Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-02-15
CITY WATER SURVEY PROPOSED
CITY COUNCIL MAY ENGAGE EN-
GuNEER FOR THAT PURPOSE
AT NEXT MEETING

GINEER FOE THAT PURPOSE
AT NEXT MEETING
With the city water franchise hav.
ing but year left to run, the city
council is taking up the matter Of
making survey Of the water system,
with a view of either purch ,siag the
water power plant and system or max
ing another contract with she Wator
Power company at the expiration Of
the present contract. Such q survey
would cost the city $1,000 to 8, 500
and before the council takes any ac-
tion along this line it wishes to give
the people Of the city an opportunity
to express themselves in the matter.
A meeting Of the council was held
at the city hall Monday evening. at
which Professor Frederick Bass Of the
state university was present, at the
request of the council. He was told
of the conditions here, and was asked
as to what the cost of such a survey.
would be, and how soon it could be
completed.
Mr.. Bass stated that it would first
be necessary to take complete in
ventory of the plant and system to ar
rive at fair basis in determining the
valuation. He said that it would be
hard to determine the valuation at
this time on account Of the war but
the prices have dropped some, he said,
due to government regulation. He
then went on to describe how the val
uation may be secured, telling of the
different things that have to be taken
into consideration.
Among the improvements mentioned
by Mr.. Bass which would be of adj
vantage here and really are necdea;:
were storage plant, where surplus:
water could be kept for emergencies;
an increase in the size of the mains;
a clarifying system, pumping station
on the East side, and possibly d filtra-
tion plant. He suggested that the;
city 20 on meter basis entirely, say
ing that this would not only save wat
er but would mean an actual saving IN
cost to the public.
Professor Bass stated that if he were
engaged for the survey he could hand
in report that would saffce, by the
first of June. The cost would be from
$1,000 to $500, he said.
City Attorney Cameron said that now
is the time to get this survey, He
said that the cost seemed rather large
but if equitable rates could thus be
obtained it would be worth while, and
he expressed himself as favoring the
citv's going into the matter at this
time.
alderman LaFond expressed himself
as in savor of making the survey. Al
derman Hall did likewise and he add
ed that while there may be no direct
results from such survey as fur as
a saving was concerned, IL might tenA
to bring about an elimination cf
waste, but before taking any action;
he said, the matter should b. explain
ed to the people to see if they want it.
Mayor Bergheim spoke in favor "f
the proposition but ho expressed him
self as desirous Of seeing the council
take it up at once by passing rc3' .
luton at this meeting. He said he
thought that as far as the cost of the
survey was concerned this was very
reasonable.
T. G. Gordon of the Water Power
company favored giving the people a
chance to have say in the matter.
He said that when the report Of the
engineer making the surv'.y comes in
that does not mean that the report
will be acceptable 70 Tn, tcnlany ard
that it would not cri5ici.: it, if it
considered any portion cf the report
unfair or unreasonable. AS to the cost
Of the services of Mr.. Bass he said
he believed that the price was very
nominal.
City Attorney Cameron thought that
the company ought to help pay the
cost of the services Of an engineer Tut
to this Mr.. Gordon replicl that he
would not care to hire an engineer to:
gether with the city a. he believed
this would be unwise as it might cause
suspicion among the citizens. City
Attorney Cameron then said that the
company ought at least to farnish
men who are experienced to open the
mains for the engineer. Mr.. Gordon
said that the company would be glad
to do this and that it would help tc
spend some money in other ways but
not to pay the engineers services
If the company were to do this, ne
said, such expenditure would BE- charg
ed against the system as an asset and
would have to be paid for by the citi
zens anyhow, in the profits.
George Kiewel was called upon to ex
press his views and he expressed him
self as favoring the survey but he tos
thought that the matter shoull be de
layed until the citizens had been Civ
en- chance to have their say.
The aldermen agreed that it woulc
be best to delay the matter and tt
give it publicity, so the city clerk was
instructed to advertise it in the loca]
papers. Another meeting will be held
on next Tuesday evening, Feb: 10, tt
take action in the matter. This is OF
vital interest to the citizens and all
who can should be at the meeting.
At the suggestion Of the state board
| Of health the city health officer was
authorized to purchase a book fo1
keeping a record Of various diseases
existing in this city during the year.
| MARRIAGE LICENSES
Marriage licenses have been issue6
n ~ 1on nac