Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-04-23

At private conference held yes terday afternoon between Vice Presi- dent II. R. Dennis, of the Securities company, which owns and operates the plant of the Pine Bluff Light and Water Company, and President Frank G. Bridges, of that company, and committee from the Pine Bluff City Council, composed of Aldermen Will liam Nichol, of the Second ward; Fred Fox, of the First ward and A. c. Jor- dan, of the Third ward, proposition was submitted to the city of Pine Bluff by the Securities company for the i sale of the WaterWorks and light plant combined. The consideration has not been given out. The proposition will be submitted to the City Council next Monday night, it is said.
 ! President Bridges, of the Pine Bluff Water and Light Company, and Vice President Dennis, of the Securitis ss company, today declined to discuss the matter. Neither of them would deny nor affirm the statement that the sale of the property had been men, toned at the conference, although the Graphic has reliable information that the plant has been offered for sale to the city.
 The conference was attended by City Attorney w. F. Coleman and City Engineer w. J. Parkes, who were in- structed by the Council to act with the special committee several weeks ago, when the matter of making new con
 tract with the city was agreed to by the water and light company officials. The committee has held several con ferences with the officials of the Se- curities company and the Pine Bluff Water and Light Company since their appointment. After the first confer ence was held Vice President Dennis and President Bridges, of the local company, went to New York together. They remained there several days conferring with the stockholders and other officials of the Securities com- pany and returned to Pine Bluff few days ago. Chief Engineer von Phul, who came here several weeks ago from New York to superintend improvements that were planned by the Securities company at the local lv and his visit there is said to have been of more than ordinary signifi- canoe.
 President Bridges said he preferred not to discuss the matter at this time. Whatever the city officials cared 10 say regarding the proposed sale, he said. would not be objectionable to him. although he deemed it best that he should not make any statement re- garding the matter at this time. MT. Dennis declared that the conference was strictly private and that he had nothing to give out to the public rel atve to the proposition which was submitted.
 The recent passage of a bill in the
 
 Pine Bluff to build or purchase and operate it's own waterworks with the privilege of operating a light plant with it and the strong sentiment here in favor of municipal ownership is probably what prompted the Securi- ties company to place their property on the market. Needed improvements at the plant would cost in the neigh borhood of $100,000, possibly more be- fore the plant was placed in first class condition. The Securities company has spent much money in improve ments in the past and although the local plant has been big paying in- vestment, the owners of the plant are said to oppose any further expense in that direction. It is stated that they prefer to sell the plant that their other large interests in the East and at other points, where they own and con- trol similar enterprises, be given more attention. Alderman Will Nichol stated this afternoon that There's nothing in it. He said the matter should not be pub lished now, but that thH Graphic should wait until the special commit tee makes it's report to the Council. The special committee from the Council is meeting again this after noon at the office of City Attorney w.