Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-21
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Commercial Club Favors Granting
Stock Yards Water Rights.
LONG DISCUSSION OF THE CASE
Explanation Made that Project t. Not
60 secure Franchise, but 40 FUR
nish Adequate water Supply
60 stockmen.

Itself on record as approving the ordinance
requested 81 the city council by the Union
Stock Yards company for permission 20
lay q line Of pipe from the river to a
reservoir 10 he erected in the stock yards
district, for the purpose Of supplying the
yards and the packing houses with water.
The adoption Of the resolution. which was
unanimous. followed an hours discussion
Of the proposition during which the club
heard Everett Buckingham. general mana
ger OF the Yards and City Attorney Henry
c. Murphy, who indicated the nature OF
some OF the objections Of those who were
opposing the granting OF the franchise and
who had called upon him, in his position
as city attorney.
Mr.. Buckingham explained that the action
Of the stock yards company arose from the
fact Of the limited supply OF water it had
been getting during the last three years
from the Omaha water company. Shippers
had intimated, he said, that unless they
could get a good supply Of water for their
stock they would go elsewhere, and in fact
they did lose some stock last fall owing to
the shortage Of water.
Would Lay Pipe from River.
IAN we want" said Manager Bucking-
ham, lis Tor permission to lay a water
main from the river to provide a supply Of
water for the stock yards, the packing
houses and whatever industries may be To-
Gated In that district. As Il IL today, dur
ing the forenoon when we are using q con-
siderable quantity Of water # is impossible
for the people living west of us on l.
az well as other streets north to get any,
thing like sufficient supply for their do
nestle use, and we feel the condition Of
things is going to be worse unless it is
relieved in the way we propose"
Mr.. Buckingham emphasized this point
that II would be much better for the city
generally when the stockyards had their
own plant erected. At the present time the
stock yards and the packing houses. he
said, drew from 100000 to 10000 900 gallons
day. When the city water system was
relieved Of this pressure the people who
now complained of want OF water should
be able to have ali abundant supply. He
referred 20 the fact that in Chicago. Kan
sas City and Sioux City the stock wards
had their own supply
1--WE are perfectly sincere" said Mr.
Buckinham, lin our desire to get a water
supply that will take care of this bip in
dustry. and 1 think the people of south
Omaha should be as much interested in
that as u.s."
Murphy for IL.
City Attorney Murphy candidly admitted
that he thought the ordinance should be
passed, but he added that many people had
consulted him as to how the city could be
helped out in regard to the water situation.
Both the yards and the packing houses as
well as the city were face to face, he said.
with a grave question in connection with
the water supply. owing to the Omaha
| Water company's rights having been pur-
chased by that city. Some people asked
whether the city could not come to soma
arrangement with the stock yards people
that in case of necessity the city could
be able to draw upon their supply, this
| privilege to be properly safeguarded
Mr.. Buckingham replied that they simply
wanted to look after themselves and did
not want to enter into competition or other
wise with the city, and added that IL they
die what was suggested they would have
to face proceedings by Omaha and the
water company.
| w. b. Cheek pointed out that the water
/ which the new scheme would draw from
the river could neither be used for drinking
or culinary purposes. You would" he
said. be having the people drinking the
sewage OF Omaha il you did this"
! J. B. Watkins pointed out that according
to the terms OF purchase the people OF
Omaha could supply water to the neigh
boring cities and the price was to be the
same as charged in Omaha.
Frank Ransom Explains,
Attorney Frank Ransom for the pro-
motors said that they had no desire tc
grab a franchise. All they wanted was a
permit to lay this main to provide pro-
lection for themselves.
Secretary Erie b. Brown, by request read
the ordinance which showed that the STOCK
Yards company or its assigns sought per
NIT 10 lay main from the river to the
stock yards district that it agreed to pas
the city per cent Of the gross earnings
and place twelve hydrsnts on the main sc
laid.
The club having unanimously expressed
approval OF the project a committee con
sistlng Of l.. NJ. Lord, John Flynn, e. Is
Brown and w. B. Cheek was appointed e
draw up a letter for submission TO thu
city council.
The committee afterwards met anC
drafted the following communication.
ITO the Honorable Mayor and Cit!
Council, South Omaha, Neb. Gentlemen
At a meeting, today, of the South omahi
Commercial club, IL was resolved that IN
following facts with reference to the waite
situation in South Omaha be placed befor
the public.
The present supply Of water to the in
habltants OF many portions of South oman
Is Inadequate, so much so that no waite
can be procured In the second stories G
many houses, and in many OF them IN
water, during portion of the day cannc
be had in the first story, the people be
ing compelled to draw a supply Of waite
for domestic uses in advance and kee
1t in vessels in the house.
The supply OF water TO the Stock Yard
district is wholly Inadequate, water No
: being furnished In all parts Of the Stoc
u Yards for great portion Of the time &
j. much so that sufficient water is not o
l. hand or supplied by the Water compan,
i TO furnish the live stock with the necc
. sary water.
F" Some relief in some way must be tu
lnished the industries in the Stock YarC
u district and the people in whose hous'
water is not procurable now in the ord
d nary wdy through the water mains.
ID WITHOUT placing the blame for the pre-
Is ent shortage OF water on any one, the IA
- remains that the supply is wholly mad
rs quate. The Stock Yards company desi
d ing 70 relieve the situation as far as po
IN sible by supplying themselves and n
rs packing houses with water In the Sto'