Arizona republican., 1909-10-29
-PIoUAhT REPORTS BETWEEN
 oLMSTED AND cisNEY.
Plans Laid Before the Council Bring Up the Old Question of What Shall Be Done With Present System.


 ell was present, no regular meeting was held. The mayor did not talk his chair The meeting was informa and devoted to a discussion of tn, plans, but more particularly to tho method by which the Lack sewerage system is to be wiped off the map There were times when the discus sion between Olmsted and various members of the council was carried on at almost white heat. Councilman Cisney intimated strongly that Mir Olmsted seemed unduly interested ir getting Lack placated by the purchase of his system. Mir. Olmsted in reply said that he wished only to get2Lack out of the way, so that he could be- gin work on the sewer. Cisney re- torted that Olmsted should draw up two sets of plans; one to connect with the present system and the other to ignore it.
 The present status of the Sewer question is about as follows: Some time last spring the sewer committee of which B. A. Fowler was chairman reported the advisability of purchas- ing the present sewer system owned by the Phoenix Sewer & Drainage company, of which F. S. Lack is the president. The price asked at that time was the bonded indebtedness of the company. or something like sS3.- 900. These bonds. it is understood. are held by MT. Lack. This report was not acted on. as the original cost of the sewer was but si3.600 and the general opinion of citizens who at tended the council meeting at that time was that the price was too high.
 It was decided to employ compe- tent engineers to devise a system. and olmsted & Gillelen undertook the iob. The system laid out by the Phoenix Sewer & Drainage company is entirely inadequate. as it drains but small portion of the city. The district drained Is along Center street to the canal. and three blocks on either side of Center Other lesser portions of the city are also taken in.
 One of the arguments advanced last night by members of the council was that the original franchise called for the extension of the system as the city was built up. and that Lack had not fulfilled this part of the contract Therefor. it was argued. the franchise was void. The mayor then asserted ly worthless. anyway. as soon as an- other system were put in.
 One, of the chief faults with the private ownership of the sewer is that property owners cannot be com pelled to connect with it. whereas. if the city owns it. it can be made misdemeanor not to connect with the main.
 After some discussion. Olmsted called for a reading of the original franchise. This was listened to at- tentively for fifteen minutes, and then the engineer was deluged with ques- tions. The arbitration system as ap- piled to the purchase of the Lack system was discussed. Olmsted char acterized the contract of seventeen years ago as "a damnabIe contract" !"
 Councilman Stauffer said: When the seal of the city was placed on that contract we expected adequate sanitation. and we did not get it do not think we are under obligations to pay Mir Lack nearly twice what he paid for the sewer"
 ''Yes. but let us be just to MT Lack" replied MT. Olmstead. What we want is to get this old system wiped off the board. so we can pro ceed with a new one"
 Councilman Campbell suggested that we go ahead as though the Lack sys- tenn did not exist. Mayor Christy pointed out the fact that no bonds could be sold till everything in re- gard to the old system was cleared away "We have had plenty of trou- ble with our last bond issue; let's not court more trouble"
 MT. Olmstead then suggested that the city pay Lack s5O.O00. T think that would be fair proposition" he said.
 It was then that Councilman Cisney intimated that Mir. Olmsted was show ing undue interest in MT. Lack: that the deal would be made between the city and MT. Lack. without Mir. Olm- sted as mediator The latter then said that he wanted something done about the Lack system. so that work could proceed with his system. and that he had no other interest in the matter
 City Attorney Prescott put the mat ter in a judicial light. If we are to buy the system" he said i've will nave to get permission from congress. and the matter will have to go before he people The proposition. whatever t is. will have to have a reasonable oasis to carry before the people"
 Nothing further was done in the natter MT. Olmsted left for New Fork this morning. but MT. Gillelen will be here next week and at the | lext meeting of the council on Mon- | lay night a special meeting will | be called for the further | discussion of the plans4