The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-02-13
Council Will Never
Grant Private Franchise
Water Works Question Before the City Fathers--Why
Private Franchise Should Not Be Granted---Two
Ordinances up for Consideration

Wanted-A girl for general house
work Inquire at Renwalds residence,
525 So. Main street, Minot, N. D. I'll
No question of greater Importance
ever came before the Minot city coua-
ell than the water works proposin-
ton which was not disposed of Mon
day night, as many expected would
be the case. Seven of the ten alder
men present, viz: w. M. Smart, J. E..
McKoane, F. A. Baker, G. L. Pres
colt, J. H. Scofield, Geo. w. Burke
and Thomas Griffen favor the private
ownership of the waterworks system
in Minot, with the proper restrictions.
Aldermen Botz Hendrickson and
Vandenoever have come out fiat
tected against anything but a mu-
nicipal system and seem to have nine
tenths of the citizens of Minot behind
them in their position.
There is quite little story connect
ed with Minot's water system. For
long time, it has been conceded by
everyone that Minot ought to have
better and a larger water works sys-
tenn, whereby good pure wholesome
water might be placed in every home
at nominal cost. The city fathers
realized that it would be necessary to
spend a good many thousand dollars
to put in an adequate system, and this
of course would mean taxes pretty
high for the property owners of Minot.
Our citizens however are made of the
right kind of stuff and scarcely muir
MIR has been heard on account OF
high taxes, or the prospects of taxes
still higher. They thought OF only
one thing, and that was that Minot
was going to have as good water
works system as any city in the state,
and what was more, the city was go
to own it, and pay for it too, some
day.
But how was Minot to raise the
money? The city council ordered an
election to vote on bonding the city
for $4,000 to enlarge the water
works system, and extend mains to
various parts of the city which have
been without fire protection. The
citizens voted almost unanimously to
bond Minot for twenty years and the
bonds were secured, sold and the mon
ey placed at the city's disposal.
So far so good.
5. An advertisement for bids was plac-
ed in the city official paper for the IN
stallation of the water works system,
the citizens of course supposing that
the money raised by the bonds would
be used in any other manner than
that for which it was raised. the
city some months ago purchased prop
erty along the river where the cream
ery now stands, and it was supposed
that is where the pumping plant was
to be installed.
The night that the bids were open
ed, a Mr.. Craig, city attorney for
Keokuk, Iowa, put in his appearance,
and made the city fathers a PROPOSE
ton. which seems to have caused
them to do vast amount of study
ing. He proposed to put in private
plant, owned by moneyed men from
New York city, and save the city all
of the money which was about to have
been spent. Mr.. Craig said that his
company didn't want to make much
money out of the plant, only fifteen
per cent, and he was willing to have
the ordinance drawn, up in such
manner that after ten or fifteen
years if the people grew tired of the
companys running the system, the
city could then take the plant off the
company's hands. His little story
sounded SO good, that the bids were
all rejected, and the matter adjourn
ed until last Monday night, and dur
ing the meantime the aldermen have
been trying to find out more about
this perfect stranger, and the men
who are behind the project.
When the council met Monday
night, Mr.. Craig was present, and SO
were good many Of Minot's most
prominent citizens. Mayor Greenleaf
was in the chair. Two Of the alder
men were absent.
Mr.. Craig had his ordinance all pre-
pared and read 1t to the council.
Mayor Greenleaf didn't like the way
certain sections of the ordinance were
drawn up and said so. He asked Mr..
craio from whence he came, and