The daily sentinel., 1906-07-18
THE COUNCIL IS LABORING
FOR ClTY'S BEST INTERESTS

opinion. Motives may be pure and
intentions good. yet nature has so
constructed man, that there is diff
ferent thread in the warp and woof of
every mind Each man looks through
different glass. yet each may strive
earnestly and honestly to see the
thing as it is. With this idea of the
temporal arrangement of matters,
The Sentinel is disposed to give due
weight to all phases of the mountain
water proposition, seeking only the
best interests of the city, hoping and
believing that Sin a multitude of
councillors there is safety"
The city council, as a body and as
individual members. has no money
interest in the matter, no political
axes to grind, no ambition to achieve.
no spite to vent, no reward to pay. AS
members of the community they
would be benefited or injured by
the success or failure of the plan just
as other members of the community
There is no foundation for any other
view on this phase of the question.
To utter or intimate otherwise is
a gross injustice to the members of
the council, and unfair to the main
issue because it prejudices the un-
biased voter who may be seeking to
arrive at a conclusion that Will en-
able him to exercise his suffrage to
the best interests of the city, and it
befogs the effort to go to the meat OF
the matter.
There has long been a sentiment
for mountain water and as the city
has grown the citizens, seeing the
possibilities for still greater growth,
have through all legitimate chan
nels, endeavored to attract capital
and immigration. These efforts have
been measurably rewarded with sue
cess, and thus encouraged the dispo-
sition to work for the advancement
of the valley has spread. The coun-
ell, catching the spirit of the times,
and backed by this public sentiment,
submit this question of civic i'm
provement to the voters. and here
the matter ends SO far as the coun-
Gil is concerned except to carry out
the mandate of the voter should
the bonds be voted, in the most sat
isfactory manner possible.
The ordinance providing for the
election is published and its features
should be scrutinized by the voter.
The salient features are as follows:
The first section provides for the
issuance of bonds in the sum OF
$500, 900, redeemable in ten years
and payable in fifteen years. bearing
such rate of interest as may be here
after determined by council; the
money to be expended for the i'm
provement, repair, extension and en-
largement of the present water sys-
TEN, and to purchase or acquire the
necessary water for supplying the
city with a mountain water system.
The second section provides that
all of the bonds. or so much thereof
| l.. plap plI 1a al Il
for the purpose of raising the mon
eSe eS to aba bs psea u 81 Isl firth & tie ddh
tain water ''shaIl be from the most
available and feasible source to he
hereafter determined by said city
council. The extension is to consist
of the proper and usual pipes, res
ervoirs, If necessary, and of
such material and dimensions
as council may determine.
| The third section provides that
the city may file upon any or all
available or unappropriated noun
tain water, and may acquire any
water from any mountain source ad-
jacent to the city which has hereto
fore been appropriated, by purchase
from the owners or by condemnation
proceedings, if prices cannot be
agreed upon.
The fourth section provides for
the election on the first day of Aug
ust.
The fifth section provides that the
ordinance shall be in force and effect
from and after the Introduction, pub
lication and adoption according to
law.
These are the main features. the
gist of the ordinance.
I
ell is given considerable latitude in
the matter 1t is not limited as to
the source of securing the water; Il
is not compelled to go to Hannah
creek, If the quantity or quality is
not satisfactory, or these being found
equal to the requirements, 1t is not
compelled to take 1t, If the cost to
the city is too great.
1t is given the power, If the price
for the water right cannot be agreed
upon with the owners to secure it
by condemnation proceedigs as pro-
vldsd by law in such cases.
The rate of interest on the bonds
Is to be determined by the council
This is a matter that must be adjust
ed In the sale of the bonds, as the
| mcst advantageous price Will be gov
erned more or less, by the rate of in
terest.
The specifications for the construc-
ton work is to be determined by the
council.
Outside of the main issue as tc
whether the city should have noun
tain water or not. and whether TIC
cost is commensurate with the bene-
fits to be derived, and whether the
tine is opportune, one of the main
object ions already raised. is the pow
er, The latitude given the counci!
In answer to this IL may be said thai
these perrogatives must. in the mair
be delegated to somebody The vot
ers cannot go out and do the worf
themselves and the only alternativ,
is the delegation of the power to {
representative, or a commission, am
in this instance the council become:
the representative. the managers
The undertaking is large one. ant
of vital importance. Let us hop,
that the discussion of Il Will be alonl
fair and impartial lines and that tn,
result of the vote on August l bas
! ed upon conclusions reached in