The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-06
NEITHER WILL GIVE IN.
Company Refuses to Consider Of
fer of SI25,O00

men Express Themselves as Deter
mined Not to Offer a Higher Figure
Matter Was Discussed at Length at
the Meeting of the Board OF Alder
men Held Last Night.
The meeting of the board of alder
men last night was one of the most in
teresting held in many months, and
the council chamber was crowded
with citizens for several hours, while
the waterworks question was un-
der discussion. Shortly after the
meeting had been called to order and
before taking up the regular order Of
business, the mayor asked the water
works committee, which was recently
appointed by the boards of aldermen
and audit and finance to make their
report concerning their negotiations
with the Clarendon Waterworks COM
pany for the purchase Of their plant
as a basis for the municipal plant
which it is proposed to establish in
this city.
With the reading of the report by
Alderman Bolles there was started an
interesting and at times heated dis
cussion between different members Of
the board and Hon. J. D. Bellamy,
representing the Clarendon company
After considering the matter for some
time and hearing long statement by
Mr.. Bellamy, action was postponed un-
til another meeting. From Indications
last night it appears that there is a
dead lock in the negotiations, the city
standing pat" on it's offer Of $125, 700
and the Clarendon company refusing
absolutely to consider that amount.
The report concerning the negotia-
tions as read by Alderman Bolles was
as follows:
''The Mayor and the Board of Alder
men of the city of Wilmington, Gen.
tlemen:
I'm accordance with our instructions
we beg to submit herewith copy OF
written offer presented in person, by
this committee, to the Clarendon Water
works Company, for the purchanse of
it's plant,
After our appointment as special
committee, we opened negotiations with
the water company and were informed
by. them that they would entertain
an offer from the city for the purchase
Of their plant, and they agreed to give
to an expert, to be employed by us,
the necessary information on which
to base his report
"Your committee then appointed Mr..
J. L. Ludlow of Winston-S Salem, N. c.,
to make an examination of the water
plant and to report to us in writing
the result of this examination This
report, based on data furnished Mr..
Ludlow by the water company, was
duly received and carefully considered,
and it was and is, the opinion of the
committee that the offer of $125,0O0 is
liberal and fair.
"It is also the opinion of the COM
mittee that taking into consideration
tHO 1dtC tudC Cuo IoSSut plduL Is III
adequate and that the present source
of water supply renders it unsafe for
drinking purposes, that it would be
unwise to pay a larger sum than Of
fered, especially that further large
sum of money will have to be expended
if the present plant is purchased, to
provide an ample supply of water for
fire protection and also provide water
that can be used for drinking and do
mestic purposes
Alderman Ellis made a motion that
inasmuch as the committee had made
only a partial report the matter be
referred back to the waterworks COM
mittee for full consideration and re-
port.
Hon. John D. Bellamy, representing
the Clarendon Waterworks Co., asked
that the committee read the report
made by the expert engineer, Mr.. J
L. Ludlow, following his examination
of the plant. Chairman Wood of the
committee is ready to make it full re-
be presented to the board when the
committee is ready make its full re-
port under it's instruction from the
joint boards