The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-11-04
WATER COMplAIlNYS
PLAN IMPRACTICAL
COMMISSION REPORT CONSIDERED
Council Finds Leagues Recommends
tionS Impossible from Legal and
Business StandpOiHts.


held Monday evening, the fire and
water committee, complying with
the Iequest Of the civic league, made
a report on the recommendations,
which had been communicated to the
council by the civic organization at
the last meeting OF the council in
which they set forth at some length
the reasons why the scheme of the
water company, which had been ln-
dorsed ny the water oommissian and
recommended by the league, did not
permit of sany serious work being
done ou 1t by the council.
The committee bad considered the
report of the commission very care
fully and had gone ever the scheme
outlined by the water company In
their proposition. Three points, vital
in the plan of the water company,
we're found, which, when considered
IN the Light Of the legal authority
which the council may exercise In
such cases and from business stand
pioEt, showed the scheme to be ab.
soluteiy impossibls for the city to
follow. The oommittee's report was
read to the council and plaoed on
hlo Ior tuture IoleFeuOe, FUllOWluk
is the report In full:
10 the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council OF the Oity OF Hood River
... .-s a. Oregon.
Gentlemen-We the undersigned.
your committee Of tire and water to
whom was referred at the last regular
meeting of the Council, the report
OF the water commission of the Civic
improvement League which was trans
mitted to your honorable Body at
said time, have since the reference
been carefully considering the pro-
position submitted with reference to
procuring an ample and sufficient
supply OF water for the city for fire
protection and domestic uss through
private means. We have given this
matter close and careful attention,
not only for the reason that this ques-
tion is one that vitality effects every
resident as we'll as the taxpayers OF
the city, but for the further reason
that we feel that the gentlemen com.
posing the water commission have
given their valuable time and atten-
tion to this matter without further
hope of compensation other than that
OF having served the people we'll and
faithfully.
In taking this matter up definitely
and after perusing the report of the
commission, we lind come very vital
points, both from a legal and busi-
ness standpoint, which are insur.
mountable. We will take these mat
ters up In their order.
a. The commission recommend
that we grant what Ia in effect an
exclusive franchise to the water COM
pany for fifteen years protecting them
against competition. This IL i'm
possible, inasmueh al In Division 33
OF Section AZ of the Charter of the
City of Hood River, provides among
other things. 60. but no such
grant or franchise shall be exclusive
or shall prohibit the Council from
granting similar privileges and fran.
chises to others or from erecting,
maintaining or operating similar
works." 1t will be seen that IL will
be absuolntely impossible for the
same to enter into oil to make any
such franchise to the present water
company, or any other person, firm
OF CUFpufhbaOn. .. st.t4s. .s e# b.
(2) 1t Ia recommended that the
City agree that water rates shall not
exUeed the present charges there
for, the Council cannot bind itself
in our opinion to this agreement,
inasmuch as Divison "a In Section
48 OF the Charter, provides among
other things. 90 the City OF
Hood River shall never deprive itself
OF the right through its Council of
regulating and adjusting any such
rates so that the same shall be reason
able tor the service rendered, at
least once 10 any period to two
years.. While 1t might not be neo-
essary or desirable within the period
of fifteen years to undertake to alter
the present rates, still 1t is the spirit
and express provision OF the Charter
hat no contract or agreement shall
be entered into whereby the
City shall have this right, acting
through it's Council If 1t finds II
necessary or proper.
We feel that from business stand.
point alone, 1t would be inexpsdient
and ill-advised for the City Of Hood
River, acting through Its eouoil, to
relinquish in any manner of its rights
to the ownership or use OF the water
flown from the City Spring, common
ly known as the Tucker Spring.
For the reasons set out above, we
cannot reoomend that the City COun-
Gil proceed along the line recommend
| by the water commission and we do
not believe the first two points men.
toned were considered by the Com
mission or the Civic improvement
League when making its recommend.
ations to the Council, as, IL they had
been, 1t wonld have Teen apparent
that the Council could not legally
accept these features which are so
vital to the proposition.
We therefore respectfully report
that the plan outlined does not per.
NIT Of any serious work being done
along that line by the Common Coun-
oil, and recommend that the report
be filed for reference and that the
water commission be thanked for
their earnest effort.
respectfully submitted,
j. NJ. Wright
Il. Ii. Higgins
Geo. |. Slooom.
Fire and Water Committee.
DR.. Edgington, city health officer,
was present at the meeting and made
a report In regard to the health CON
"A 81 ha utt IL "A ka.N A@