Arizona republican., 1910-08-12
THE CITY COUNCIL
 IN STORMY SESSION
A Deadlock Over City Water
 Question.

The called meeting of the city coun- of considering the contract to furnish city water to the North Evergreen ad- dition finally resulted in one of the most tempestous sessions witnessed in the town hall for some time. All mem bers of the council with the exception of Stapley were present, which result ed in the deadlock. which was not broken and an adjournment was final ly taken without any results be- ing obtained. Mayor Palmer and Coun- cilmen Cerney favored the proposition, while Bracket and Mahoney opposed it. The matter was finally disposed of by an adjournment and with the ap- pointment of Councilman Bracket and City Attorney Sexton as a committee to go to Phoenix and determine the legal status of the case wherein the city furnishes water to an addition outside the city limits. Mayor Palmer and Councilman Mahoney will also visit Tempe and determine the manner in which the additions of that munich pality are served with water from the city mains. After the investigations have been made another meeting of the council will be called, at which time it is believed that harmony will prevail. Councilman Stapley was sought in vain, it being the impression that his presence would have broken the dead lock. but he was out of the city.
 The status of the case is as follows: F. NJ LeBaron and James Miller, Jr., who have purchased the Evergreen ad- dition and propose to sell it off in city lots, presented a contract to the city whereby they agreed to pay the regu- lar rates for city water, the city to extend their main a distance of 175 feet or to the corporate limits at the near est point on Robinson, and then they (Miller and LeBaron) will connect up with their system and install meter and pay the regular rates and also will keep their system in order, the only thing asked from the city being that it extend its main 175 feet and give them water at the city rate established by ordinance. The water board, com posed of j. G. Spangler, J. J. Frazier and O. s. Stapley, reported that they were in favor of extending the main
  The water board, however, Is subject to the wishes of the council and can not take the initiative in the matter of extension of the mains. They may act without the sanction of the council in the manner of repairing mains or any portion of the system. but in the ex tension of the system it must be by the direction of the council.
 Councilman Mahoney. who was op- posed to the proposition, took the stand that the waterworks system is owned by the city and that city taxes is the manner in which the interest on the bonded indebtedness of the plant can be met. He was of the opinion that with the taking in of the new addition it would not only have a tendency to come in direct competi- ton with city residence property and lower it in value, but it would also have a tendancy to increase taxes, since it would take the people from the city to the country. where they might enjoy the privileges of the city without the city taxes.
 It was brought out that the city waterworks system has a capacity of something like 400,000 gallons per day and that at the present time 100000 are being sold. It was held by those favoring the proposition that the city could afford to dispose of this surplus water, or part of it at least. The water cost is about cents per thou sand gallons, while the selling price is approximately 20 cents per thousand gallons. A number ofcitizens of the gl sod selves upon tn proposition at differ ent times Councilman Bracket eX- Dlained yesterday that his position in the matter was a legal one and that if the city had the right to extend the mains to the city limits and then sell water to additions without the city limits that he would be in a position to cast his vote. 1ln