The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-14
GADSDEN MUDDLE
 NOT YET CLEARED More Litigation Threatened in WaterWorks Matter CITY MAY BUY THE PLANT Shooting Affray Is Reported In Mar shall County In Which Two Men
 Are lnjured-Other Gads-
 den News.
CITY MAY BUY THE PLANT

den News.
 Gadsden, November 13-(SpeciaD At an adjourned session of the city council last night the board of mayor and alder men announced that they had exhausted every means in their power in combating the rights of R. A. Mitchell and his as sociates to construct water works sys- tenn in this city, under a contract giver him by a former administration, and that they were ready to grant him his rights. The noted case has been fought back and forth in the various courts of the state for the past four years. The pa tience of the public was becoming sorely tried. and much relief is felt over the out. come.
 The committee appointed from the city council some time ago, to enter into nego- tiations with the Gadsden Water Works company With view of purchasing tGe plant reported adversely at the meeting of the council last night. The officials or the Water Works company placed a price of $60,0O0 representing the value of the stock of the company now in existence. Julian Kendrick, consulting engineer of the city, estimated that the plant was worth something like $35,000 or $40,000, to be used as the nucleus of a new plant to be built by the city, should such q course be decided upon. With this difference in valuation, it was impossible for the committee to reach an agreement.
 The citys contract with the company has expired and it has made repeated efforts to renew it, but without result. It has been reported that the Water Works company have threatened to cut off the supply of water unless the city agrees to contract. In this event this would leave the city without protection. It is claimed on good legal authority that the Water company could not do this.
 Chief Topic for Discussion.
 The water works question was the pr:n cipal topic discussed on the streets, in the stores and homes of the people of Gacs- den today, and it is now doubted if the acceptance by the city of the Mitchell contract last night will end the subject, as there are some who are not at all sas- isfed with the outcome and in1unctions that are now talked of, to prevent the city carrying out it's contract with Mitchell. In this event the litigation may be con- tinued indefinitely, but it is thought that some steps will be brought about whereby all factions will come together and setlla all differences. There are some who Iar vor granting Mitchell and his associates their rights, and others who think that the Gadsden Water Works company hts rights that should be respected. While still another faction insists that the poncs voted for new municipal water Wofts be sold and the plant built.
 In the meantime the city is in dire need of water as it has grown very raploiy' and there have been no improvements III the way of extensions to meet the he" growth. The city has recently construct- ed nine miles of new sewerage, whlch IS practically useless, as the present water mains are too small and will nave to pc doubled in size before the sewers can De properly used. ,,.ou.
 Mayor Charles P. Smith in his address to the hoard on the subject, stated that while he had never been an advocate or m,lnicipal ownership, that he had prose cuted the fight on MT. Mitchell strenuous lv because he was of the opinion that majority of the citizens were Tn laVor of that plan. There had never been any personal interest injected into the hght either was with a feeling of relief to the entire administrations that the matter had reached a settlement. It was further the oninion of the Mayor that the conserVa- tive citizens of the city would heartlly approve of the action of the council as there was a large and growing demand that by some means the city should De supplied with water no matter whether by municipal ownership or private cor poration.
 Steiner Bros. Get School Bonds.
 The sl5.OO0 school bond issue voted upon last spring for building an additional school building for the city schools was sold today at par to Steiner Bros, bank CTS of Birmingham. Through their legal representative John B. Weakley, Mayor smith announced that the building would be under way before the first of the year. The city has been compelled to rent out side property for school purposes owing to the rapid growth of the city, the two large school buildings having been full more than year ago.
 Shooting Affray In Marshall.
 News of a desperate shooting affray which took place at Pink Roden's brandy distilery, in Marshall county, about three miles from Guntersville, Sunday night, has just been received here. John and James Rolngs, two brothers, and man named Davis and another whose name could not be learned, became engaged in a drunken brawl and commenced shoot ing. Davis was badly wounded and the unknown man was shot. The two Rollings escaped with slight injuries. No details of the affair could be obtained. John Rol- lings, one of the participants, is said to have shot and killed lis father-in-law, who was blind. several years ago. He pleaded self-defense and was acquitted. Roden's place has given the revenue of- ficers much trouble for many years, and Roden has just finished serving sentence in the penitentiary at Atlanta.
 R. w. HeaId Gets Verdict.
 verdict has been rendered in the cir cult court here awarding $2S00 damages to the estate of R. w. Heaii. Hea1d was employed by the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company in their ore mines near Attala. Heald was in the mines about a mile from the opening, when something went wrong with the air pumps and hot air was pumped to the men to breathe and Mir Heald was killed. At the time of his death he was adminis- trator for the estate of nephew who was killed by locomotive at the South ern Steel company's plant.
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 Negro Shot By Alvin Bryant.
 Huntsville November 13--(Special)-The