The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-06-30

for the purpose of discussing the wa
terworks situation In Marion. and Of
fering possible solution OF the pro.
blem. didu't mass" to any great eN-
tent until after o'clock. However.
before the meeting was over. about
i5O Interested people were in the
vourt room.
AT the close rising vote was taken
on the proposition Of municipal own
ership. If the sentiment of Marion
was correctly represented by that vote,
there is but very little opposition 20
The municipal ownership idea. But
the methods of bringing this about,
according to the speeches made. are
many and various.
President Smart, of the city couu-
ell. opened the meeting and explained
the purpose of il. There were but a
handful of people present at the time.
No one seemed eager to start things
off. Finally, L. II. Flocken opened
tho ball by explaining that the city
of Carey owned It's own waterwC iks
and electric lighting system and It
was saving about so per cent. on rent
ais In both cases. He suggested that
committee be appointed to thor
oughly inves .igatc othcr cities. lie
thought IL company of individuals
can make a water plant pay. city
can do the same thing.
Mr.. BarlOwc Opposes Owner ship.
EN- Mayor G. j. Nichols wanted to|
hear from a member of the manu-
featuring interests and called on S. +.
Bariowe. secretary of the Huber COM
pany. Mr.. Barlowe opened by stat
lN..ast al. tHn
to municipal ownership; that he took
this ground when he was "A member
of council and he hadn't changed his
views any. Mr. Barlowe explained
that II was impossible to get good re-
suits from plant ruder the super
vision of an authority that Is con
itantly changing New men come
into council they have new theories;
they Try them out, employees are
changed and shifted about ana there
is constant turmoil and strife and the
waterworks proposition gets into poll
uics-thcn it's efficiency IS impaired.
Mr.. Barlowe said ne had no doubt
Tho water ccmpany would gladly un-
load It's D. cscnt plant on the city,
but he. FOR one, didn't want To- buy H.
IN his opinion II would be much bet
Ter To grant the company new fran
chise. but so safeguard 1t that thefe
would be no possible chance OF the
CIV getting the worst Of the bargain.
lie suggested the printing OF severai
thousand copies of the proposed IRAN
chise for distribution among the peo'
ple. Let them discuss 1t and make
corrections, and finally have lncor-
pcrated In the franchise that Is grant
ed all the good points suggested
lie was also opposed to the dlrec
pressure system, such as Marion mas
lie saws the direct pressure ldea mas
been exploded and IL is the business oil
the city 10 furnish its fire department
win the proper fire fighting apparatus
If results are to be expected.
Chicr MCFarland Talks.
Fire chief Mcfarland, when called
ton said the city officials were not ai-
lowed enough money 10 keep up even
The sort of fire department 1t now
has; that II is always IN the h"H
financially and the constant cultlhs
down ed expenses has crippled the az
Nnartment terribly. He then mace
come statements calculated 10 haN
the merchants sit up and take hotlSi
Mr.. Mcfarland said the Insurance
men nf Columbus rate the water syb-
tenn and fire department OF Marior
80 worth pfncticaly nothing Marion
IA given credit he said, with peihs
able to handle a lire In a one-stols
structure only. and It Is not admitseu
that a second story fire can De eN-
,inguished. This has made insurance
r,tes sky high The insurance com
nanies make their rates according 10
the amount of water that can ne
,hrown and the general fitness OF the
water company and the hre uepu''-
ment. n ,ho
rbe chief was also opposed 10 lhe
aireot pressure system but eNpltineu
maj il would cost much move lhopeE
~ maintain engines and ens'heqts'
keeping up steam constantly eo'
u,rion ne SAYS, Is rated among inc
nre insurance companies az pei,'s
,rlo to carry four lines Of hose ohiy'
~ wound up by saying that win Us
nresont equipment It was imposs'pl'
for the water company 10 lul n,o'
e,nueh pressure and that the mains
srom tho water plant TO the city were
much too small.
n n snyder, of the Mlrrpr' was
for private ownership only wheh pIl-
vate ownership proved iis eIlc'Vn's
when n succeeded, NOT oh'y ~ -,
ing money for itself but III iurIiis.,ne iu'.,a,'
No cliy with adequate fre pfoteV'lon. p,.'
ue WAS unwilling 10 concene lna' s"s
rnndltIon exists in Marion and was
ror The city owning It's own water .;,,, sys,
lem. He wasn't in favor OF grant'ns g'',,
new Franchise unless ample Assur-
once ana substantial guarantees were
made that the water company ~oua"
l. AlNn
shlde by the contract ne G''eu s
,.,stan.es of municipality owned
tiants-some failures. some successes
XII explained that the failures were
ane to the class Of men at the head
and due TO the matter OF ponies
creeping into the management
Mr. Snyder thought the water com
pnny naJ nj made good ana y wn' a
now Cine fss me teqrl' NNv ~
mater III hand ana proceed sane's =
rolye this great problem He eau