Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-17

The Board Of Water Commissioners
did not give a decision, at its meeting
Yesterday afternoon, on the request of
Harry Emmons and Ls Irving Handy,
representing the Delaware Water Co,
that the board withdraw its objection
to the company laying water pipe
under CITY streets crossed by the cut
off of the p. B. a.. W Railroad Co.
In support of the proposition Mr..
Emmons told the board that be had
no doubt that the railroad company,
under its charter, could lay the pipe,
but it had seen fiji to be laid
bv subsidiary company for reasons
known to itself. The Delaware
Water Co., Mr.. Emmons said,
would agree to pipe the water
to the reservoir near Edgemoor
and obligate itself not to tap the
pipes within the city limits. He said
the original application Of the water
company filed with the Street and
Sewer Department had been with
drawn and that there is nothing now
before that department in the form Of
an application. Before applying again,
he said, he desired TO meet and dis
nose of the three objections made by
the Water Department.
As to the first objection, which, he
said. was that the Water Department
had been put to the expense of about
a, 600 in furnishing facilities to sup
ply the railroad company with water,
the railroad company is willing to re-
imburse the department for its ex-
penditure.
As to the second objection. that
of establishing q precedent Of
giving a water company the right
to lay pipes, under the aelf-im-
posed restriction, he said there
would be no danger Of other COM
panies desiring to come IN. He
referred to the obligation not to tap
the pipes in the city.
As to the revenue, which he called
the third objection, he said that would
be adjusted by the railroad company
1 in its own way. After the water is
piped to the reservoir, Mr.. Emmona
/ said, the Delaware Water Go. IS duty
| will cease.
As to the railroad company furnish
ing water for its on use, he said, he
/ had no doubt of its right under its
charter to do so. lie said it was q
part Of the necessity of operating its
line.
cts charter does not give it the
| right to organize "a water company anc
then absorb it, - declared Commits
sioner Lindsay. He asked whether
the department did not furnish the
railroad company with water.
eve are not competing with th'
city Water Department, said Mr.
Emmons, "for we agree not to supply
the water TO the city.
"Will the railroad company agrel
to thatg' asked Mr.. Shaw.
81 do not know, " replied Mr.. En-
mons.
Il will not vote for this unless th,
railroad company will join in thi
agreement, - said Mr.. Shaw
The loss of the revenue was thei
taken up and Mr.. Emmons aske,
whether the department. would with
draw its objection 10 the laying o
the pipe if the railroad company woul'
agree not to supply its city building
with water
lie did not receive any answer T.
this.
Mr.. Handy took up the argument
dealing first with the question of pre-
cedent. He said the granting Of tn
request of the water company, will
the provisions above stated, would b.
perfect barrier TO other companies
holding that no company would wan
to lay pipes in city unless it coul'
tap them. He said it would protec
the board in the future.
During his talk Mr. Handy spoke a
length upon the assertion that the de
partment would lose Sl4, 600 in revenu
by the railroad company furnishing
its own water. He asked whether tn
antagonism of the department wa
based on this point.
He was assured that there was nj
personal feeling in the matter on tn
, fpart of the members Of the board.
He explained the great benefit tina
had been derived by the city from tn
improvements made by the railroa
company. He also explained that th
railroad intended to have its ow
water system and that it was not wis
; to oppose it, Mr.. Handy assured ia
! board that the railroad compan
: wanted the water only for its tanks
engines and shops.
Mr.. Shaw stated that he was willin
TO vote in favor of the proposition
the railroad company would enter int
an agreement not TO tap the pip
Z within the city limits He said Ia
: understood that the railroad compan
intends to extend its system to Cheste
and on up the line lie said he under
stood that it wanted the water princi
pally for the shops, engines and tanks
President Ford requested Messrs
: Emmons and Handy TO put their re
, quest in writing and submit it to th
( board. They promised to do so.
! The balance in bank was reported {
% be $40. 534. "a. The weekly payroll,
81, 223. ss, was approved and Ordere
paid.