The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-02-15
CITIZENS VOTE FOR WATER
WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY
Report of the Citizens Committee Approved at MasSeeng
of Taxpayers, After Plenty Of Talk and the
FaireSt Sort of Test

had entered an objection. Mr.. Bore
mans franchise contained set OF
water rates that covered every posti-
BILE use of water except in the manu-
facture of bologna sausage and the
dilution of milk. His plan was to ex-
tend the life of the franchise to fifty
years and keep the rate down. Mr..
Boreman's figures, however, We're so
low that, while every consumer would
doubtless have been we'll pleased with
them, it was obvious they would not
prevail. The speakers own figures
showed that the water company could
look for an annual revenue Of only
$1I, 900, which of course, would scercely
meet the payroll, to say nothing Of in
terest on an investment of nearly a
quarter of million dollars.
Henry F. Porch came in while Mr..
Boreman was talking and announced
himself as a spokesman for Lieut.
Governor Dickerson, Assemblymen
Fesler and Baird and Senator Gal
lagher. Mr.. Porch stated that he had
been requested by these gentlemen on
leaving Carson City, to ask for further
delay on the water question until they
could come here and familiarize them
selves with the situation. LawyerD. S.
Crump then moved an adjournment,
which was defeated by decisive vote,
and in moving the previous question
Mr.. Neil voiced the sentiment of the
majority when he said that, although he
respected White Pines representatives.
in the Legislature this was a matter
that everybody in Ely had had an op-
portunity for weeks past to consider
and that he believed the citizens pres
ent had made up their minds.
Mr.. Crump and Mr.. Ellis spared for
dely and there was hot exchange of
words between the latter and Messrs.
Riepe and Fulmer The previous
question was moved severrl times, but
Chairman Whitehead wanted to give
everybody chance and some more
speeches were made,
district Attorney Eddy stated en-
phatically that the people of Ely could
expect nothing tangible from condem-
nation proceedings, owing to the ex-
pense involved and the long litigation
that would ensue, and he said that if
he had gone ahead as directed by the
County commissioners the people
would be damning him for the next
twenty years. He had assumed re-
sponsibility, for not acting upon the
Commissioners instructions and he in
tended to "stand pat" on that propo-
sition. The franchise as submitted
might, he said, be improved upon in
minor respects, but it was, on the
whole, satisfactory.
After Mr. Crump had made another
futile effort at adjournment there were
calls for the previous question and this
time the majority meant business. By
rising vote those in favor of the
franchise were shown to be in control.
Time was given for belated stragglers
to come in and then new vote was
called for, with the doors closed to pre-
vent repeating. Treasurer j. F. Miles
and d. w. Ellis acted as tellers and
Chairman Whitehead mounted the ros-
trum so as to obtain IA full view of the
audience.
On the proposition to accept or reject
the franchise as whole ffty-one citi-
zens voted to accept and thirty-nine
against. Chairman Whitehead then
adjourned the meeting.
Commissioners Parker and Bassett
were present throughout the proceed
ings but they did not vote.
The result of the mass meeting OF
citizens proves conclusively that the
people of Ely are tired of the dilatory
opposition to water system and that
the effort to plunge the town into liti-
gation, which would benefit only few
ATTORNEYS, is resented.