Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-09-06
CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS THE
BOTTLE co. OWNS UP

Some weeks ago the Leader published
what was startling news to some of
our citizens, when we told of the three
million gallon daily leakage" exist
ing in the city water works depart
ment. We also stated that it was al
legged that a discovery was made of
i tapped fire hydrant and a large size
water pipe leading from thence into
the plant of one of NeWark's largest
manufacturing industries. We, at the
time, mentioned no names, and the
article caused universal comment and
was the occasion Of much speculation
as to the identity Of the guilty party.
This same information was in pos
session Of two progressive CD daily
papers published in Newark and was
also known to the correspondents of
outside newspapers, but for some
reason, best known to themselves,
they maintained clam-ike attitude
regarding a matter which was of
vital Importance to every taxpayer in
the city. The Leader has its opinion
as to the cause of the silence, as we
presume have also many of our
readers. As further details of the
matter develop the Leader will at
tempt to give its readers the story,
impartially and faithfully.
1t is now generally known that the
American Bottle Co. has acknowl
edged that water has been used for
some years past which was supplied
by two pipe lines connected with the
city mains, to which they claim was
attached meters to measure the water
consumed. One Of these was a 4 in.
and the other 6 in. pipe. According
TO the company's admission the meter
on the 4 in. line has been out of re-
pair for period of at least three
years.
1t is said that shortly after this al
legged tap was discovered a bill for
$4,000 was presented to the Bottle
Co. for water illegally used, and that
the payment of this bill was refused.
From perfectly reliable source it is
learned that as recently as Thursday,
August 20, representative of the
Bottle Co. met with the representative
committee Of the city council and an
offer made to compromise the matter
by the payment of $6,70748, which
the cOmpany's representative claimed
was the amount due on the water
consumed during the period in ques-
tiOn. Of course the offer to pay this |
very small proportion Of the amount !
actually due was not accepted.
Tuesday morning the Bottle Co.
filed an injunction suit to restrain the
city from shutting off the water
Judge Fulton, after appending the
minimum bond of $1,000 granted
temporary restraining order.
Among other things the petition
states that the plaintiff has it's own
pumping station using water from |
wells and the North Fork of the |
Licking river which at times supplies |
their need entirely and other times
partially. The petition further says:
Without consent or knowledge on
the part of the plaintiff or of any ex-
ecutive officers of the plaintiff, some
person, unknown to the plaintiff, made |
a connection with said line running |
to said No. 9 factory so that city
water has been from time to time
passed through such connection and
been used for industrial purposes in
No. factory The amount of water
so used, this plaintiff does not know
and cannot state, but since such con-
dtion became known to plaintiff this
plaintiff has made tests, both by
meter measure and avoirdupois weight
to learn the amount of water so used
and has estimated the value to be