Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-06-21
buying WATER WORKS
CITY WILL VOTE ON PROPOSE
TON NEXT MONTH.
Mayor Explains Fully Present Ocndi-
tion Of Project Appraisers Agree
on Valuation Of $4,000 Bonds At
ala Per Can't.


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About two years ego curing the adj
ministration Of Mayor Cowan the city
council took some steps TOWARD the
purchase Of the water works plant
now owned BY the Abilene Water
Company. Petitions wsre circulated
requesting the council 70 call an cleo
lion for the purchase Of the water
works plant, these petitions being
signed BY more than two.diths Of the
tax payers residing in the city. This
matter has now assumed q definite
form and 90 II IL tho largest PROPOSE
tion which has ever been submitted
to the voters and tax payers Of the
city IL 10 proper that they should
know the exact facts before the
matter Is finally submitted TO the vote
Of the people.
The franchise under (which the abb
lene Water Company is operated was
granted October 3lst. 1881. fhis
franchise provided that at any time
after the expiration Of ten years from |
the adoption Of the ordinance the city |
could become the owner Of the water
works BY paying 20 tho owner thereof
the value Of said property to be ascer-
tanned by apPraisement IN the follow
ing manner: The city to select one
appraiser, the owner. Of the water
works to select another and the two
appraisers TO select third, or II they
could not agree on third appraiser,
such third appraiser to DO selected BY
the judge Of the district court. The
appraisers 80 selected to appraise the
property at its cash value; and the
city Of Abilene to have the right 70
purchase and become the owner Of the
" such appraised value.
In Order+to carry ont the provisions I
Of this ordinance the city selected % /
its appraiser Charles S. Burns Of the
firm Of Burns 8 Mcdonnell OF Kansas {
City, Mo-, the same firm which made /
The survey Of the city for the con- |
ItruCtion Of it's sewer system. The :
water company selected as its ap- r
sraiser, Edgar L. Street Of Chicago. 4
Who had been the consulting engineer .
Il the water company in connection
With this and other plants which it
'wns. MIR. Burns made q careful ex-
animation Of the property owned BY
he water company, making 40 exam
nation Of the main pipes at forty
light different places, measuring oil
he pipes and carefully examining the
tand pipe, boiler honse, pumps, we'll
nd other property connected with q
10 plant. He made preliminary
sport to the council on January l6. TO
oO6. and : fiaal report April IL. 1906,
! which he valued the property et Vi
's,OsO including . valuation Of 81
1000 for the spring and the land ON
hich II 10 located, this being the :.
mount which the water company 4
I'D for the spring when II made the n
tension Of lie mains In 1891. =.
Mr.. Street d the time this report Y,
10 submitted agreed with MIR. Burns !.
the larger numbur Of items in the 4.
'prAisement but insisted that the q.
praissmsnt was too low as to the -, -,
lue Of the spring and 90 TO the
Ius Of the boiler plant which was
4 In about three years ago ct cost
SbsS7. the boiler plant and founda- or
n being appraised BY Mr.. Burns 81 rur
$50. Mr.. Street also insisted that to
allowances Of 5 per cent ought to be Abb
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