Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-03-19
Extending Life Of HOpkinSviile
Water Company for 20
Years.
LOST BONDS ARE RECOVERED
After a Lapse Of 35 Years and
Council is Asked to Pay
Outlawed Claim

The Friday nights meeting of the
city council was postponed one night
on account of an invitation received
from the Civic improvement League
to have the council attend in body
the meeting addressed by Mrs. De.
sha BreckinFidge, of Lexington. The
council met and adjourned till Sat-
urday night.
The most important matter passed
upon was the adoption of an ordi-
nance extending the present fran
chise of the Hopkinsville Water Co.
till 1882. The original franchise ex-
pires in 1915 and a second one runs
until 1925. In ratifying the present
sale, the council revokes and repeats
the two former franchises. The
principal changes are that the pipe
system is changed from 81 miles of
IL to 6 inch pipe to Is miles f IL to
A inch pipe, already laid; the reser-
voir capacity is increased from g.
900, 900 to 100000, 900 gallons; the
purchase period is extended from
1915 to 1922;the company to provide
10 free watering troughs and water
for three fountains for people, in lieu
of FIVE fountains for man and beast,
also to furnish free service for five
schools instead of two. No changes
are made in the rates charged or
other general provisions. The or
dinance ratifying the sale of the
franchise was adopted after an ex.
haustive discussion. The company
is not required to make the fire pro-
lection test made a condition of the
acceptance of the original contract
II years ago.
Mr.. Nat Gather, president of the
Bank of Hopkinsville. appeared on
behalf of DR.. E. S. Stuart and asked
that committee be appointed to
consider an outlawed claim held by
DR.. Stuart.In 1870 DR.. Stuart bought
six 500 street bonds bearing z per
cent interest, and after collecting
$175 interest the bonds were lost in
the archives of the Bank OF Hopkins
vile among some old papers and
not found until about four years ago.
The bonds matured in 1890 and the
issue was retired. the missing bonds
being called in and advertised for
before the sinking fund for their re-
demption was finally distributed. The
bonds and coupons at that time were
worth 81, 125. They have been out
lawed for many years and DR.. Stuart
presented popular petition signed
by many citizens asking that the
bonds be paid as a moral obligation,
although it was admitted that they
were not a legal claim against the
city.
The Mayor referred the matter to
the Finance Committee and City At
torney for investigation.
The matter came before a former
council. which found that bonds can
be paid only out Of special funds
raised for the purpose and that no
such funds are now available for
this claim. The Mayor expressed
the opinion that the transaction
might possibly be legAlized by avOte
Of the people. but that the bonds
could not be paid lawfully out Of any
funds now on hand. The matter will
be looked into by the Committee and
reported upon.
On motion Of Chairman Hayden.
a Cumberland telephone with an ex.
tension was ordered placed in the
fire department building.
The Corporations Committee was
authorized to receive proposition
from Hotel Latham in regard to in
stalling four cluster street lights in
front Of the hotel. The city is ask
ed to pay a part Of the cost Of install
''o'.S''''''..,.......~.mnn,n.1.n..,