The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-08-15
THE COUNCIL u.
AND WATER CO.
Monday Evenings Session is 0ccu.
pied by Warm Discussion.
ITS. FINAL MAY Be A LAW SUIT
Water Company is Digging or Has
Dug Eighteen New Wells and are
Now Pumping Two and One
half Million Gallons a Day.

Monday evenings session OF the
city council, an adjourned meeting
from last Monday evening, after a
two hours session, was again adj
ljourned to Wednesday evening of this
week. The table was full of business
but the council was unable to reach
/ 1t.
Rev. E. Fl. Warning who had com.
plant about the drainage conditions
on North First street near c avenue,
near property owned by him. The
trouble was ordered fixed earlier in
the season but in the press of many
affairs was overlooked until recent
rains have made the place unusually
bad. Mayor Reynolds gave orders
Monday morning to remedy the
trouble complained of.
Major John F. Lacey, H. s. Howard
and Superintendent Fox, representing
the Peoples Water Company were
present at the session concerning the
attitude of the administration toward
the company and to ascertain what
the city required and expected. The
discussion of the water problem, con-
ditions, etc, occupied almost the en-
, tire time of the session. The hour
was near ten o'clock when the debate
on the water problem was laid aside
for something else.
Major Lacey, as spokesman for the
Water Company addressed the coun.
lcil. He told of the efforts of the Peo-
pies Water Company, of the men
who had the money to get the plant
Alright, to give the patrons of. the
company pure water; he mentioned
the improvements that had been made
by these men and incidentally
throughout the information that
eighteen new wells had recently been
driven on the north side of the river,
the last one of which had been con.
tnected up last Saturday and the
pumps were now drawing wholly from
the wells and pumping two and half
million gallons of water daily to the
city of Oskaloosa. Mr.. Lacey thought
the action of the city council a poor
recognition of the effort put forth by
the men owning the company.
When the question of water pres
sure entered into the argument and
mention was made Of fire engine
MI. Lacey made II plain that so far
as the Water Company was concern
ed consideration of a fire engine did
not enter into the problem. The
franchise voted by the people OF Os.
kaloosa. or the charter of the Water
Company. said nothing about fire
engine. 1t did say however that the
company must pump water from the
river for use during times when fire
pressure Is required. Objection was
therefore made to the stand taken by
the city that the connection with the
river and with the reservoir be dis.
continued and sealed. Mr.. Lacey
stated that no objection would be
made to the purchase of fire engine
on the part of the city but the fran
chise did not require such an invest
ment by the Water Company.
Mayor Reynolds made explanation
of the attitude of the administration
and also made it pretty plain that the
: city intended to stand on its rights
in the franchise, which required the
supplying of pure water by the COM
pany. Plain talk was exchanged be-
tween the members of the city coun.
Gil and the gentlemen representing
the Water Company Campfield of
the Second ward stated that the com.
pany was not maintaining pressure
required by the ordinance nor could
it do so. A tilt over rates also occur
red, when the point Of the earning
capacity of the company was mention
ed. Major Lacey, in so far as he was
informed. pointed out the differences
existing between the Oskaloosa prop.
erty and those mentioned by Mr.
lCampfield. Almost all of the council
men had something to say on the
subject.
Mr.. Howard desired to know of the
council just what was required Of the
company in order that the seminar
nual payment of the city for hydrant
rental and public service might be
Forthcoming. Campfeld here pointed
out the provision in the ordinance
under which the company operated
naming a fine of $3.50 for each failure
Ito meet the requirements of the con
tract. He stated that he had voted
against the allowing of the Water
Company warrant and asserted that
he would vote against each and every
claim presented. until such time as
the company complied with the terms
land provisions Of the ordinance. In
the course of the argument, in which
several voices were heard. explana
ltion was made that the claim. which
amounts to $3,475.00, was read at the
FIRST regular session In the month ant
THAT II would be allowed at the sec
ond regular. Mayor Reynolds came
Ito bat at this juncture and informed
the Water Company Representatives
that the claim might be allowed bu
that he would veto any such action Of
1.-THE part Of the, council
II Major Lacey inquired II the cit,
Twas in quest OF a law suit and re