The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-13
Several Local Business Men
And City Officials State
That the Proposed Project
Is a Feasible One.
MEMBERS OF BOARD OF
WORKS interviewed
Take Kindly to Proposed Plan
And State That It Will Be
Given the Most Earnest
Consideration.

The plan outlined In the PALLADIUM
6ast night for municipal ownership of
the water works is meeting with gen.
,eral discussion and favor. in widely
separated circles. The Palladium in
terviewed this morning many promin-
ent citizens, almost all of whom were
In entire sympathy with the plan as
outlined by Mr.. r. G.. Leeds.
Among those who were interviewed
were the presidents of all the banks,
the members of the board of works,
the candidates for mayor, and others.
Board Of Works Approves.
The Board OF Works was in session
this morning at the city building.
They said that while they did not
want to commit themselves on the
water works proposition previous to
the time that the Water Works COM
pany company put its contract before
them for consideration and did not
want to commit themselves to the plan
in particular until the Water Works
company gave them access to their
books, that they were of the opinion
changed and that the proposed place
would, and should, be taken into earn
est consideration.
Mr.. O'Neal said: II am hearth
" In favor OF any plan by which
the city can get control. In an
equitable manner. of the Richmond
City Water Works. The plan as out
Tined by Mr.. Leeds seems to me to be
entirely practical and ought to be very
seriously considered. The Municipal
Light Plant has proved a success and
I am heartily in favor of municipal
ownership"
Views Of johnson.
Mr.. B. B. johnson of the board also
favored the municipalization of the
water works II the books were laid
before them and they showed that the
company was in proper financial
shape. He did not want to commit
himself at this time but said that the
plan was entirely practical. He said
that the Municipal Light plant had
proved a success and that there was
no reason why a city water works
plant already built would not be the
same thing. He said that the plan
would merit the most careful consider
alton.
Mr.. Hollowell, while not wish
ang to commit himself to the plan
in any greater degree than the other
members for the same reasons, said
that he was entirely favorable to such
a proceeding and would go into the
matter more thoroughly than he had
yet had q chance to do.
Eggemeyers Views.
Mr. George Eggemeyer of the Sec
ond National Bank said: please say
for me that consider the plan Of Mr..
Leeds as entirely practical and that
am for the municipalization OF the
water works. The plan is safe from a
business point of view
Mr.. Gayle of the First National
Bank said: Il have no legal know
ledge of the practibility of the plan
and doubt whether the company would
submit. From a financial point of
view l think 1t practical and I should
like to see 1t go through
View Of Gates.
Mr.. e. H. Gates of the Union Ma
tional bank said: Il do not want to
talk for publication, inasmuch as my
views are those Of q man interested
In the water works and therefore
might be misinterpreted. I will sa,
that there Is very serious doubt in
my mind as to whether It would be
q good thing for the city to the plan,
which 1t undoubtedly has the right te
do by the terms of the contract
Mr.. Howard Dill OF the Water
Works company did not want to bs
quoted. You may. however, say thai
had never considered the possibilit,
Of the multiplication of the plant
until brought up by Mr.. Leeds"
Zimmerman For Il.
DR.. w. w. Zimmerman. republican
nominee for mayor said today: pleas.
say for me that l think the plan en-
tirely AL right and the way in which
municipal ownership OF the watei
works should be accomplished. Nj
views on municipal ownership ar.
well known"
Mr.. Pettis Reid. who Is mentioned
~ . democratic candidate for tn,
same ONCE, said: do not want t,
commit myself entirely at this time
The general plan ought to be serious
u considered. | am In favor Of muni
cipal ownership. Tho plan SEEM
practical"
study Supports II.
T. J. Study, city attorney said:
an In favor Of anything which viii
fContirued on Pace Seyenl