Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-07
WAhA PROPOSAL
WITHDRAWN
COMPANY, IN PERFECTING
PLANS FOR IRRIGATION PROJ-
ECTS, WILL DISREGARD FUR
THEIR NEGOTIATIONS.


The proposal OF the Waha-Lewis-
ton Land and Water company to sup
ply the city of Lewiston with water
from the Waha springs was with
drawn last night by the action of the
board of directors.
The action Of the Waha-Lewiston
company Is the result of the necessi-
ty of perfecting the plans for devel-
oping the irrigation project south Of
the city, the feature of eliminating
the city from consideration allowing
the company to make material
changes in the plans Of distributing
the water in the northern portion Of
the proposed system. The service to
the city would require the laying Of
about II miles Of extra pipe and the
expenditure of approximately $140,-1
900.
1t is generally understood that d.
rectors and stockholders of the Wa
ha-Lewiston company have opposed
at all times the proposal to supply
the city with water, on the grounds
that the water was more valuable
for irrigation purposes than would
be secured from the city under the
terms of the proposed contract. 1t
is also believed that the spring wa
ter feature will be material factor
in selling the lands Of the company,
and that keeping this water exclu-
sively to tks company's holdings
will cause many homeseekers to lo-
cate on the lands.
The proposal was also opposed on
the ground that the complications
arising from mixing the municipal
affairs with the company's business
were undesirable.
Engineer w. H. Graves, who has
been in charge Of all Of the engineer
ing features of the Waha-Lewiston
company, has bitterly opposed the
proposal to supply water to the city
from the time the matter was first
proposed. Mr.. Graves has argued
the matter before the board of direc-
tors to show the loss the company
would sustain by entering into such
a contract, and at the time the COM
mittee from the Commercial clup
visited the springs Mr.. Graves ex-
pressed his position in the matter
and suggested the hope that the
committee would not recommend the
Waha water. Mr.. Graves has believ-
ed at all times that such contract
was not good business for the COM
pany, and with this argument and
the fact that it was necessary for
the company to complete its plans at
once, the order to withdraw the pro-
posal, from the city was made.
The citizens generally regret that
the Waha water was not secured a!
| the time the revised proposal was
before the council. The features oil
the proposal. briefly reviewed, was
for the city to take a minimum oil
coo, 100000 gallons per year at a
cost of $4,000 for the first year
which amount was to be increased
$4,000 each year until 100000 was
reached, which should be the basis
of the contract for the delivery OF
the minimum amount, and charge
of 8 cents for each additional 1000
gallons would be made.
The examination OF the city's rec
ords shows that last year 419,0O0,'
900 gallons were used by the city
and according to the report OF Wa
/ ter Superintendent Smith an addi
|tional 100. 100000 gallons will b
needed for the operation of the new
sewer system. The average cost O
pumping the city's water under thu
present system is 2% cents per thou
sand gallons. without consideration
OF depreciation of plant or interes
on the investment. and from the re
port OF the electric light compan!
the city will be compelled to pay
higher rate for the power furnished
) 1t being explained by Superintendent
Jennings that under the presen
contract the city was receiving pow
er for Less than its actual cost ant
this contract was given only becaus
the power was taken at time whe'
, there was little demand from othe
. sources. Mr.. Jennings stated tha
when the demand for water requires
the pumps to be operated regardless
!, of conditions at the power station
the city would be compelled to pay
much higher rate.