The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-12-18
ORDER PLANS PREPARED NOW
Aldermen Urge That Plans be Made to
Secure an Enlarged Intake at Same
Time Vote on Filtration Is Taken,
But Second Resolution will be Offered

The question of securing cleaner and
purer water for the city won its first
recognition at the meeting Of the COM
mon council on Monday evening when
by a narrow margin of one vote the
council passed resolution providing
that the question Of issuing bonds for
the installation Of filtration plant be
submitted to the people at the spring
election. The vote was taken only af-
ter a long discussion. Most of the
members Of the council seemed to be
willing to get into the band wagon and
declare themselves in favor Of better
water, but several of them wanted
time to consider the matter, holding
that the question should not be sub
mitted until after further investiga-
tions had been made.
Thefresolution to submit the question
was proposed by Alderman Marlatt.
Alderman Hegeman urged that the city
council add to the resolution a provi-
sion for bonds for the building Of a
new intake, but this was strongly OPP
posed, it being held that if the ques-
tion of an enlarged intake We to be
taken up it should he submitted to the
people in a separate resolution. Alder
men Sullivan and Kisten both opposed
the resolution although both claimed
to be strongly in favor of the plan for
installing filtration plant. These al
dermen insisted that before the mat
ter be submitted that all plans and
specifications should be secured. 1t
was argued against this that the coun-
ell had Investigated filtration at length
and that the report Of experts had
shown that the only way to get clean
and purer water for the city was
through a filtration plant.
Efforts were made to lay over the
vote on the resolution until some fut-
ure meeting, but Mayor insisted that
the resolution be put to a vote. The
vote follows. For submitting the ques-
ton to the people, Aldermen Marlatt,
Shearer, Hegeman. Thomey, Filbin,
Anderson, Willems, Bruins and Barth.
Against submission, Aldermen Roberts,
Sullivan, Mueller, Kisten, Rauen, Loef
and Joachim.
The resolution provides for the issue
Of bonds in the amount Of 100000 and
it was stated o the council that I'M ad-
dition to the amount raised by the bond
issue there would be at least $4,000
available in the funds of the water
company. In order that the people
may have the fullest possible informa-
tion before voting IN the important
question the meToers of the water
commission were instructed to at once
secure plans and specifications for an
adequate filtration plant and to report
the prices on these plans to the council
at the second meeting in January. This
resolution was carried by the unani-
nous vote ef the council. The mem
bers of the water board have not given
a great deal Of attention to the filtra-
ton problem in the past, but at that
Investigations have been made by the
board and the members have been in
touch with companies interested in the
installation Of the filtration plants.
Members of the council feel that in
submitting the question Of filtration for
the referendum the only proper step has
been taken. The people of the city
will have more than four months IN
which to make Investigations to satisfy
themselves as to the need of filtration
of the city water and the matter will
be before them long enough to make
the widest possible Investigation of the
question.
Under the resolution no further ac-
tion leading towards the installation of
filters can be taken until after the
people have expressed their will at the
polls.