Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-08
WANTS The PLANT AT ONCE
Water Board Makes Application to
Judge Munger for Possession,
HEARING is SET FOR NOV. is
Brief sets Up Many Reasons why
Omaha should Take over the
Water Plant Ms Soon rs
Possible.


John L. Webster, attorney for the
Water board OF Omaha, filed application
in federal court before Judge w. II
Munger Tuesday morning at II o'clock
for an order for the Omaha water com
pany to Immediately turn over the water
works plant to the city. An order was
issued by the court to Mr.. Webster set
ting November IS the date Of trial and
the water company,was at once served
with notice by the Water beard.
I'VE will be in possession OF the plant
by the first Of the year." said Mr.. Web
ster. The Water board will meet Mon
day afternoon to complete arrangements
for the is.c-nce OF bonds and the formal
assumption Of ownership Of the property.
In the application. made in the name
Of General Webster William u. McHugh
and City Attorney John A. Rine. the his
tory OF the litigation over the purchase
Of the water plant Is set forth and the
condition that the Water board is to pay
to a trustee or the court the amount OF
the appraised value OF the water works
system only ION future order OF this court
after hearings on notice to all parties"
The city will give security by surety com
pany or BY deposit in court Of bonds suf-
|
that may be found due after an account
ing.
Present service Is Inadequate,
| The attorneys for the Water board al
lege in the application for immediate
possession that the Water company has
refused to make extensions since the cleo
ton to vote bonds on March ?, 1908, and
that as a result the present system il
entirely inadequate to supply sufficient
amount Of water or pressure for the de-
mands Of Omaha, South Omaha, East
omaha, Dundee and Florence. Because
the water company cannot be compelled
to make extensions is one OF the reasons
upon which the request for Immediate
possession is based.
Among other extensions and improve
ments needed and demanded by the city
and not made by the water company the
applicants cite slxty-eight fire MIGRANTS
ordered placed in 1904, none Of which has
| been located.
Since the election TO purchase there
have bean lO,6O7 new buildings constructed
in the city," says Mr., Webster, lat a cost
of S39, 221 ,646. Many of these buildings are
within the limits of new streets and ad-
ditions and are occupied by families who
| supply"
| Although the population of Omaha has
| increased approximately % per cent since
March ., 1893, being 1O2,555 in 1900 and
l24,096 in 1911, and the growth since the
last census has been rapid, water mains
have not been extended" Mr.. Webster
states, "and there are several thousand OF
the present population who are not sup
piled with water and cannot be supplied
until the city shall take over the water
works and make such extensions are are
| necessary"
! The approximate population of Omaha,
South Omaha, East Omaha, Florence and
Dundee is given at 10000 and within
these municipalities forty miles of new
| streets have been laid within the period
Of litigation over the ownership OF the
water works. Practically all of these
streets are now without city water SER
vice, no mains having been laid although
the demand for water has been pressing
Districts without Water.
Additions to the city now without water
are cited in the applications as follows.
Monmouth park, covering 40 acres. The
streets are without water mains and l75
lots are without water supply or fire
protection.
Collier place contains 100 lots without
water supply or fire protection.
Plainview addition, covering an area of
one'half mile from north to south aud
one-fourth mile east and west. has no
water mains
Oak Chatham addition, of about the
same area as Plainview, without water
mains.
Ames and Kendalls additions, fronting
on Twenty-fifth street, extending from
Ames avenue to Kountze place are with |
out water supply. or fire protection.
Might Lose south Omaha.
The board gives a further reason for |
desiring immediate possession Of the plant
the fact that South Omaha, which spends |
! $1,000 a year for water, Is now projecting |
| the construction Of a plant which will |
meet the demands of the people or the |
stock yards district, the present system /
| of the Omaha company being Inadequate |
Plans are heing prepared by the Water !
board for putting in place a forty-eight- |
inch steel water main from Florence to |
Omaha to relieve the situation. Other |
extensions and improvements are prom |
Used by the board II immediate possession |
is given.
Reservoirs is Dangerous,
Continuing the charges OF neglect on
the part of the water company to make |
extensions and repairs, the applicant
says:
Your applicant has caused an inspec- |
ton to be made of the Walnut Hfl reser-
volr, which is a storage basin for the |
supply Of water, and as result It is in |
formed that there exists in the reservoir |
at this time breaks cracks and leakage |
by which water is now seeping from the
walls and your applicant believes
that the said reservoir is in dangerous
condition and II repairs are not made !
within reasonable time the smbank-
ments are liable to break, which
would result in an absolute interference
with the supply OF water and would prob |
ably result IN the destruction OF life and |
property in the surrounding vicinity. and
the water company has not and Is not !
attempting to repair or protect said |
!