Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-26
Council Bluffs.

pense Of from 5000 TO $4,000 with a find
ing by three district judges Il would be
dangerous TO count on a jury deciding
against them. We therefore. think that
the chances OF losing on appeal are 50
great that either the first or third course
above referred to should be pursued, and
we would not feel like recommending an
appeal to jury from this decision, but
VIII prosecute such appeal II the council
desires 1t. The last alternative above re-
Ierred 10, Is that of accepting the award
and taking over the plant as soon as the
bonds can be negotiated and payment OF
the amount awarded ACCOMPLISHED In de-
termining which of these courses should
be taken, there are some matters which we
teel should be submitted to your consdera-
ton. While the amount Is higher than
counsel hoped would be awarded the in
come OF the company upon this plant ap-
pfoNinates $4,000 per year above hydrant
rentals and the hydrant rentals will save
the city about $4,000 more per year IL the
plant is taken, making a total income or
us equivalent to the city of 100000 per
litigation could hardly be finished within
construction period which would result in
reducing the income. The cost of operation
to produce this would result in reducing this
income The cost of operation to produce
this income approXimates $4,000. which
leaves total net revenue to be had from
the existing plant upon present rates to
consumers of about $4,000 per year, or
about 10 per cent net revenue The invest
ment money will cost the city not to ex-
coed per cent, leaving a profit of per
time it would take to build a new plant
At the end of two years when the city
would get its plant constructed under the
most favorable circumstances, It would
have lost twice $4,000 or $50 600 which Is
about the difference between the award
fixed by the court and the testimony of the
city witnesses. 1t is true that this profit
comes from the people, but Il would just
as surely be lost during the period of It'll
cation and construction, II a new plant
we're constructed as II would have to be
paid by the people for water during the
delay. OF course, II new plant is built
the old company would probably place
every obstruction in its way and IL would
undoubtedly be impossible to get increased
fire protection. which is so badly needed
in the city, until the new plant were COM
pleted.
We could not presume to indicate what
should be done by the council. but have
stated the facts that you can better deter
accept the award it might be done upon
that the company and the mort
cages waive their privilege Of appeal and
thus before the money is paid upon the
thereby be settled.
New Paving Ordered.
An improvement resolution was passed
ordering a big lot of new brick paving
on a four-inch concrete base. The streets
affected are Fifth avenue from Indian
creek to Twenty-first street; Twenty
first street from Fifth avenue to the Union
Pacific transfer; Second avenue from
Eighth to Twelfth street; Tenth street to
Eighth avenue and several blocks of North
Eighth street
The fire and lights committee, after tab
ulating the bids to furnish 1900 feet of
fire hose ordered the purchase Of 500 feet |
each from the Paragon Rubber company.
through p. c. DeVol Hardware company.
the Gutta Purcha Rubber company and
the Aetna company at $11O per foot.
Protests from Frank True and others
against sharing the expense of building
Indian creek retaining walls on private
property, caused the offer of Peter Peterl
son to pay $,1OO toward the improvement
at Maine and MINISTER streets to
be laid over for a week.