Baxter Springs news., 1918-03-08
WATER ORDINANCE
PASSES COUNCIL
City Council After Extended
And Exciting Session Pas
ses Water Ordinance By
Unanimous Vote

There were exciting times at the
meeting of the city council last even
ing, and things were undertaken that
may be for everlasting good Of the
city of Baxter Springs. Ordinance
No. 1873, providing for submitting the
question of issuing municipal bonds
to the amount of $s5,000 to the
voters of the city ut the regular city
election, Tuesday April 2, was put up
on its third reading and by suspension
of the rules was passed by unanimous
vote, and now it is up to the people
as to whether Baxter Springs has an
up-to-date water plant, owned by the
city, to serve the citizens and the
municipality.
The council was waited upon by
cimmittee from the Chamber Of Com
merce, consisting of A. l.. Harvey,
Frank Perkins, G. E. Richardson,
Chas. Wells, DR.. Boswell and A. Z.
Pfremmer, with this proposition: IF
the city did not find way to build
and equip n municipal water plant, a
local company would be formed to
build and operate it ten years, then
sell it to the city, if at that time it
desired to purchase, at the then ap-
praised valuation" The question was
argued pro and con for some time,
and much telling developed. All ap-
peared to want the work of construct
ing public serving water plant COM
menced here at the earliest possible
date, but just the best way to go
about it was what seemed to lack
agreement. Members Of the city
council expressed themselves as will
ling to allow Baxter Springs capital
to finance the proposition, if the cit!
could not find way to do it, but
Mayor Wright in an eloquent and
forceful manner convinced the men,
bers that if the city was not to build
the plant, the question Of who would
build it should he left to bids and the
company offering the best terms
should be given the franchise, regard
less Of locality.
After the Chamber of Commerce
committee had retired, the city at
tomey was called on for a legal
ouinion and advised the council that
il could issue bonds to the amount oil
ss5.OOO for q starter, then later on
issue additional bonds equalling 10
per cent of the assessed valuation oi
all Baxter Springs real estate, which
at the present valuation would mean
100000 or more. With this opinion
before them the city representatives
got right down TO business, suspended
the rules, put the ordinance upon It's
third reading and passed it with o
hin and a hurrah. It's the best thing
that could have been done, under the
existing conditions, and if every citi'
zen property owner will get into the
water works booster fight and boos'
with all his might, Baxter Springs
will have a municipal owned plant
before frost next winter.
Besides passing the water works
ordinance the council bought a $ZO'
fire proof filing cabinet in which U
keen the city records and papers, an'
at this one session established al
epoch making record for transactini
important city business affairs tina
will not be duplicated in a long time
The Citizen is for enterprise AM
push. and will back the city admins
tration to its limit when ability an
disposition to do things is evidenced
This newspaper is not disposed .
citizice, when it sees that officials an
alive to a critical situation, and tn
city of Baxter Springs has eertainl
reached that stage when the cit
water service proposition is consider
ed. Now everybody together an
let's have an adequate munieip'
owned water plant and service 9
the earliest possible date.
Council News Notes
At its session last evening the cit
council ordered the north and S0ut
alley in block ? through the Richar'