Las Vegas optic., 1913-05-15
STAND PAT ON $l,25O
MAYOR AND WATER COMMITTEE
REFUSE TO PAY MORE THAN
THAT EACH YEAR
COMPANY WANTS $1,000
REMUNERATION FOR FIRE PRO
TEcTloN ONLY is MUTUALLY
AGREED UPON


After practically year of negotia-
tions the city and the Aqua Pura
company apparently are not drawing
any nearer an agreement as to the
terms for new municipal water con-
tract.
This was demonstrated at the reg
ular meeting of the city council last
evening, when Mayor Robert J. Tau
pert informed Stephen Powers, SUI
perintendent Of the Aqua Pura com
pany, that the mayor and the water
and light committee would refuse to
recommend the acceptance of con-
tract for fire protection until at sat
isfactory agreement for water to be
used on the streets, in the parks and
for other municipal purposes is reach
ed
The mayor also stated that the
city's position is just what it was a
year ago; it win pay Sl,25O per year
for water and no more.
Some time ago the water and light
committee. after several consultations
with the mayor, submitted to the Aqua
Pura company proposition for a
contract for fire protection, offering
to pay $40 per plug for the SO fire
plugs in the city. This would make
an annual total of $1,000 for fire pro
lection Superintendent Powers, in
behalf of the company, accepted this
offer, and such was reported at re-
cent meeting of the council At the
April meeting it was decided to defer
action by the council upon this con
tract until the return of Alderman
Wiegand, a member of the light and
water committee. Last night, Mayor
Taupert, in introducing Mr. Powers,
stated that the city would refuse to
enter into contract for water for
fire protection until satisfactory terms
had been reached for contract for
water for other municipal purposes.
This leaves the city and the Aqua
Pura company fully agreed as to the
price to be paid for fire protection,
but absolutely disagreed in regard to
the price for water for other uses.
The city believes $3.50 is sufficient
for sprinkling the streets, caring fol
the parks and furnishing water for
the city buildings, while the Aqua
Pura company is of the opinion that
this amount is not enough.
The amount Of money paid the Aqua
Pura company under the contract
which expired over a year ago was
81, ,040 per year. It is understood thai
the water company offered to renew
the contract for $4,000 annually The
mayor and the water and light com
mittee stand pat on $1.25O. Thus
$3.50 a year is the bone of contention
In addressing the council Mr. Pow
CTS Sldtcu tudL JuClS dlS 10 AAAI PAN6i
which are out Of repair and his com
pany did not feel like putting them il
good shape unless it was assured thai
it would be repaid for that service
He was informed that the agreemen
that has existed between the city anC
the Aqua Pure company would con
tinue in force; namely, that the wa
ter corporation would receive full re
muneration for its services, at con
tract rates, for the period Intervening
between the expiration Of the oil
contract and the beginning Of a nev
one, at such time as the new con
tract is signed The superintendent
agreed to this, and stated the hydrant
would be repaired at once.
There was considerable exchang
Of questions and statements between
the mayor and Mr. Powers. durini
which Mayor Taupert informed tn
superintendent that If the matter wer
carried into the courts the Aqua Pur
company would be obliged to secur
franchise from the city and in re