Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-12-04
u MBER IN MEETING is
LARGER THAN FIRST.
Enthusiasm Last Night at
High Point.
Meeting of Citizens Club
Largely Attended--In-
creasing in Member
ship and Interest.

Will an attendance Idr exceeding
that on Tuesday night, and marked by
the greatest enthusiasm, the Citizens
Club met again last night at the Ar
mory for the purpose of discussing
the campaign now on. Many addresses
bearing upon subjects at issue were
made, and each speaker was loudly
applauded as he drove home the force
Of his utterauces.
Chairman J. e. Mathis presided and
briefly stated the object for which
the meeting was called.
The red circular issued yester-
day by the opposition club was dis
sected thoroughly and its statements
variously characterized, laid bare.
At the request of several gentle
men Mr.. John Ansley, for many years
city engineer in charge of the water
works here, told of its management
under his administration and the
method of charging accounts. His
remarks were most interesting
The extension of water mains and
sewerage were not then charged to
the waterworks as now, Mr.. Ansley
said, but rather to expense account.
The waterwOrks he said, was a pay
ing proposition, even with the very
large amount of water given free TO
the railway shops, hydrants, schools,
churches and public buildings.
Mr.. Lee Allen was next called upon
and vociferously cheered as he came
forward and for half hour spoke
fOrcefully upon conditions in Americas
and the many advantages that would
accrue to the city in owning it's utili-
ties
He cited various cities, owning its
light plant, where incasdescent lights
cost only 10 cents per month"; as
against 81 per month-the charge in
Americus. His array Of facts and fig
ures were to the effect that Americus
could do likewise to her permanent
advantage.
The waterworks, he said, was
gold mine, but the electric plant was
a diamond mine,
The watarworks department. he de-
clared was made a dumping ground
{or charging up every item Of expense
49, should be charged under other
C,ifv ,,i E"ssAsse~-ss.ex e. Sheppard briefly
,ti9,assed the neeHkng by request. in
snuch as he was quife familiar with
an facts and questighs at issue, due
q tie recent long'1itigation between
ne city OF Americus and the company
low seeking to install itself here. Col
5heppard's remarks were forceful and
very convincing.
Col. Sheppard, like Mr.. Allen, con-
tended that many items of expense in
the way of improvements and better
ment in the warterworks system were
~
stead of to expense account. Five
thousand dollars paid in digging new
well, and $4,000 for a new pump, were
thus charged up to waterworks, rs
were new mains, etc.
The difference in the accounts for
1907 and 1908, he stated, was more
than $1,000, due to such charging Of
accounts that rightfully should have
been made under other heads.
1t was a dumping ground Like
charity it covered multitude of sins,
though the speaker did not say this
Col. Sheppard fairly riddled the
red circular thrown around yester-
day by the opposition. In not one in
stance. he said, did the lighting COM
pany now seeking to intreach itself
here, show that it could, or would dc
Lne WORK OF llSnClng ana pumping for
less than the city is doing, even with
such excessive sums for Improvements
charged to the WaterWorks
The health of Americus, Col Shep.
pard declared, demanded that the peo-
pie and not corporation control the
water supply. Water is the city's
life blood, he declared vehemently and
this must never be at the mercy of a
corporation He called upon his hear
ers to think, long and we'll. and then
vote for the prosperity the life, OF
Americus.
Other speakers made addresses
along similar lines.
One of these declared that as every
candidate upon the Greater" &?
ticket had, as a former member of the
city council, had a hand in the man
agement of the city waterworks, it
would be folly to elect them again
upon their own acknowledgement Of
their utter inability to manage the
waterWOrks successfully
This expression created great ap-
plaus. The meeting was characterized
with utmost harmony and greatest
enthusiasm that presaged a winning
fight at the polls next Wednesday.