The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-10-11

dinealty The company had 70 conten,
With II It's business was the brancl
which emptied into the river allow
the works which was injurious 70 pub
lie health. II was stated In IN
bills that the total assets Of the com
pany amounted To ss5.OOo, while tbs
liabilities amounted to s154.000.
The deeds OF trust were foreclosed
and Mr.. BigeloW purchased the prop
erty at the following prices: The
water works and $500 Of city war.
rants for $4,000. the gas plant and
$500 IN city waErasts for 5000. the
electric plant for $500 and the prop
erty known as the King place for
t1.00.
II is stated that while the charter OF
the Columbia improvement Co. set
out that the company was organized
to encourage immigration, build towns
and cities and sell real estate, the only
real estate it ever purchased was the
King property, which 1t never sub
divided or improved.
- z Hssraanlkati6h.
Complaint states that after the pur-
chase of the property Mr.. Bigeiow sold
an interest to Mr.. william P. Parrish
and to Mr.. Thomas NJ. Stegar, and
these three associated with Mr.. ]. L.
Hutton and Mr.. w. w. Moore in the
organization Of the Columbia Water
& Light Co. The capital stock was $780,
000 The company took charge and as
surhes1 to exercise the franchise and
carry out in contracts Of the Column
bia Water Company, the Columbia
Electric Company and the Columbia
Gas Company. In 1896 the Columbia
Water & Light Co. conveyed to the
State Trust Co. of New York all its
properties and rights to secure a bond
issue of $125,0O0 due in 20 years with
SO interest. Complainant is informed
that said Trust Co. is now claiming
the property and franchises, but has
never assumed the right to take
possession.
Charges Relative to Defective Service.
Complainant states that the water
supply of the city is now taken at q
point opposite the mouth of ravine
which drains large area built upon
by dwelling houses and their accom-
Danying dry closets, so that in case
If typhoid fever on this water shed
here would be danger of an epidemic
If typhoid fever in the city. That be-
ween said intake point and the pump
ng station is the mouth of the nat
lral drain of large part of the city,
70 near to the intake that at low water
b sewerage from the city reaches the
mouth of the intake pipe. That more
xtends out from the pumping station
nto the river for use when the intake
ipe becomes disabled, and when this
pipe is in use, as it may
e frequently, the entire water supply :
t the city is taken from point di-
ectly below the drainage of the city
/ express violation of the contract "
18th the city and to the great danger !
[ the public health. That complain
nts have had the water being fur
ished the city to be analysed and
lid analysis shows the water to be 81
nfit for domestic use, impure and u
and likely to produce CT
sease. That no effort is made to OF
ter or charity the water That It Ia
rarely clear, and where the water Is
the river is muddy from rains the pc
uddy water is furnished directly to ~
e consumers. In fact complainant cl
informed that the defendant claims WI
ere Is nothing in its contract re- as
firing it to furnish water except as
comes from the river, but complain
It charges that the defendant COM fol
ny is obligated under its contracts ba
we'll as by its charter to exercise cr'
asonable care that the water it fur tn
shed its patrons shall be fit for the So
rposes for which 1t is purchased. a
lat at the point of intake the com orr
ny has established filter crib of Co
IS and sand, but the same has not pa
en- cleaned out for some time and Is SO
ed with mud and Nth. Complainant vii
ties that as result OF the. failure
the defendant to filter the water
mped into the reservoir. filth is Rdel
nped in in large quantities and al dun
red to remain there for months tina
1iodt the reservoir Beng cleaned sec
nJI.o ge ooty-I 10