The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-19
COMMITTEE or THE THIRTY
THREE AOjoURNS SINE DIE.
After Lengthy DeIiberation on Light and
Water Question Decide Council is
Able TO Cone With Situation.

ScSS1Ou OI Tue. CltlAcA SOAlulltcc
of thirty-t three free-holders appoint
ed by the city council as an adjunct
or advisory board to act in con-
nection with the council in deter
mining the desire or advisa bility
of the municipal ownership of the
light aud water system, on Friday
evening last, the board adjourned
sine die, with the expressed idea
that the question was one for the
council to work out as best they
might and expressing confidence
in the ability of that body to meet
the question in an acceptable man.
ner.
The question was discussed in all
its various phases, the presence of
Manager Griggs, of the company,
eliciting information on which the
committee could work understand
ingly. One such point was the
statement by Mr.. Criggs that the
gross income of the company for
the year 1910 was $l06,80O, but a
slight amount above the estimated
cost of operation as given by r. E.
Patterson & Co, the city experts
who recently made report on the
plant. In the face of this state
ment, in connection with the con-
tention that private corporation
would naturally run business at
lesser expense than would
municipality, it appeared to be the
sentiment of the committee that
the city did not have any particular
object in making purchase of the
plant.
The probable price of the plant,
in case of a continuation of the
agitation for municipal ownership,
remains a matter of doubt, but up
on Interrogation Manager Griggs,
although admitting that it was
not up to him to make price on
the plant, admitted hewould accept
of the price as made, by the city ex-
pert, $56O,OOO, for his pro rata in
terest.
The question of water supply, of
water purity, and Of insurance rates,
entered into ths.s ssss'aeration Of
the question, and a oumber of
points of more than ordinary in
terest were brought out. One such
was the fact that at the present
time the water company has an in
direct connection with the lake,
through connection with the mill
system, but connection that is
under lock and key. At the time of
the mill fire scarce year ago, how
ever, this connection was opened
and DR.. Lenont, who as memb Der
Of the police and fire commission
became wise to the connection be-
ing made, stated that for several
days thereafter he boiled his drink.
ing water. The average citizen,
however,, did not know Of the COIL
nection being opened-or even of
it's ex1stenCe-and therefore drank
the water as usual without know
ledge of any possible danger. 1t
was the unanimous sense of the
meeting, however, that this con-
neCtion should be discontinued and
that no connection with the laks
and the domestic service system
should be had under any c1rcum-
stances, even though insurance
rates should hit the sky. The exhibi-
tion of a bottle of water-or what was
said to be water-which was claim
ed to have been taken from a do
mestic service faucet, also created a
furry, the substance looking more
like a bottle of ink than like any
thing drinkable. This is from the
same sample which was ordered
given to the health officer to have
analysis made, and while analysis
may not show foreign substances
Of detrimental nature there are
few who would not rather "hit a
high ball" than to take the risk of
drinking it.
The resignation of the members
of the committee, however, will
close the municipal ownership
clamor, but all recognize the fact
that Virginians were in error in not
listening to the advice of the minor.
ity some years ago when the plant
franchise and all could have been
had for the sum of $4,000.
! Since that time a constant out
flow for Improvements has marked
the course OF the company, made
necessary by the increased growth
of the city, and it is not improba bic
that the figures of the city expert
are approximately correct as to the
| present value of the plant.
The question, however, goes bach
to the council for action, and it il
more than likely that body will b<
asked to submit proposition fol
purchase, in some form, to the vot
ers of the city.