Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-08
BARLOW WRITES WOODBURY.
President Of Water Board Sends Re-
ply to Water Company.
WANTS TO WAIT ON THE COURTS
save Company Can Go Ahead and
Put In Mains and Extensions
Just 49, IL Has the ChIorinn-
tion Plant.

President Barlow OF the Omaha Water
board has replied to the letter sent by
President woodbury. Of the Omaha Water
company M Barlow writes
OMAHA, May Z. lslO-Mr. Theodore c. /
Woodbury.. President Of Omaha Water
Company. Omaha Nsb: Dear slr-Your
letter Of May T. which was oelsvered to the
newspapers Of the city for publication be-
fore il was received or could be con-
sidered BY the water board, warrants the
impression that il was intended as q strate-
gic movement and not in good faith. The
intelligent citizens Of Omaha tquoting
your Words quite well understand that the
additional water main from Florence which
you suggest be constructed is more neces-
sary to the water company to enable 1t
to carry out its contract with South
Omaha than for supplying this city with
water. Why don't you make a proposition
10 extend the mains 10 localities where
water is needed? A new main from Flor
ence will not meet the situation.
The supreme court Of the United states
nov has under Amusement the question
whether the city has power to take over
the property in South Omaha or 10 supply
that city with water. The intelligent
citizens OF Omaha quoted from your
letter. certainly understand as d business
proposition that the Water board should
not make a contract binding upon the city
TO pay You so large a sum Of money Tor
new main. needed for the benefit OF
South Omaha. until II is adjudicated that
we have the corporate power so 10 DO
especially when that question Will be de-
cided within thirty days.
Again, your proposition to construct the
additional water main from Florence is
coupled with a condition that the city OF
Ome hR snail first pay you by July by
drant rentals in the sum of s425O The
water companys franchise expired Septem-
Der l. 1905 For the Water board to accede
to the terms Of your proposition would com
nit the city to an extension Of your ex-
pired contract rights. May this not be the
secret In your extraordinary proposition
If the new main is needed so badly TO pro-
tect Omaha, why is IL not your duty TO
put II In, just you put in the chlorina-
ton plant to save our citizens from further
typhoid fever? We are sure that the in
telHgent citizens Of Omaha do not want
the Water board by this form Of proposed
contract or otherwise to revive the terms
Of your expired franchise.
What the intelligent citizens Of Omaha
do want is that the water company shall
extend its water mains into the outlying
districts, where for the last five years citi-
Gems and property owners have been with
I out water. II the water company will make
/ a proposition TO extend water mains into
these outlying districts so to supply the
citizens OF Omaha with water where needed
/ for domestic use and fire protection. will
! recommend (using your word again TO
the Water board TO enter into contract
with the water company TO reimburse II
for any reasonable expenditure made neces-
sary by reason of said extensions TO be
paid in addition to the amount Of money
the city may otherwise be required to pay
J for the water works. Yours truly,
M T BARLOW, Chairman