South Bend news-times., 1917-06-20
WATER HEARING
DEVELOPS CLASH
Commissioner Corr Hears Ap-
peal For Water Mains
on Ewing Av.

A spirited clash between property
owners OF Ewing ar. and members
% the board OF works marked the
hearing OF a petition FOR city water
II the mayors ofice this afternoon
when the contentious OF the city
and the petitioner were heard by
Edwin Corr member Of the Indl-
ana public service commission.
Service or Saving" briefly sums
mp veiled question Of the petition
filed by Mrs. Mitilda Rupel. 3O4 S.
Lafayette ST. and testimony by the
Ewing av. residents. Commissioner
Corr will pi-,e the result Of the
hearing before the state board In
stallaton OF mains similar 20 those
asked by Mrs Rupel at a cost esti-
mated TO exceed $4,000 is desired
by residents Of various sections of
the city- a mem ber OF the board OF
works today pointed out shat the
bond limit Of the city is $4,000
Three Witnesses Appear.
The board Of works was repre-
sented AT todays hearing by +. w
Morris, president OF the board and
A. n. Rice Beside the petitioner.
Mrs. Ruple. three other witnesses
appeared IN behalf OF the proposed
improvement They we're +. J..
Clark. real estate agent. Mrs NJ
Beers. 2s1 West Ewing ay. and
AIrs. Charles SNYDER, 229 Ewing
AZ.
The testimony Of Mrs. Ruple was
not only interesting but apparent
Iy. effective
She declared that the wells OF the
properties of the vicinity i'm ques-
tiOn have been caused 10 60 dry by
the Bowan ST. sewer and that re-
gardless of the fact that they can
not get water elsewhere. Residents
have been forbidden 20 use the near
~ city hydrants.
Finding this condition of affairs
I appealed 10 Mr.. Morris said Mrs
Rupel. Il told him that the wells
had gone dry and that we could not
get water and believed that ne
would take some steps 90 relieve
the situation but he treated the
whole matter as joke and 1t was
JIM tA tsf 'AtN ftNhN+N ~ 'f'i'
ers.
VIII set Precedent.
A precedent OF much Importance
will be given in the finding of the
state board or the petition hled bv
Mrs. Rupel 10 is the contention of
the petitioner and those directly in
terested with her that the water de-
parment OF the board of public
works has maintained arbitrary
rules that have been "a hindrance TO
the enforcement OF health rules anG
sanitary conditions. especially i'm the
sparsaIy settled sections of South !
Bend. i'm fact the petition is the out /
growth of that contention.
Tn its answer 10 Mrs. RupeTs pc
titiOn the city through the water
board declares that it has not re-
fused. but has offered 20 make i'm /
~tallation petitioued for con the
same basis on which an new install
latiUas are being and have been i'm
stalled without Discrimination This
basis is the principle objection of
the petitioner who declares that the
payment Of 10 per cent OF the cost
Of the main. required of the prop
erty owners. IS not only unjust but
merely ruling of the board with a
View OF saving money rather that
giving public service.
I'm stating her views OF the matter
this afternoon Mrs Eupel asserted
that her petition is based upon the
rights of herself and other residents
of lower Ewing av. 20 have city
water now that the wells I'm that
vicinity have been dried up because
of the Bowman sewer. she declares
that inability to get water is de-
preciatiug the value ~ property iu
that district