The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-02

the Juneau water system and that was his only reason for selling. Fries has stated to the Mayor, when the option was delivered. that he had been reviled by the citi- zens. but the only reason the wa ter system had been allowed to run down was that he was so busy he did not pay much attention to the reports and did not realize how the city had grown and did not realize the condition of the system until last spring when he visited Juneau in person.
 Good Business Proposition. Mayor Stewart stated that to his own knowledge last spring MT
 Lewis was offered $60.0OO for tue plant and one of the best hydraulic engineers on the Pacific Coast had been in Juneau last sum mer Investigating the system. In the engineers report to his prin- cipals he stated that the plant was a good business proposition and should return 20 per cent. on the investment of $6O.OOO, which checked very closely with the fig ures prepared by himself. This re- port was made prior to the new im- Droyements made last summer for $2S.OOO.
 q think it is a good business proposition to acquire for $2S,00O plant which will immediately start returning S1OOO per month and continue to do so for the next ten. twenty or fifty years. I think it would be one of the greatest mis- takes ever made by a council of Ju- ueau if this council do not avail themselves of the opportunity"
 In reply to a direct question, Mayor Stewart further stated: "I will stake my professional reputa- tion that the springs owned by the Juneau Water Company will fur nish enough water to supply population of 25.OOO people if prop arly conserved and cared for. The supply stated is from the upper spring only. The lower spring was not taken into consideration and .his spring is not subject to con tamination as it is above the lev el or Gold Creek Furthermore. if additional supply is needed it would not be necessary to go to Granite creek. as the Ebner spring is only half way there and the water from that could be obtained, and the flow from that spring Is considerable and accurate measurements will be made in the near future to determine the exact amount.
 Wolland for Project.
 Former Councilman Wolland was present and stated that in his opin- ion the water system was a good in- vestment for the city, even if the price is high at the present time. He recited the history of the SkagwGy water works which has paid for itself already and where the city has to pay an additional royalty to the owners of the wa ter. He also recited the history of former dealings with Mir. Lewis by the older city councils and stated that Lewis had offered to sell but had set no price and had made no agreement and further stated that at that time the city was without funds.
 Robertson Favors the Buy.
 Ralph F. Robertson stated that he was for the purchase and thought the council was missing a ! great opportunity if it failed to ac- Quire a plant yielding an income l of 10 per cent. on the investment, ! aside from the question of health l He recited ancient Roman history | to the council as illustrating the | point in question and related tho | story of the Books of Sybil.
 Simon Hellenthal related the | experience of the city from which he hailed in Michigan and stated that their obstacles. which were much more difficult had been over come at a handsome profit to the city.
 Nj. s. Sutton stated that 1t was not merely a question of mon ey, but was also a question of the future health of the community
 The new Butterfly Design Of fancy hand painted china now on display at Goldsteins Emporiou, in oro.l-ortr doport,,,oDf dOf