Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-25
.ASTEP NEARER NOW
CITY WILL EXTEND WATER
MAINS TO CONVENT LINE
Commissioners Agree TO Take Water
to Grounds n Orphanage VIII
Garry Il on From There

The city OF Abilene is now a stel
nearer to an agreement with Bishop
Cunningham of the Concordia do
cese relative to the extension OF
water mains to the convent grounds
and building, which. 1t is proposed
are to be used as an orphanage
The city commissioners have agreed
to extend the mains north on Buck
eye as far as the south boundary
line of the convent grounds, about
half a mile, II Bishop Cunningham
will agree to take the water from
the property line up to the build
ing. The bishop has made no state
ment in regard to whether or not
an arrangement like the one mem
tionel would be acceptable, but 1t
is thought likely that the offer will
be accepted.
A Commercial club delegation
spent a considerable part of yester-
day afternoon discussing the matter
at length with the city commission
ers. City Attorney Crawford ques-
toned the legality of extending the
mains to the convent by the issuance
of bonds without an election but in
the event that the city extends the
mains only to the property line nf
the convent grounds a bond issue
would not be necessary. A statute Of
1913 gives the city commissioners
to extend the mains with
In or without the city whenever
applications have been made and
agreements entered into by persons
along the proposed extension that
will produce a revenue in the judy
nent of the mayor and COM
sufficient to- pay inter-
st on the cost of the extension and
he operating cost of the product
furnished"
Business men who were present
greed either that they would per-
onally guarantee that the revenue
rom the line would equal the in
crest on the investment and the
perating cost, or that the CONNER
lal club or Business Mems associa-
on would assume the responsible
y. This statute and the offer of a
removes the commission
rs objections and they would have
le authority to extend the lines.
he cost of extending the main on
uckeye to the boundary line of the
invent ground would be between
1900 and $500. The water fund
large enough to stand this ex-
snse without the necessity of
md issue.
Tony Jacobs, the contractor, and !.
A. Smith, the architect, who had
charge the $4,000 improvements
the convent, have said that while
shop Cunningham had not con- =
iered the event of the city extend
g the water only to the boundary
lie the matter would be laid be-
re him for a decision.
Should the city extend the mains, y
e property along the line might
taken into the city. ="
II am satisfied that extending
g mains to the property line at .,
g convent grounds would be D
st and reasonable STEP" said ~
Lyor Nichols. 1.-THE expenditure =,
'uld be entirely justified and 20
uld, in time, prove an investment
It would at least, equal its cost"
So many "curb-stone plans" for d,
ending the mains have been Is p
ID and forgotten and then revived W.
It considerable misunderstanding M
sr the whole proposition has re- of
ted and the city has been placed of
an unfavorable light, to a GER of
n extent. 1t is now expected that W,
city and Bishop Cunningham ma
] adjust the matter without ar
tinuance of the delay that has not tn
n altogether pleasant either for I'll
diocese or for the citizens of CHI
town. he