The Cairo bulletin., 1909-08-11
Resolution Directing Enforcement
Of Ordinance Adopted by
Vote of 10 to q.
Cairo Water Co. to Have New Franchise on
Terms Satisfactory to the PeoqIe--To
Make Extensive improvements

The city counc;T met last night in
| second regular session this month
| The meeting was looked forward tc
with much interest by many citizens
a number of whom were present, the
! particular subject Of concern being
the expected further action on the
question of water service pipes in
| streets which have been ordered to
be paved, There were present His
Honor, Mayor Parsons, and Aldermen
| Meehan, Scullin, Davis. Koehler
| Burke, Williams, Ferguson. McDan-
| iel, G0rmln Nellis, Cannon, Kelly,
Greaney and Maguer-14 There
were also present Hon Reed Green
and Superintendent Cannon, repre-
senting the Cairo Water Co. and At
torney Leek who was present by re-
quest OF several aldermen who
favored enforcing the service pipe
ordinance, to speak for new resolu-
ton which they proposed TO intro
lue
The mayor spoke briefly after call
ing the council to order He said the
matter OF a new franchise for the
water compa0y wauld probably be
presented and urged members 10 con-
slider 1t calmly and fairly To aid
them in forming correct Judgment he
presented letters from various cities
showing charges made for fire hyd
rants and for other service. which
are higher than the charges for like
service ia Cairo.
The water company should have a
new franchise in order that it could
make various important improve
ments which We're necessary TO give
the people proper service, aud insure
them better fire protection and lower
insurance rates. The council had
been liberal in granting other service
corporations renewals of franchises
the Home Telephone Co, m-d the
would he fair with the water com.
pd1v. which like the others. wished
TO make heavy expenditures for bet
termens. His Honor suggested that
a new franchise ordinance be drawn
and all of the things demanded by
the people for better service be in
cOrporated II the water compa y
should then prove unreasonable or
unwilling TO accept them, then a fight
could be made and the renewal OF
franchise refused He would treat all
the corporations alike. He said Hon
Reed Green was there by his invita-
ton to present the matter more fully
and he called upon Mr. Green to al
dress the council.
Water Co.'S Side.
Mr. Green said he was authorized
to state that the Cairo Water CO.
would ask at once for an extension
or renewal of its charter ar farnchisa.
The matter had been under considera.
ton for some time nv the COMPANY
Many Improvements had been made
In Cairo since the water works were
established - years ago; the city
had gone ahead. and the water com
pany realized that it must make.
changes if it would serve the city
properly The changes necessary.
will not he a matter of a few hundred
or few thousand dollars. but would
be very costly, running into many
thousands. II was necessary TO make.
these changes at once before any
more streets We're ordered pavel. be.
cause to make them after the streets
were paved permanently would be i'm.
practical. In order TO raise the money!
for these proposed Improvements
bonds would have to be issued asI
was done bv all corporations whenI
extensive Improvements had to be-
made by them but Il would b. i'm
possible to dispose Of bonds upon
franchise which had but few years
Of life-six years in the case of the
Cairo Water Co Hence the need OF
getting an extension Of the franchise
first and the impossiblity of making
any OF the necessary aud much-,le-
sired Improvements unless this was
granted by the city council. The
company desired to start these im-i
rrovements now: delay wouII greatly
increase the cost of the proposed
work. and # was desired 10 avoid .
tearing up paved streets. There need /
be- no delay of Improvements already /
ordered The new franchise orll |
mace could he prepared in a little
while. embracing all that the people /
desired in the way of service. and the
ordinance could be passed and be in |
force before contractors would he |
ready to begin work on the streets /
which have been ordered improved.
The Peoples Side.
Alderman Greaney said Attorney
ieek had been requested to be pres
ent AMI present the views of Alder
men who favored some immediate &C
iion on the matter Of service pipes
for the streets about 10 be paved.
Attorney Leek said he would
favor renewing the water company'sI