The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-09-21
WATER WORKS.

Municipal ownership of the water
works will soon be reality in Manito-
voc unless something unforeseen inter-
venes to prevent it before October End.
Tuesday afternoon, the water company
and the city signed, sealed and deliver
ed contract for delivery Of the plant
ON that date. The day before E. c.
Gray and the company's attorney. NAL
com Jeffris of Janesville had appeared
on the scene with the company's pro-
s position in writing. They met the.
mayor and finance committee and all
together went over the offer. 1t was
apparently the proposition heretofore
agreed upon for an October delivery
for SPA, 500, but it quickly developed
that the company effected in addition
to have its taxes for 1911, amounting
to about $4,000 remitted. This caused
hitch. That evening the city council
met and refused to entertain the tax
remitting proposition, saying that the
S247, 5000 was the limit. Mr.. Jeffris
addressed the council but was appar-
emily unable to convince them. Ne
gotiations appeared to be at the break
|, ing point.
The mayor and finance commit
tee were authorized to arrange de-
tails il the deal could be closed on
the general terms fixed by the council.
Tuesday morning the contract was
drawn on those terms subject to APP
proval of the Railway commission. 1t
provides for surrender of possession
October 2nd for S247, 800, an increase OF
Sl1 500 over the figures fixed by the
commission in June. The company
pays its taxes but makes no concession
upon its rights to attack the increased
assessment of 1911. 1t secures the
payment of it's taxes on the basis OF
the old assessment
City officials justify the paying OF
$11 800 as compromise to avoid the
possible contingencies of an increased
valuation upon appeal from the COM
mission, loss of earnings for many
months by delayed passing of title, ex-
pensive and prolonged litigation at the
suit OF the company and its bondholders
in both state and federal courts, diff
ficulty OF financing the purchase with
fight pending and other possibilities.
1t is expected that the Railroad Com
mission will approve the present
agreement and that if no one applies
to the courts to stop the payment that
the city will be in possession within
two weeks.
The Manitowoc water works began
furnishing water in 1888. The fran
chise provided for a sale at its expira-
ton in 1908. Several years before this
attempts were made to bring about a
transfer. They all fell through. A
proposition to buy at a price of $3.50, 900
was voted down by the electors. Since
then valuable additions have been
made. The question has been con-
slant political issue for seven or eight
years and caused many stormy mid
night session OF the city council. I'm
der Mayor Groffman proceedings were
begun and carried through before the
Railroad Commission to compel sale
to the city under TIE new public utility
act. The matter of valuation was
bitterly contested by both sides before
the commission. The commission de-
layed its findings until nearly July l,
1911 and the result was victory for
the city in its securing the very fair
figure of 1926, 900. The company how
ever would not clay down." Their
attitude toward an amicable adjust
ment is recent history and resulted in
the agreement Of last Tuesday.