The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-10-11

luton Taking Steps for Erection
of City's Own Plant-Discussion
OF Question Attended With Bitter
ness.
Following an animated and at
Zines heated discussion last night.
the board of aldermen after receiy-
ing the reply from the Clarendon
Waterworks Company declining to
accept the city's offer OF $4,000
for their plant, referred the matter
again to the waterworks committee,
TO confer with a similar committee
from the board of audit and finance
and one representing the Clarendon
people.
Shfs action was taken over the
sJBhg protests Of Aldermen Wood
and BO1les of the waterworks COM
mittee, who stated that if further
negotiations were to be continued
Athey would like to be relieved from
~9serVice on the committee. On request
OF the mayor, however, they did not
force their designations, although
they made it plain that they had no
heart in any attempt to come to
terms with the Clarendon Company.
The waterWorks question was
brought up when the report of the
waterWOrks committee was called for,
the reply received from the Claren-
don WaterwOrks Company regarding
the recent offer made by the city,
being as follows:
''Messrs. T. w. Wood, c. P. Bolles,
Jr., J. A. Karr, committee of the
Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen: Your cOmmunica-
ton of the 21st, ult., conveying to
this company an amended offer on
She part of the city of the amount
Of $4,000 for the plant and equip
nent was duly received and the same
was respectfully considered by the
board of directors of this company
at its recent meeting.
Our board was unanimously of
the opinion that the offer was so low
and so inadequate that in justice to
the stockholders of the company they
are forced to decline it.
The directors instructed the pres
ident to suggest to your committee
and request them that they state to
the board of aldermen that they will
appoint your committee to act with
SHfnilar committee to be appointed
Vfand from the board Of audit and
1IA bee, for the purpose. of cOnferr-
ia~With a like committee to be ap-
pointed by the board Of directors
Of this company, and we can have a
personal conference and interview
it is likely that we all arrive at the
proposition which will be mutually
acceptable and be approved by our
respective boards.
we respectfully submit this as
a suggestion and as a means of
bringing about a settlement which
would avoid a consequence which
might be disastrous to both parties.
We trust that you will give this the
consideration it deserves and pre-
sent it to the board of aldermen at
it's next meeting. In the meantime
we will take pleasure in extending
to you any facilities you may desire
for the further investigation of the
property.
Respectfully
"CLARENDON WATERWORKS CO.
by John F. Divine, president
AAld0nan Wood said that he could
90 s$e that any good could come
from a further delay and that the
committee is opposed to any further
negotiations.
Alderman Bolles thought that if
the company had any terms to Of
fer it should do so and that there
has been a six months delay, which
he thought was ample time for the
matter to have been considered, and
he thought that the people were get
ting tired of delay and that some
definite action should be taken AL
derman Bolles stated his position in
regard to the offer made the company
the $4,000 agreed on as a COM
promise having been too high in his
opinion the first offer Of $125, 900,
having been ample. He thought that
the city ought to appoint its commit
tee and float the bonds when possible
to erect it's own plant. He made a
motion that the board go into the
election of it's members of the water
works commission.
City Attorney Bellamy thought it
would be necessary for aldermen to
agree with the board of audit and
finance to build a new waterworks
.1Hstem and following this decision
Ne members of the commission shall
be appointed.
Alderman French moved that the
city go into the erection of its own
plant, the motion being seconded by
. Alderman BOlleS.
Alderman Karr argued that fur
ther time should be granted and that
Alations should be continued.
Aldermen French and Wood oppos-
ed any further delay.
Alderman O'Brien thought it only
right that the company's request be
granted. and said there is question
in his min dwhether the company
had been offered a sufficient sum for
their plant. He made motion that
the waterworks committee be instruct
ed to meet the board of audit and fl
nance committee and with the water
works committee.
Alderman Wood said that it only
meant delay and that the committee
would never agree to go above S14O,-
coo
The mayor stated that the question
of price did not enter into the Ques-
ton of granting further time.
Nnrthror> also