The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-10-26
THE DAM PROPOSITION AGAIN.
Some Interesting Statistics Con
corning the Cost of the Pro-
posed Project.


The village council of Paw Paw desire
TO make a statement to the people con
corning it's action anu the obstacles by
which il was confronted in carrying for
ward the project of building the dam
and installing the electric light plant as
authorized by vote at special election
held for that purpose. When the mat
ter was fret agitated and took shape the
the council employed Mr.. Bryrn, an
electrical engineer OF the experience
to make a survey and estimate for the
purpose OF determining the practicable
ity and cost of the enterprise. He pro
nounced the scheme practicable and es
timated the cost of installing such a
plant at a sum not 20 exceed $50. 600
which did not include the cost of the
right of fowage OF the land necessary
for the storing of the head water which
the dam proposed TO be built would
collect for power purposes. 1t was
thought the right of fowage would not
cost more than $4,000. With these
estimates il was thought fine whole cost
would no exceed $50, 900 and that
amount was authorized by vote of the
people, An electrical and consulting
engineer was then employed to draw
plans and specifications whose estin ates
did not vary a great deal from those
made by Mr.. Bryan. An attempt was
then made to procure the right of flow
age and it soon developed that the cost !
of this right would be not far from
$4,000. These figures added to the
estimated cost of installing the machin-
cry, building power house and meet
ing other Incidental expenses at once
loomed above the appropriation author
lied. The council then advertised for
bids on the construction work, machin-
cry and material indispensable to com
plete the enterprise and it was found
that instead OF $4,000, as estimated, it
would cost anywhere from $4,000 to
$4,000 This did not include the cost
Of raising the highway and bridge across
the river below the bridge Gear the pre-
sent plant nor putting in the embank-
ment at Ackley brook, 1t was found at
this stage that the entire cost would not
fall much short Of $4,000. II was asked
why the village did not condemn the
and needed for howage, the prices de-
manded for it being deemed exorbitant.
IN nm ipvactioa tiop IF this Tpattar II
was found the village could not condemn
outside of the corporate limits
without additional legislation on the
subject. 1t was also found that taking
nto consideration the amount of bonds
already issued for water and electric
light purposes and the $4,000 voted for
he present project very nearly approx
mated the amount allowed by law to be
aised for such objects and TO attempt
% bond the town for a sum actually
needed would exceed the limit fixed by
statute, and would therefore be illegal
md make the bond issue beyond the
imitation of five per cent on the assess
d valuation void and that no such il
egal bond issue could be negotiated.
The council makes this statement to
he public for the reason that it has
,een charged in some quarters that tn Q
lam proposition has fallen through on
ccount of the inefficiency and lack OF
Enterprise on its part.
VM. III. MASON, NJ. l.. DECKER,
Village clerk. President.