The Globe-republican., 1907-02-07
COMMERCIAL CLUB MEETING
SHOWS TOWN Is
AWAKE
THE WATER WORKS QUESTION
Is Being Studied-People Not
Anxious For Extending
Franchise,

The 6ood Of oratory predicted for the
meeting Of the Commercial club at Its
meeting Monday night, did not materials
lie to the degree anticipated, but there
WAS a considerable amouns Of 1t floating
about the Phenix club rooms for all that.
At the opening Of the meeting Chair
man Russell dispensed with the ptelimi-
naries, and after admitting five new
members, called at once for the report Of
the committee on the proposed water.
works franchise. The Commercial club,
city council and the waterworks people
. ..are not so far apart as might have been
supposed. From the expression last night
from these three sources matters may be
fixed up satisfactorily and the whole
bunch ''live happily ever afterwards"
II the water. company Is sincere In Its
position, as stated by Mr. Walton who
represented 1t at the meeting on Monday
night, an amicable settlement Of affairs
may be reached after all. Mr.. Watson
said that the company would open Its
books to committee appointed by the
Commercial club and assist the committee
In examining them to determine just
what ii cost TO operate the plant. The
water system proper, he said, was valued
at $4,000, and all that the company
wanted was reasonable compensation
for Its service. II the committee, he said,
could figure out scale of prices that
would pay the expenses and reasonable
Interest Cd the investment, together with
q fund to cover the repairs necessary to
keep the plant In good condition, the
company would readily agree to such a
revised scale Of prices.
Mayor Hoover stated that the council
!, had taken nothing In the way of definite
4 action In the matter of new contract
with the water company. A committee
Of five members Of the council has had
the matter under advlsement.
They have gone over the proposed con-
tract offered by the water company, and
have marked out number of clauses that
would not suit them In any case. They
have had the contract carefully examined
BY Mr.. A. B. Reeves, who has pointed
out some defects, and offered some ad.
ditions. Mr.. Hoover stated that the. only
etep he had taken was to promise the
committee that If Its five members unaLi-
mously agreed on Ia contract revised by
themselves that he would not veto an
ordinance bringing the contract into eff
feet, This committee has refused at the
outset to consider any contract for a
longer period than ten years, and II any
contract whatever Is entered into. that 1t
must be one that frees the city from the
old contract and also that will leave it
entirely free at the expiration OF the new
contract. The rates figured upon in the
proposed contract at present are re-
.duct!on in some ways, and In others they
are not. The thing to be undertaken now
Is for the Commercial club committee to
10 over the business from the books of
the company and gee an idea OF whether
Asor not better rates may be made. The
commlttee will do this and will report at
I the next meeting Of the club, which will
Abe on Friday night, February 15. At
this meeting the Commercial club will
J, undertake to have the mayor and council
present so that all may compare notes and
advance ideas, with view to coming TO
some definite conclusion as to what should
be done.
Mr.. Gluck, chair man of the waterworks
committee Of the Commercial club, made
lengthy report to the club Monday
night. This report was adverse to the city
council making any contract with the
present waterwcrks company. unless IL
should be merely contract from year TO
( year, until such time as the city could
buy Or build Ito own water~orks It
sstated that Information from other cities
that now own their own plants conYiuced
lhe committee that Dodge City should
Adopt that system.
: The report recommended that the coun.
eil should first give the citisens Of Dodge
Aty an opportunity to express themselves
the spring election upon the proposition
lily ownership Of the water service.
] jcautioned the people against binding
/ lah6mselves for term Of years tO any
srlyate corporation, as such q contract
1 light only serve to enable one corpor-
va to aell to another, SO that the city
ltd be At the mercy OF parties who
| Aeht invest here for the purpose Of
l6leedIug the citizens TO the full extent