The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-03
CAMPAIGN OF WATER
MOBILE WILL HOLD ELECTION IN
 FEW DAYS.
Voters of the City Will Decide Wheth- CT the Municipality Shall Pur- chase the Plant of the Bien-
 viIIe Company.
Advertiser Bureau,


 Mobile, Aug. 2.
 With only four days intervening much speculation is being made here as to the outcome of the vote by citi- zens of Mobile on the purchase of the Bienville Water Supply Company's plant by the municipality. The Gen eral Council several sessions ago. ap- proved the recommendation of Mayor Pat J. Lyons to make the purchase. While the action of the city fathers was not unanimous, the vote was suf- ficiently strong to give interested per- sons waRrapt to believe the adminis- tration was right in the proposition.
 Mayor Lyons did not act hastily in sending his recommendation for pur- chase of the plant to the General Council, nor was the movement begun during his administration. The prop osition originated before the building of a water works plant by the munic- ipality. Time and again efforts were made to get from the Bienville Com pany a pelce which the General Coun- ell could consider. During these eff forts Mayor Lyons was a member of the Council and was vigorously op- posed to paying an exhorbitant price for the property. When,, however, a price was named, together with a proposition for thirty annual pay ments, at a reasonable interest, he met with the Water Works Committee Of the General Council and recommended favorable action. The Committee CO., incided with his views and with the Mayors recommendation, sent a fa- vorable report to the General Council.
 In spite, however. of the arguments in favor of the purchase, as set forth in the Mayors recommendation, a strong opposition arose and a very in- teresting fight resulted. Both sides have been working faithfully and en- ergetically and are still working. The opposition, in one argument, alleges that once the city gains control of the Bienville plant a monopoly will be originated and water rates sent sky ward. This argument has been met by statements from three of the represen- tatives in the next General Assembly to the effect that they will prevent any such movement by legislation. Both sides say the fight will be hot one, with the results close.
 Government to Take Charge.
 Dr. Rhett Goode. President of the Quarantine Board of Mobile Bay, re- turned tonight from Washington where he went last Saturday for a conference with Secretary Shaw relative to the Government taking control of the quar- antine affairs and the plant of the board lu NIODll6 f3dys I'EOpOSlLiOnS LO lSdSS the plant to the Government at a nom inal price and the sale of the plant later at reasonable cost to be ratified by the Government were made to the Secretary by Dr. Goode.
 An agreement as to tho Government purchasing the plant was reached and 1t was decided to leave the price to be paid for 1t to a board of appraisers. Dr. Goode said tonight that he expect ed that the appraising board would be Qnnninfad within the next few daXa and that 6 satisfactory agreement will be reached before the expiration of the coming week. The board will be com- posed of five. 1t Is said, two to be se- lected by the Quarantine Board and two by the Government, and the four to se- lect a disinterested fifth person. Dr. Goode also stated that perfect un- derstandlng between the Government affairs at Mobile now exists.
 William Wood Talks.
 William Wood. the young man now occupying cell at police headquarters, awainting preliminary hearing on the charge of murdering his wife, and who, at first. was reticent when ap- preached for an interview. this morn Ing spoke of the tragedy and incl tho press dispatch from St. Louis, printed in today's Advertiser. and ad- mitted the statements therein. Tester day he denied there had been an anu Scpdl dblplls Dul AAN6I seeing the St. Louis dispatch. acknow- lodged 1t. Ills mission to Mobile. he said, was to effect a reconciliation. He acknowledged having intercepted 2 let ter from Mrs. Thomas. sister of his dead wife. wherein Mrs. Wood was urg- ed to come to Mobile.
 Gun Club Shoot.
 In the regular weekly shoot of the Mobile Gun Club this afternoon for the Hunter Arms Company gold medal, surprise came. The shoot as per agreement at the beginning of the present series. was with both barrels of the gun, bird brought down with the second barrel counting only one half Since the series began, the ham dicappers have been put to close figure to get a fair allowance. In the shoot, Marston, with seven handicap, tied Goodbrad. scratch. and Johnston. one handicap. The results of the first shoot were at twenty birds.
 Marksmen. Handicap. Total.
 GOOdbTdu ....ss-....-u lS
 Johnson .............l l9