The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-07-12
THE WATER QUESTION.
The Most Important With Which Johnson
CITY Now Has 10 Deal.

and most vital question for the consid-
Grafton of the people of Johnson City.
On the 18th day Of September, 1890,
the town of Johnson City granted a
twenty-year franchise to the Watauga
Water Company to furnish the town
and its citizens with pure water from
certain freestone springs near the foot
of Buffalo mountain. which are now
largely diverted to the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and
their lake, and we get pumped water
largely during the hot months.
During September, 1905, this compa-
tried to get the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen to grant it another franchise,
which, for good reasons, was not done
This company now asks that the re-
mainder of its franchise be cancelled,
and that the city give it new twenty
year franchise and special contract.
All citizens should read the non -exclu-
sive (?) franchise as passed on first
reading by the Board
1t asks that the city contract with it
absolutely for fire plugs at $50. 90 each
per year. Is this non-exclusive 3?
Notice this:
"Water shall be furnished for fami-
4 lies and domestic purposes at reasonable
rates, and upon u graduated scale ac-
cording to size of house, number III
family, and amount of water used"
Water for manufacturing purposes
shall be furnished at such reasonable
rates as may be agreed upon by the
party of the second part and the con-
sumner thereof. y
The old contract says that charges
for water must be based on no higher
average than is paid by Knoxville,
Bristol and Chattanooga.
The reader wi | notice that the new
proposition omits even this feeble pro.
tectipn as to prices for water, but when
twenty-year franchise is obtained and
twentyyear contract for all fire plugs
at $4,000 each, and all streets and al
legs occupied by the pipes of this com
pany is made, who would then ever
consider putting in another water plant
No one, as this would be absolutely
exclusive. Then, who would fix the
future charges for all water used for al
purposes IN this city? 1 say this com
pany, as it would have a monopoly
3 and consumer would have as mucl
chance to negotiate fair price for wa
ter as shippers now have with the South
ern railway.
= Another clause | Wish to notice-th
p purchase clause. The company agree
that the town, at the expiration of fv
years, may but the plant Eat a sum o
money, the annual interest of which
Q at six per cent, shall be equal to tn
net earnings of the said water work
+ for the last previous year; provided
s that such price is not less than the &C
u tual cost" Who but this company, o.
this proposition, could say what tn
l. plant cost No one; and nothing al
+ lowed for deterioration of the plant
u which would be very great in invent
l. years. Why not buy on basis of el
pert knowledge and ascertainment
be made by the city? I show plainl
% the absolute power of the company
+ fix prices for all water used, the exclr
n sive contract for fire plugs, the use
II all streets and alleys, and the folly {
% the proposition TO sell the plant to I'll
10 city at mot less than cost.
" Now, this proposition has passed OF
8. reading of the Board, and yet men I
(. ample means and business capacii
70 have written proposition filed wit
=. the Board Offering to furnish water NJ
to exceed old franchise prices. aud pa
ofS $25, 900 to the city during the runnin
of twenty year franchise, or give OF
il hundred free fire plugs at $50 90 eac
for twenty years, (Which would mean
saving to the city for fire plugs alor
10 $50, 0OO), as we'll as to furnish free watt
:, for all schools and city purposes.
b So it behooves Johnson City to Il
il the franchise of the Watauga Wat,
0, Company run out its existence, whiC
= is about four years, and either grant
! new franchise to take effect at the 9,
piration of the Watauga Water Comp
r ny's franchise or, better still, get lie;
islative authority to issue bonds al
buy or build water plant on strict
- business basis, and when this is dor
johnson City can name the price it wi
pay for buying or building plan
provided no franchise or new CONTRACT
\ are made with the Watauga Watt
q Company.
The Board has already notified III
company to putin one hundred fiji
plugs, and although ample time hs
elapsed to have put them in, it has NJ
been done, and large part of Johnso
City is without fire protection.
\ JAS. A. MARTIN.
II
= Lax -ets-A candy bowel laxative.