The Caucasian., 1911-07-09
THE WATER PROBLEM.


which must be met and settled right,
and the first move towards solu-
tion was inaugurated at meeting
of citizens held in the court house
Thursday night.
The meeting was called to order
by President Il. K. Smith of the
Chamber of Commerce. where there
was held recently meeting at
which the water question was dis
cussed. From this meeting at the
Chamber Of Commerce there fol-
lowed an adjournment to the court
house.
The consideration of the problem
can be best discussed in public
meetings without restraint. This is
as it should be.
As Mr.. Smith well said in closing
his remarks. the problem was with
the citizens. and it devolved on them
to select their chairman, and there
upon Mr.. Querbes suggested eX-
Governor Blanchard. The nomina-
tion was made unanimous, and Mr..
Blanchard was greeted with APP
plause as he raped the assemblage
to order.
The first speaker, Judge Fullllove,
Commissioner of Public Safety. ex-
planned the needs of this eommun-
ity. AS required by the fire Under
writers who were in Shreveport re-
Gently, the extension of the water
service is absolutely necessary,
without regard TO the quality of wa
Ter, which is 10 be used in case of
fire. For the betterment of the wa
Ter service and for the greater pro-
lection against fire. it had been esti-
mated in report by the fire under
writers that it will take about
s250,000 to meet the requirements,
which must be effective in three
years.
The franchise of the Waterworks
Company is limited TO August 1916,
although the company claims to
have contract to the year 1917.
However, this Is of no special con-
sequence in the discussion of the
water question at this time.
Having made plain the conditions
applying to the water service, Judge
Fullilove submitted, as a preimin-
airy, q plan for consideration, as fol-
lows: |
Resolved that the City Council be
and they are hereby requested to
employ competent and unbiased
expert
First: To estimate the cost of |
erecting an entirely new waterworks
system, adequate for the present and
future needs of the city of Shreve- !
port.
Second: TO estimate the value Of
the plant now owned by the Shreve-
port Waterworks Company.
Third: TO estimate the cost of ex-
tending the present waterworks sys-
tenn so as to care for the present and I
future needs Of the city of Shreve-
port.
Fourth: To estimate the cost Of
maintaining a waterworks and sew
erage system which is adequate for
the city of Shreveport.
Resolved, second, that after oh
tanning such data, the Council be
and they are hereby requested to
treat with the officials of The Water
works Company with view towards
obtaining the price for the purchase :
of its plant at this time
Resolved, third, that after obtain
ing the data showing the cost of a
new plant, the cost of its mainten-
ance and the price of the present
plant, with the cost of necessary ad- h
ditions thereto, all of said matters !
be placed before the people in such /
form as to permit of an intelligent
decision in regard thereto.
Resolved, fourth, that 1t is the
sense 0f this meeting that the city II
of Shreveport should obtain the 1
ownership OF q waterworks plant In
sufficient for the present and future i
needs of the city of Shreveport in !
the shortest possible time, and that
1t is matter of the greatest import l(
ance that immediate steps be taken
with that end in view.
During the course of The discuss +
ion there were offered several
amendments, which failed. h
The majority, indeed with but one :
voice, in the end the plan i
as presented was adopted. 3
The request of the citizens meet :
ing is plain and will receive the =
prompt attention of the Council. At
this stage this is about all that could
be done, and Il is hoped that in lit b
tie while, at least within a reason- (