The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-18
HINkWATERDEPT.
SHOULDHAVEFUDD
AGAINST RAINY DAY
Citizens Discuss Water Sup
ply Situation at City
Hall.
THEY GET THE FACTS
Town is Rapidly outgrowing
Its Water Supply sys-
TEN.

At two o'clock today in the City
building citizens of Fairmont were
given an opportunity to express opin-
ions regarding the water works here,
The question which city directors feel
must be solved very soon is whether
the present water works shall be left
inadequate for the needs of the peo-
pie or whether some arrangements
shall be made toward laying aside
enough money from now until four
more years shall have elapsed SO that
a $4,000 water plant can be made an
asset to Fairmont. Twelve years is
said to be the life of a water plant
and the present one has but four more
years before it reaches old age ana
more or less uselessness. Already
many complain that It does not do the
work necessary.
City directors now in charge say
there remains nothing to lay aside for
a new plant aud that they feel the wa:
ter tax should hnot only take care OF
present expenses but also provide Tor
a new plant when that becomes abso-
sidtely necessary.
Recent repairs on the water works
have placed it in good condition but
the time will come when these will
not handle the situation properly. Di-
sector of Water Clyde Morris, is very
modest about expressing opinions in
his new position but he is willing this
afternoon TO place before citizens OF
Fairmont the figures which he has and
he wishes as he puts 1t better bust
ness men than myself.-those who
have had experience with such mat
ters or similar ones, to look them over
carefully and say whether or not they
are satisfied with matters as they
now stand"
Directors Morris says he would like
to do something for the city of vital
nature before his office expires and
he feels that something should be done
in time to care for the future.
The true condition of :iie water sit
uation was divulged to the public at
today's meeting and the crying need
for sufficient funds to solve the mu-
nicipal problem. was expressed with
out endeayor to misrepresent in any
way what actually existed.
There are said to be 1857 water me-
ters in the city today with many pay
ing flat rates besides. Over 500 per-
sons are paying a rate Of so cents a
month with an expense to the city Of
IL cents on each meter for reading and
keeping it up. 1t is reported that per
sons do not object to paying five TO
seven dollars gas bill and from three
to five dollars electric light bill each
month but they seriously object to a
heavier water bill.
1t was represented at today's meet
ing why it was necessary to pay a
larger water tax or face the future
without an adequate water system.
Plans for the raising of water rates
were discussed after it vas shown that
the present rates only met the ex.
penses of the water department with
nothing remaining.
A continuous deterioration and de.
probation in the water system Is felt
by the city directors to deserve addi.
tional funds in the treasury to coun.
teract this state of affairs. With
population increasing and need for a
perfect water system, it is felt that the
time has arrived for the matter to re.
ceive serious and thoughtful consider
alton.