The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-12-20
THE CITY COUNCIL
New Municipal Water Rates
Cost Of Electric Lights to
be Advanced.

The meeting of the city council on
Tuesday night was an important one
from the character of the business
transacted.
To the Finance Committee had
been referred the matter of retrench-
ment in city expenses. This COM
mittee reported as follows:
Hon. H. A. Davis, chairman,
Dear Sir: The Finance Committee
to which was referred the matter of
retrenchment, begs 70 report that it
does not see any way to reduce the
fixed charges of the city, but rec
commends that expenditures be
made for only such things that are
absolutely necessary. 1t recon-
mends that the city engineer be in
structed to have no sidewalks built
that will have to be paid for by the
city. j. H. Haughton, Jos. d..
Points, II. o. Hamm, Finance COM
mittee.
The special committee on Water
Works submitted its report on rules,
rates, etc. which was adopted. The
report is a long one. Its most i'm
portant part is that which fixes the
rate to be charged consumers by the
new municipal water system. The
rates are full 40 per cent reduction
from the rates now charged by the
Palatka Water Works of Boston. For
instance
Dwelling houses-one family, sup
piled by one faucet, the charge is
$500 per annum. The Boston COM
pany now charges So Additional
faucets, not specially rated, are to be
Sl.2O per annum. The Boston COM
pany now charges $500
One bath tub charges are to be
$3.50 per annum as against the pres
ent Boston rate of 5000.
One water-closet of approved kind
will cost $3.50 as against the present
charge of $500.
Oh its big reduction, all right.
The following communication was
received from the bond trustees:
Hon H. A. Davis. president city
council.
Dear Sir: The work of cOnstruc-
tion of the. city water plant has pro-
crossed to that point that the city
can begin making house connections
and furnish water to consumers.
We, therefore. suggest that the city
take charge of the plant and place
the city engineer in charge.
BY order of the board of bond trus-
tees, E. S. Grill, Chairman.
This communication was received
and ordered filed, and on motion the
bond trustees were requested to fur
nish the council with an itemized
cost Of the plant.
1t was ordered that the Palatka
Water Works be notified to remove
the hydrant at the corner of Morris
and River streets from the sidewalk.
The clerk was instructed to notify
the A. G. l.. r. r. Co. to lower its
track at intersection of Lemon and
9Th SITS.
The bill of o. Petre. for material
for floor at Power House in amount,
$l0l.00, was ordered paid.
Granolithic sidewalks were ordered
on Dodge, Emmett and Kirkland
streets.
e STREET LIGHT TO COST MORE.
The council got surprise in the
shape of communication from the
president of the Palatka Gas Light
d Fuel Company, which was mott
tication that after the first of Febru-
airy the price of street lights would
be elevated. The following is the
notice.
Palatka, Dec. 18th, 1907.
To the Honorable City Council of the
s~,C City of Palatka:
Gentlemen-NOu are hereby nOti-
fled that from and after February 1st,
1908, our charges for furnishing the
city of Palatka street lights will be
as follows: For 80 candle power
lamps, S25 per annum each; for 1000
candle-power arc lamps, $50 per an
mum each; payable in monthly in
stallments. All night and every
night service. Respectfully, Yours,
t.. Palatka Gas Light q Fuel Co.
,v.-,y by q. Lopez Bailey Pres't.
AS result of this communication
committee of three, consisting of
Aldermen j. H. Haughton, Jos. D.
Points and W. A. Merryday, was APP
pointed to investigate the cost and
ACCESSIBILITY of installing munich |
pal lighting plant. OF course this |
action .was protest aud somewhat |
in the nature of bluff but it |
shows that the council does not take |
kindly to the advance. But the city |
has no money at present to buy |
municipal lighting plant. Though |
there can be no doubt that it is head
ed that way in Difference to public
sentiment. The collector was in
structed to mail notices to Sidewalk
owners to pay up, and committee
was appointed to consider the cost of
putting up street signs. This COM
mittee consists of Aldermen Gay,
Haughton and Points.