Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-14

Some weeks ago, at rousing and
enthusiastic meeting attended by
practically every business man in this
community, a committee was ap-
pointed to carry out the plans Of citi-
zens to install additional hydrants
for fire protection and to secure adj
ditional power in order that the wa
ter might be effectively carried to the
higher and residence portion of the
town for adequate protection against
a possible confiagration. This COM
mittee met with the board of county
commissioners and found that body
willing and anxious to cooperate,
financially and otherwise. 1t was
agreed that the town at its own ex-
pense would lay the added mains
necessary to the installation of the
required additional hydrants, turn
ing the whole over to the water com
pany at cost, the water company pay~
ing for same in water furnished to
the community for fire purposes. At
the same time plan was formulated
for the installation Of an electric
power pump on the main water pipe
leading to town. SO that the water
could be drawn from the reservoir
and forced through the town mains
in case Of a fire on high ground
where gravity pressure would not
answer.
The presence of President James
s. Austin and J. Harvey Whitman Of
the board of directors of the Tonopah
Mining company, which owns the
Tonopah water system, who are in
this city at present on business in
connection with the company, led the
Bonanza representatives to ask for an
interview with these gentlemen
which was cordially granted Said
President Austin: "We have the in
terest of your city at heart as what
will inure to your benefit will GER
tainly rebound to our good We
shall thoroughly look into the matter
and use our best endeavors to secure
for your city the requests that you
make Of the company. The invest
ment in the water company has never
been paying one and we have never
realized anything in the shape of q
dividend from it. Personally think
every municipality should own its
own water works system. 1t is one
of the utilities that | believe actually
belongs to the people"
To the question would the water
company dispose of its holdings, Mr.
Austin responded: 81 think some ar
rangement could be made whereby
the city could take over the property
on a reasonable basis If it SO desir
ed"
i On the condition of the mine hold
) ings and dividends of the compan.
he said: "Our property think is II
} better shape than at any time in 1T
} history. We have been making al
} inspection of the underground work
ings and find the physical condition
of the mine in excellent shape. Ol
the score of an increased dividend
! can not just at present say. I am
believer in good fat treasury and
J sinking fund for the purpose of de
7 velopment We shall run the shat
on the Mizpah to depth of 150
! feet, where we expect to open up ne,
> ore bodies and from that station shal
> crosscut and drift. This work will b
completed it is expected by the frs
of the year."
Mr. Whitman, who was here |
1902, said: This is my second tri
to Tonopah. I am delighted wit
E your people and your magnificent cl
|, mate. I was most agreeably surpri'
:. ed at labor conditions in the CAM
In my visit to the mills and mines