New York.
 Under the present contract the city pays the water company six thousand ($6.000) dollars a year. and if all the hydrants which are needed for fire protection were put in. 1t would have to pay about eight thousand ($S.000) dollars year, which with its present resources. 1t is not able to do If the city owned the plants these hydrants would be put in, and. much property now in case of fire, at the mercy oe the flames. would be protected
 While we cannot promise much re- duction in rates at the beginning, it is hoped that eventually the rates will be materially reduced. What we do promise 1t clearer and purer water. and better fire protection.
 It has been asked how much we pro- pose to pay for@the water works plant. Persons who ask that question are evil dently unaware of our provision of the contract between the city and the wa- ter company, It is stipulated that after five (5) years from date of the con- tract, which was July. 1890, the water company would sell the water works to the city. if the city should so elect. and in case the parties could not agree as to the price to be paid, it was