The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-07-31
BROW COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER
A TINE FOR ACTION.

The time for action has arrived in
gard to securing water for the city
of Heppner. The Common Council
has gone to some expense in getting
surveys, estimates, plans and speci-
fcations from a reliable engineering
firm, dealing with a gravity water
system which would be installed on
the left fork of Willow creek.
The report is most complete and
figures given with the drawing in
estimating the cost of the project.
With this report in their hands, the
mayor and councilmen are ready to
walk forth and place before the peo.
pie of Heppner, a bonding issue. If
the bond issue were to be voted on
tomorrow there is not a question in
the world but what it would be car
ried overwhelmingly. The citizens
of the town have been long suffering
and have put up with dilly-dally tao
tics Of the Heppner Light B Water
Company until the limit Of endur-
ance has been reached. Mr.. Gates
himself admits that the company has
failed to fulfill its contract, because,
as he says, it would be impossible
to get an adequate supply Of water
from the present deep wells" He
offers the excuse for this shortage,
that the company was unable to seek
a greater water supply owing to the
uncertainty Of the situation. That
is, the company was up in the air as
to what the city might do in regard
to a bonding issue and a new water
proposition.
1t is true that Mr.. Gates must be
considered by the city in whatever
initial move they make toward get
ting a bigger and better supply Of
water, for he holds the present fran.
chise in this town. The city has an
equity Of $4,000 in the water plant
of the Heppner Light & Water Com
pany. 1t is also under contract with
that company for its water supply.
If the water company and city can
not come to terms on the purchase of
the water plant, then it will probably
be up to disinterested engineers to
make a valuation and let the city and
the company abide by that valuation.
Now it seems to be the concensus
of opinion among the people OF
Heppner that it would be best to buy
out the interest Of the Heppner Light
& Water Company in the water
works and let the city 60 about put
ting in its own supply system. Mr..
Gates and his company have gone
along for years and up to this time
no satisfaction has been received as
regards the water situation. 1t seems
to US that if Mr.. Gates and his COM
pany ever did really have the well
fare of Heppner at heart, they would
have made more strenuous attempts
to get an unlimited supply Of water
a long time ago. There never has
been anything in the way to hinder
this progression. But no, the COM
pany seems to have been satisfied to
go along year after year, taking its
toll from the citizens here, with
never care to future supply, in fact
at times it seemed as tho they had
lost all responsibility as to present
needs. And then the company talks
of what they can do if forced to do
it. That is not the spirit that we
want to foster in Heppner and we
have no better opportunity than right
now to get into the water business
on our own responsibility. Its a
shame that any town must depend
upon water in commercialized
form. Water is a God-given element
that every baby, boy and girl, man
and woman, and all the lower forms
of animal life as we'll, must have il
to promote life and health.
The Heppner Commercial Club
has appointed a committee to NEE.
and confer with the mayor and men,
bers Of the council as to proceeding
on this important water question. We
know that they will 90 ahead with
the business in hand, only with a
view as to what will be best for our
city. Whether they decide to deal
with Mr.. Gates on the new water
proposition or whether they decide
to get entirely free from him, the
people Of Heppner are unit in back
ing them up for greater water sup
ply for the town. The whole future
of the community is wrapped up in
the water question. Its successful
solution will insure the towns future,
as a thriving community and a place
where people will enjoy life and
comfort.