The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-24
WATERWORKS OEAE
Informal Offer Said To Have Been
Submitted to Clarendon Peopl&
Amounting To About ftS,OOO-a
They Accept Offer. Matter WIZ
Probably he Finally Closed up-
Present Status OF Affairs

u
Present Status OF Affairs.
.
IL IL expected that either today Or
tomorrow there will he certain devel-
opments in the waterworks situation
. which viii determine finally whether
the plant OF the Clarendon Water
works company or whether following
the decision not TO do this. steps will
be taken looking 10 the citys estab-
lishment OF It's own plant
The situation as II exist. at this
time is about as follows:
The city originally offered the COM
pany sl55.co0 for its plant but later
when the discovery was made that tho
net earnings OF the company were not
as large as expected. that offer was
Withdrawn and an offer OF $40, ,000
made for the plant, the transfer, IL was
understood, TO be OF the date OF No
'ember 1st Replying TO that offer tho
Clarendon company refused 20 sell
their plant for the amount named tho
offer having been presented NJ the last
meeting OF the board OF aldermen,
on December 2nd At that meeting the
same offer, or $4,000 was renewed
and the company was given Is days
in which to answer.
In reply TO that offer the company
addressed a communication to Mayc-
Springer and the board or aldermen
on Tuesday last, declining again to
sell for $4,000 but making a compro-
mise offer OF $l50,OO0. the plant. it's
property and franchise TO be turned
over To the city on January 1st.
When this compromise offer was first
received and discussed II appeared
that favorable action would b. taken
by the board Of aldermen and that
all negotiations would be closed at
a special meeting and the plant turned
over to the city on January 1st. Later
developments revealed however that
there was certain opposition to accept
ing the offer which would probably
make favorable action impossible. and
for calling the board OF aldermen In
extra session 70 consider the matter
unless agreement could be reached
The above is the status OF affairs as
known to exist at this time. but Ger
tain forces have been set in notion
which it is hoped will within a day or
two TO bring the two sides together
and end the long standing and much
discussed waterworks question.
Mayor Springer. It is understood. yes
terday had an informal conference
with the members OF the citizens COM
mittee whose recommendation 10 Of
fer S140 900 was adopted. and the ques-
ton was considered at great kngth
by them. II was tentatively agreed,
sc II Is said, that this committee would
recommend TO the board OF aldermen
that he following offer be made. If
there is any assurance that it would
be accepted:
plant to the city on January 1st, on
tho basis Of the offer OF sf4,-
900 as OF November 1st, this
really amounting in round numbers To
$145, 900, the company being allowed
to retain certain rentals paid in ad-
vance. -,''
The terms Of the above proposition
have been informally communicated
to the Clarendon company and IL they
advise that this offer would be accept
ed it will undoubtedly be made them.
as the aldermen would hardly hesitate
to act if the special committee recon
mended that course.
1t is believed that the clarendon Of
fcials will let it be- known shortly
whether such an offer appeals to- thcra
and on their answer depends the ques.
tion as To the city's purchase OF its
plant
If the offer is not accepted IL can be
stated almost certainly that no furth-
er negotiations Will be entered into.
with that C,Ompauy bv the city