The courier-index., 1917-10-05


 matter. some members of the city council are beginning to suspect it is modern Pandora's Box, and that a whole regiment of little devils are readv to jump out every time the lid is tilted. Yet with an admirable man. ;fasfation of superb courage and intrepedity the custodians of the city's welfare seize hold of the ir- ritating subject, and at Tuesday nights session they all but settled the issue.
 Before Mayor Dupuy called the meeting to order, Alderman R. L.. Nixon said he wanted to make statement with reference to the water situation He took issue with several statements made in an article nrepared by Hugh Nixon, D. S. Hummer and J. B. Daggett, repre- senting a body of property owners who are opposed to the sale of the water plant to the Arkansas Light G Power Company The article in Suestion was published in the Cour- ier-Index of October 21. In the same issue committee representing the council, had a statement giving a short history of the water situa- lion. MT. Nixon denied that the city was ever under any financial obli- gation to the water district for hy- drant rentals, as was claimed in the article published by the citizens committed He also denied that un- der the contract with the Arkansas Light & Power Company the city obligated itself to pay $25 a month to the company for hydrant rentals. He said the contract in fact called for s25 a month for flushing sewers, and that to guard against some future charge for hydrant service, the council committee in drawing up the contract decided to insert the word "Hydrant" in this particular section in order to protect the city against a charge for hydrant rentals in the future.
 Later in the session of the council the question of circulating petition among the property owners in order that the question of selling the plant might be disposed of. was again dis cussed.
 Aldermen Max D. Miller and D. S. Clark thought the council was honor bound. under it's agreement with the light and power company, and in the face of the recent publish ed announcement that the petition would be circulated, to at once em- ploy responsible person and let him put the matter up to the people MT Nixon said he felt quite sure the light and power company did not want to purchase the plant: Aldermen Harris and Smith thought It was a waste of time to circulate petition in view orthestrong oppo- sition that had developed and in view of the further fact that both MT Couch and MT. Longino, of the light and power company, had stated they did not want to purchase the plant if even minority of the property owners opposed the sale.
 At this juncture Alderman Nixon caused to be read letter he had recently received from MT Couch, the president of the company, Tn which rates were quoted for pump ing the city water in the event the district wanted to take back the water plant Following the reading of this letter, MT. Miller moved the mayon employ someone to circulate
  nished the second for the motion Upon roll call those voting Tn the affirmative were Aldermen Clark and Miller; those voting in the neg ative were Aldermen Smith, harris and Isaacs Alderman Nixon decln- ed to vote. The motion was de- clared lost.
 The mayor then instructed the water and light committee, of which Alderman Nixon is chairman, to confer with MT. Couch and make a settlement with the Arkansas Light & Power Company under the terms of the contract, and to confer with MT Couch about furnishing power to pump the water until such u me as the water district desired to make other arrangements, If in fact It ever cared to do so.
 The letter from MT. Couch, when will no doubt be read with much m- with the water controversy, IS as terest by all who have kept in touch follows:
 Pine Bluff, Sept. 26. 1917 MT. R. l.. Nixon,
 Marianna, Ark
 Jar MT. Nixon:
 E7 Please refer to your conversa'ion with MT Longino repardlng ra.es for the operation of the city pump We have what we term a whoiesale power rate which we have maue " our largest consumers, such as .ne Philadelphia Milling Co.,, some or tne cotton mills and the water company at Paragould. The rate IS as ioi' lows:
 First SO hours of Max. Demand o' per XVIII. Next 120 hours or Man M Demand 4c per XVII. Next T7, z1' hours of Max Demand 2c per hWli All in excess of APO hours MaH Demand 1c per XVII. less the io' lowing quantity discount:
 First $50 of monthly bill lV pc cent; next S150 of monthly nlii q per cent; next $20O of monthly Di, 30 per cent. next $40O of monthl bill 40 per cent; all in excess r m