The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-04-10
WATER TALK.
Lawyers Want Water Board
to buy old Plant Fischer
Writes a Letter.

The air is thick with rumors as to
the old water company anu the new
mountain system. 1t is told on the
street that the old company has sold
the plant and that it is to be ship
ped away. At meeting Of the
Water Board last night Attorney J.
R. Wyatt of the law firm ofWeath-
erford & Wyatt, of Albany, and
w. E. Yates, of Vancouver, Wash
ington, were business visitors. Both
made brief speeches accompanying
a written offer that the Corvallis
Water Company made for sale of
its plant. to the city. The propos-
ition of the company was that it
would sell its works to the city for
$40, 900, delivery to be made June
1st, or for $4,000 with delivery
August Ist.
The remarks of Mr.. Wyatt and
Mr.. Yates, who appeared as attor-
neys for the old company had par
ticular bearing on the offer. They
said as to terms of payment that
these could be so arranged as not
to be embarrassing to the city.
They said that the pipes and pump
ing station would be of value to the
city in its system and that their
purchase by the city Water Board
would seem to be advisable.
Mr.. Yates stated also that the
plant had been decided to man who
was a resident of another state, and
that if there came to be a contest
as to rights in the premises, he and
his client would not come to Ben
ton to litigate, but that they would
try the thing out in another
court
In reply to the lawyers, President
Avery of the Water Board, answer
ed briefly that the matter of the
purchase of the plant had long been
considered by the committee, and
that special committee of the
board had spent much time in ne
gotiations, but with unsatisfactory
results, because of the large COM
pensation demanded by the owners
for the property. He said further
that the report of Engineer Miller
showed that on account of the heavy
pressure of the new plant the old
pipes would be of little or no value
in the new system. The Board, he
continued, had placed its order for
pipe for the local distribution sys-
tenn and th.t all of it would be soon
on the ground. Practically all OF
the appropriation for thenew water
works would be consumed in con
truction work, and there would be
nothing left for purchase Of the old
plant. The outlook, he concluded,
is not favorable for the water COM
mittee to make much, ifany invest
ment in the old plant.
Of interest in the same connection
is, that little more than a week
ago, Clerk Kline was notified by
the old company that an offer had
been received for the old plant, and
that if the offer were accepted the
pumping station had to be on the
cars by April 18th. The announce
!, ment was accompanied by a state
ment that if the Water Board want
ed to buy the property it would
| have to act at once.
What all these things mean. no
body knows. Mr. Yatesleft for Van
couver today, and Attorney Wyatt
for Albany this morning. No dead
conveying the property to anybody
1; has been filed for record, though it
| has leaked out that one was actual
ly executed late yesterday afternoon
4 Who the party is that is named II
the deed, or where he resides, /
i not known.
/ In the meantime, no water bill
for the current month have beer
collected, as is usually done, and
! great many people are wondering
fif the old plart is to actually t
jdismantled and carted away.
4 eAnother incident of interest II
connection with the whole matter
isithat at last nights meeting tn
| Water Board received communl
cation from August Fischer, in
8 quiring what provision had bee
made by the city for Remuneration
for water taken by the city iron
Rock Creek, which, he said, woul'
materially decrease the flow OF wa
| ter through his race and interter
T to considerable extent with tn
operation Of the Corvallis Flourin|
mills at the low water season. Al
t these things have become public o.
the street, and have been mucl
discussed throughout the day.