The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-05
HEATED SESSION
OF The COUNCIL
Meter Question Argued Last Eve
ming. More Data Asked

The Hancock city council held "A
stormy session last evening. The hall
was pretty well filled with citizens
when the meeting began, most of those
present being drawn there by a de-
sire +" register a protest against the
proposed installation of meters in HAT
buildings.
The water question was not brought
up until the latter part of the meeting.
being postponed to expedite other
business, Finally the mayor asked the
manager for his report ON the scs-
sion of the board of public works Mr.
Stockly briefly outlined the study that
the board of public works had given
the water question during the last
eighteen months and reported that
they had come To the conclusion that
a meter system was the only feasible
solution of the problem The city
has succeeded in reducing the cost of
pumping the water, but we are only
saving money in one department to
waste it in another way. We are not
vior, so rapidly is it drawn out and
wasted and there are long intervals
that there is not enough water in the
city reservoirs To insure adequate fire
protection to the hill side district. and
at times there is no water at all i'm the
upper reservoir said Mr.. Stoclly H..
laid great stress on this phase of the
question. asking whether or not it was
fair to the man ON the hillside To let
his house burn down for want of
water while the man lower down was
letting the water run out through his
faucets To keep the pipes from frccZ-
ing. Mr.. Stocllly also reported tina,
he had conferred with the IIoughton
officials and found that the Houghton
man was getting his water for an
average of 50 a year while the HAT
rate in Hancock amounted to SO per
year. Mr.. Stockly believed that the
installation of meters in Hancock
would work similar reduction.
Opposition Has an Inning.
Alderman Larson of the second ward
objected strcnuously To the mctering
of water. He said that the water
should bc as free as the air bat AID
mitted ne had not given the rcsolu-
ton much study as ne was under the
impression IT applied 10 all houses in
stead of only to flats In order to
bring the matter fairly before tn"
council Alderman Francis introduced
the meter resolution and Alderman
Dunstan supported it, None of the
other aldermen caring To be heard a.
this time. the mayor announced
that the citizens present would be Civ
en- an opportunity to he heard Paul
EXlcy led the experimenting, deliver
ing heated address against meters
after prcfacing his remarks with tn"
statement that ne was willing To pay
for whatever water nc used MIR. Elk
ley referred To- the cost of operating
the Scott hotel and declared the coun-
ell had taxed Mr.. Scott into his
grave" Mr.. EXlcy was given liberal
applause by the citizens present and
then retired in favor of j. &. Donahuc.
Council is Threatened.
Mr.. Donahuc told the council that
lac would circulate a petition through
the city during the next two weeks
If desired and woul guarantee TO get
30 per cent OF the .oters enrolled on
it, He also told the council that If
they would postpone action until next
spring the opposition would make an
issue of the meter question at the
spring election and would defeat the
council and the mayor. If this meter
plan is So fine. why doesn't Mr.. Stock
~ install one in his own house, ana
WHY don't the board of public work
do the same" ne asked ,"Gcntlcmcn
it is no wonder that industries don't
want To enter Hancock. Give us
chance and we will get results Mr.
Donahuc asked Mr.. Stockly what 1t
would cost To install meters i'm every
house i'm Hancock. but the general
manager stated that ne had had no oc-
casion To- make such an investigation
and was not prepared to say Then
YOU have no business coming here with
such propositions" declared the