Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-21
The Water WORKS MEETING.
A GOOdIy Number Of Citizens Ga her TO
Discuss The Proposition.

to a call by the mayor and Presi-
dent Dawson of the club. for an
informal discussion of the water
works question.
Mayor Moses was made chair
man of the meeting. and stated the
object of the same to be a desire
on the part of the council to get
an idea of what the people of the
city thought concerning the water
works matter. The franchise will
expire in March 1909. and some
thing must he done upon it if the
city is 10 build a plant or to buy
the old one. or a renewal of the
old franchise must be mace. At
ter some little dicussion. a motion
was made by G. N. Moses that
we enter into negotiations with
the owners of the plant. for a re-
newal of the franchise for a period
of ten years. on terms acceptable
to the city, said negotiations to
be completed within 30 days. The
motion was seconded. and then
was discussed, every person
present being asked for an express
sion of opinion
The question of course has been
agitated some and some investiga-
tion made on the quiet. We will
give as near as we can the senti-
ment of the various persons pre-
sent on the question.
Mayor Moses said that he had
BEN informed by responsible
authorities. that the Ilant here
could be duplicated for $4,000.
That there had been no offer made
BY the company to the city of the
plant. and that he was of the opi.
MON that the plant was bonded for
S65,000 He fell in line with sug.
gestion made ~ r. A. Charles.
that in connection with the ne.
qotiations to be opened. in order
to save time, and the expenses of a
special election. the city council
should submit proposition for
voting. bonds at the regular spring
election, with the understanding
that the bonds should only he used
in case it was impossible to get s
franchise continuance on the pro.
per terms. This idea suited Mayor
Moses. as it would expedite mat.
ters somt what.
c. L. Moses expressed himself
opposed to municiDal ownership a.
a general proposition. and favored
renewing the franchise for ter
years if satisfactory arrangement.
could be made.
William 0smond expressed him
self practically the same way, anC
in answer to a question as to rate
at which be thought bonds could
be foated at this time. thought
they could 90 at five or five and
half. and that this was a poor timt
to undertake to float bonds. Ordi
narliv. he thought. these bond
would be doated at four per cent
Fred Newcombe thought tina
while he and many others wer,
for municipal ownership. that few
citizens would favor taking the oil
plant at any price. He could ;e,
or think of no reason why tn,
people of Great Bend could no
operate a water plant just as vel
as.some outsider. As to servic
just now be did no think there wa
anything particular to complain
about.
G. N. Moses, speaking as a citi
zen. was opposed to municipa
ownership. and opposed to th,
last ditch the purchase of the oil
plant at any price. He did nc
think it was worth purchasing
and not the right kind of a plar
at that.
c. S. Allison expressed himseI
in favor Of ownership from tn
word 90. He had read a lette
from DR.. Trueheart of Sterlius
strongly favoring. from the stan