The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1920-01-06

Acquisition of the water and light ing systems by the Town of SewatA on a betterment of the service, was the keynote of a communication ore sented to the city council last night by Mayor F.. F.. Chamberlin.
 After the communication was read a motion was adopted that the Mayor appoint q committee of two to report back to the city council, after the special committee had conferred with S. NJ. Graft, of the light company, and H. V. Hoben, of the water company. ! The mayor appointed Councilman Lr. cas and Horner on the committee.
 As shown by the commitment IT, the citizens would, at a special cleo ton vote on the proposition of the city acquiring the two systems, or even one of them, then If the scheme was adopted, the delegate in congress would be asked to submit to Congress and secure permission to bond the city for certain sum of money to be aScd in acquiring the system or systems.
 The communication of Mayor Ch"m- berlin was as follows:
 Numerous complaints have bren made to the mayors office against the Seward Water and Power Com pany. and the Seward Light and Pow CT Company, by reason of the poor service, by citizens who patronize both companies, and by business men who suffer loss and inconvenience in having no light service two or three times a year, obliging them to 1iaintain two lighting systems.
 After a careful investigation of the conditions existing, have come to the conclusion that the Seward Water ana Power Company is, apparently, not n condition to extend malns, and im- prove the water service so that wate" car be obtained by many now want ;ng service. Owing to the recent cold snell the water pressure was down to 42H lbs, not from shortage of wateg, but from neglect, and lack of atten- ton, to keep the conduitS and reSer- voirs in condition to allow water to enter them freely, thus endangcrine the town, should fire break out, by not maintaining the plant in propr' condition at all times.
 The Seward Light and Power Com rany, by not providing, as promisHh lorg ago, an auxiliary power plan1 for emergencies, is out of commission two CT three times each year, causing it's patrons to suffer a loss, besides paving a high rate for the service, and the company's refusal to install meter system.
 These conditions will naturally re- tsrd the growth and prosperity .; Seward
 find there is only one solution 't these problems; the last Territorial Legislature passed an act allowing municipalities to own and maintaLl their own public utilities, such a2 lights, water, and telephones, but faii- ed to provide any means Tor incorpcr- ated towns to bond themselves, to create an indebtedness, to build ol purchase such utilities.
 I believe it is unfair for the pio' neers of Seward, who nave suffered many reversals, from various causes to be obliged to pay for the luxuries that those who come later will enjoy will, therefore, recommend that tho Common Council call for specla election at date fixed in February and submit proposition Go the voters and allow them to decide whether ev isting conditions shall remain as the! are on own the light, water and tele phones.
 Shall the Common Council, by re solution, ask Congress, through ou doleqatn. to mass an act allowing th' city to issue bonds in the sum of on(