The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-10-04

The meeting of the members of the
Commercial Club held last night a
the Club rooms to discuss the water
works situation and to take action or
the proposed plan of selecting wa
ter works commission resulted in q
move that will no doubt bring about
the construction of a municipal water
works plant. The idea in brief, as al
ready given in the Record, is for the
City Council to select one man, the
Commercial Club another and the peo
pie not connected with either of the
two bodies the third man, the three
to constitute a water works commits
sion. This commission will be en-
powered by the city council to employ
a competent engineer, prepare plans
for a water works system suitable to
the needs of Roswell, put the matter
up to the voters, and should the prop
osition proffered carry, sell the bonds
and have charge of the erection of
the plant.
The meeting was called to order
by President Kellahin. J. F. Hinkle
was asked to explain the proposition,
and did so briefly as outlined above.
Mr.. Hinkle further stated that there
was no intention to reflect upon the
that in order to put through a water
works proposition in Roswell, the va
rious interests and factions of the ci-
ty would have to be reconciled and
brought to unite on one plan. He fur
ther believed that the present time
was the parting of the ways If Ros-
well was to have system of water
works at all, it must be secured now.
Further delay would retard the de-
velopment of the city, and any day
fire might be started that would con-
sumo the entire business district. He
was heartily in favor of the plan as
proposed.
Similar sentiments were expressed
by R. F. Barnett, A Pruit, Harold
Hurd. K S. Woodruff. Robert Kella-
min, J. A. Graham, L. K. McGaffey,
Captain Murray, Councilman Johnson,
and a number of others.
A general discussion then ensued
as to the advisability of private own
ership or municipal ownership, and
it developed that there was little
sentiment in favor of considering any
thing but municipal ownership. The
fact was generally recognized that it
would be impossible to put through
a private ownership franchise in Ros-
well, the people generally being hear
tily in favor of municipal ownership.
G. A Richardson was called upon,
and expressed himself as being mu-
nicipal ownership man, and as being
strongly opposed to the granting of
any more franchises for public utili-
ties to private companies. He belieV-
ed thoroughly that the people should
own and operate all public utilities.
1t was the people who paid for them,
and they should reap the benefit. Ii
plant could be operated il Roswell
by a private company at profit, the
same thing could be done by the city
and the profit be saved to the people.
He, himself, was in favor of the city
handling this matter, but if
it should be seen fit to appoint COM
mission, he would not oppose it.
The only person present who be-
Heved in private ownership only was
DR.. Bradley, who stated that ne was
opposed to the municipality entering
into business of any kind.
K S. Woodruff expressed the be-
lief that in order to get private COM
pany to embark in the business of
furnishing water to the city of Ros-
well, the city would have to guaran-
tee the interest on the plant through
taking enough fire hydrants. He be
lieved in municipal ownership, the
city to secure the profits.
Secretary Graham, OF the CONNER
cial Club stated that it was not In
tended to reflect in the slightest man
ner upon the city council and that
the best proof of this was that a ma
jority of the city eou7cil were in IA
vor of the plan proposed
After the matter had been rhorougn
" discussed and the merits of priv
ate and municipal ownership thresh-
ed out, vote was taken, and It was
found that the members present were