Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-04-03
FACTS ABOUT THE
GRAND RAPIDS WATER
WORKS COMPANY

On February 9th, 1913, there was
Leader, on the failure of Municipal
Ownership of our Waterworks system
and that it had run behind $6S,000
in six months. In the Daily Repor
ter, of March 1l1th, 1913, mention was
made of a trial balance, and of an
overdraft of S,029 65, and asked for
a report that could be better under
stood.
The Railroad Commission of Wis
consin, asked for a trial balance of
the first six months of the year,
from July LIST to December 31st, 1872.
AS l have plenty Of work to do, and
am not an expert bookkeeper and in
order to have everything all right,
l employed the expert book-keeper
of the Grand Rapids Electric Com
pany, to make out this trial balance.
| ALI the books, and bills of income
and expenses, together with the in
structio ns from the Railroad Commits
sion of Wisconsin, were turned over
| to him, to make out that trial bal
ance.
This trial balance was not to be
published until it was approved by
the Railroad Commi ssion of WiscOn-
sin, but the very next day after 1t
was made OFT, some che stopped me
On the street and wanted to know
about the overdraft of S6S,0OO.0O. !
told him | could not sayanything a
bout it until / heard from the Railroad
Commission. Later, | heard that Mr..
w. elise had made a copy OF tals
trial balance and had taken it over
to the office of the Grand Rapids E.
lectric Company, from which Office
it no doubt found its way to the
Wisconsin Valley Leader, and to the
Daily Reporter. How Mr.. elise coa3t
betray a TRUST Like this, without the
permission of either the Railroad Cor
mission OF Wisconsin, OR myself
and allow this trial balance to be
published before he knew it would
be approved by the Railroad Commits
sion | cannot understand. A few
days later | received word from the
Railroad Commission of Wisconsin
that this Report was not made out
according to the instructions. | then
asked them to send one of their ex
perts and start things right. l ex
pect a representative from the Rail
road Commission at any time.
take from what was stated in the
papers, that direct charge was made
against me, by them and the Grand
Rapids Electric Company, to beittle
me in the eyes of the people. Amy
one being possessed with common
sense, knows that I have no right
whatever to charge hydrant rentals
for fire protection, or water fol-
schools, city halls, the library, foun
tains, watering troughs, flushing sew
ers, etc, unless the Common Council
passes an Ordinance to that effect
Why should l be attacked for all this
We have had good, bright and hon
est business men, and able, intelli gent
honest and fair minded lawyers, as
Mayors and City attorneys, who ha 4
looked into the matter of the City S
water works, and they could see no
danger in the way the books were KEEP
or any injustice to the City or the
tax payers, by charging UP to the
city the rental of the MIGRANTS, and
the water used in schools, public
buildings, flushing sewers, fountains
watering troughs, etc. This matter
was talked over many. times, and
was argued that should the City
charge the schools with the water ren
tai, the school board would simply
ask for that much more money from
the City, therefore, although it would
lock more business like, and would
show up the waterworks in a better
Iigh+ it would onlu be like putting
money from one hand to the other,
for the City would have to pay the
D1IIS Any " dy 0O you SEE, you Law
accused the wrong man.
We have always been, and are yet
friendl and perhaps you did not mean
to do me an injustice. but you did
and while l agree with the good man
who said that he is my true friend
who tells me my faults, yet I can
not see that l have failed to do my
duty. Of course, as truly great Ed
tors, you had to do your duty, and
follow the band wagon. Now, let me