Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-07
ACTION TAKEN BY CITY FAITH.
ERs TO COMPEL THE PUBLIC
WATER co. TO MAKE CON.
TRAcTED IMPROVEMENTS
MONTHLY TAX
AMOUNTS TO $685.
DEMAND is MADE OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF THE COM.
PANY TO SUBMIT REPORT
WITHIN THIRTY DAYS

From tuesdays Daily.
The inevitable has happened. War
has been declared on the Public
Water company. Last night the city
council on motion of Alderman Spry
chairman of the water committee.
passed resolution cutting off the
city's water rental amounting to 1895
q month and which according to
ordinance is to be applied as
| ltQuidated damages.
This move is taken to compel the
water company to fulfil it's contract in
the franchise ordinance which stipu.
lates that the improvements for which
the city is clamoring, reservoir, filter
plant and others, should have been
completed within folr years. The
time since the acceptance of the ordi-
nance has been almost five years.
Water Men Had Proposition.
At former meeting of the council,
informally, proposition from tho
water works people. controlling tho
bonds Of the institution, was present
ed which provided that the big stock
holders forego interest for term of
years so as to apply the net proceeds
OF the plant on improvements and al
SO that it might be possible to extend
the first year double the amount of
the profits of the plant for that year.
The bonds controlled by these people
OF the reorganized company amount
to $325,000 but there are two issues
of underlying bonds aggregating a
total sum of $116 900, being in two
issues of $4,000 and s91, 900 re-
spectively, that must be cared for
The interest on these latter named
bonds must be paid as they are the
first mortage issue on the property
and the holders did not consent to the
reorganization.
| Water Committees Report.
| Following is the report of the water
committee as adopted by the council:
Your committee would respectfully
recommend as follows:
| 1. That the hydrant rentals be no.
paid to the Public Water company on
account of noncompliance of the
water company with the terms of the
franchise with regard to improve
ments.
2. That the chairman of the water
committee and the city solicitor be
instructed to communicate with the
directors of the Public Water com.
pany, asking for a proposition in writ.
ing, stating what the company is
willing to do; the proposition to be
submitted within thirty days
Respectfully submitted,
John H. Spry,
| Chairman Of water committee.
Three Aldermen Dissent.
| Aldermen Mather, Gordon and spry
| dissented from the first paragraph Of
the committee report. They desired
that an amendment be inserted which
would not cause the hold UP of the
rentals for longer period than the
ments as specified in the franchise
ordinance. An amendment by Alder
man Mather, nevertheless was voted
down.
Following is the report of City
Solicitor Jaques on the water works
question:
To the committee of the whole Of
the city council. Gentlemen:
! understand Lnat some report is
wanted Of me touching the matter of
the Public Water company. Just what
character of report is wanted of me
l did not know but presume it Is
touching the matter of the claim
made by Mr.. Slingluff that the fran
! chise had expired. Section 8 of the
| franchise ordinance make the follow
| ing provision:
Section 8. If within the aforesaid
four years the grantees shall have