Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-25
MAYOR 5 WATER
FRANCHISE READ
TO CITY COUNCIL
Believes Municipality Should
Acquire Plant at End of %
Years as Price of Rights
Granted,

Mayor Boatright's water franchise
was read at last nights council meet
ing. the last of two months series
planned to give the aldermen an in
sight into public sentiment upon the
water question. 1t was made part OF
the record and will be discussed by
the council later
The most salient feature of the
mayors franchise Is that the water
cOmpany's plant would automatically
become property of the city at the
end of the twenty-five-yea term, for
which IT would be granted, as compen-
sation for the franchise.
The mayor fixes minimum charge
of sixty cents instead of that of S1.SO,
charged now. This would entitle a
consumer to 1000 gallons. Water In
excess of that amount would be used
at fifteen cents thousand gallons.
Get Water From White Rock.
The mayor fixes the hydrant rental
at $40 a year per hydrant and for this
the city would receive 20, 600 month
per hydrant to be used for any pur-
pose. The present hydrant rental is
$50 year for the first 100, and $35 a
year for those In excess Of 100
In the general discussion of the wa
ter question: Col. John Borradaile said
he had heard suggested the citys
joining with the company that Is back
OF the White Rock canyon project.
This could be done by the city's build
ing the dam. A pipe line fifty miles
would be required to carry the water
TO the city.
ID. A. Porterfleld announced he was
for municipal ownership First, last
and all the time" He didn't know
whether municipal ownership would
carry here. as, he asserted. both news
papers were water organs. However.
Mr.. Porterfield would be willing to
throw in his nickel with the rest
and try ii.
Judge Burg Undecided.
Probate Judge John Baron Burg
had not fully made up his mind. He
said his personal inquiries had de-
veloped that a large number of nom
taxpayers were for municipal owner
ship, while a small number of taxpay-
ers were for city ownership and a
large number of that class for private
ownership. Judge Burg thought he
was really I'm favor of letting the pres
ent franchise run out and granting
another franchise for short time BY
that time the Improvements, which he
and the others had been told were to
take place in this valley, would have
been brought about and the people
then would know whether they want
ed municipal ownership.
Judge =. s. Rodey had a plant
against the newspapers. In fact, the
newspapers robbed the water COM
pany of quite a bit of attention last
night. The judges kick was that the
fIillfa mint, HfI - At mil, oh, y, afl
those in favor of municipal ownership
had to say" Judge Rodey believes a
new water plant could be put in for
$4,000 and $4,000 at the maximum.
For a Gravity System.
G. f. Reeves, also an advocate of
municipal ownership thought suffi-
eient water could be found In the San
dia or Manzano mountains to supply
the city by gravity system. A stream
six inches deep and twelve inches wide
would be more than enough to supply !
the city, according to him. In view
Of this why should the council worry
about the cost of a plant, he pointed |
out.
According to Mr.. Reeves figures
the city could make five-cent profit !
on every 1000 gallons by selling wa
ter at fifteen cents a thousand, No
private corporation would accept only
five cents profit, he declared. For
that reason he did not believe Mayor |
Roatright's franchise would be ac-
copied.
Alderman George c. Scheer gave
Judge Rodey assurance that the coun-
ell would not grant a franchise to any |
body without first submitting 1t to
the people. This drew Mr.. Rodey'sl
warm Draigp for the council
A. Fleischcr said he was delighted