Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-02-04
DISCUSSION OF
WATER QUESTION
CITIZENS TALK OVER LOCAL SIT
UATI0N AT TIE PUBLIC
HEARING

water system by the city were discussed
at a public hearing before the city
council Tuesday evening. More than
a hundred citizens attended the meeting
and quite number Of them voiced
their opinions and offered suggestions.
1t is not the intention Of the council to
proceed hastily in this matter and no
doubt before the. question has finally
been simmercd down, more public hear
ings will be held.
A. V. Taylor, the Wafer Power Com
pany's superintendent, was called upon
first by President Hall. He said that
at present, the station consists of du-
plex and a triplex pump, the latter
fairly good. In the proposition to the
city these pumps were not included as
they are not considered efficient, since
more modern equipment can do the work
better and cheaper, he said. He then
described the mains, ranging from a
12-inch main leading from the station,
down to a 4inch in outlying districts.
As to their condition, all indications are
that they are in first class shape, he
said. He gave the average life Of cast
iron mains as 100 years and he said
that their life should be longer, as the
soil here is sandy. As to a new pump
ing station, he suggested loop system,
with two large mains from the station,
saying that such system would be
feasible, with the present system Of
mains. For the water supply, the riv-
er water would be best from the stand
point of adequacy, he said, although for
domestic purposes it. must be treated.
Well water is desirable but the quantity
usually is limited and some times mad
equate. There is danger of the supply
from we'll giving out and then there
would be considerable expense for
another we'll. .~
Mayor Berghcim was next to speak.
He said that at present, the water sup
ply in most Minnesota cities is mum
itipal service, there being but six or
plants. He reviewed the developments
leading up to the present situation here
and emphasized the fact that the city
is obliged to have its own water supply
system az matters now stand; The city,
he said, is obliged to furnish water for
health, sanitary and fire purposes, or
lose it's charter. Two ways are. open
whereby the city can make a assatisfac-
tory deal for the plant. One is through
a hoard of arbitration, which would
arrive at q price. The other method
is by condemnation much. along the
same lines except that in the arbitration
proceedings, tho city is bound by the
decision of the courts and in condemna-
tion proceedings, the city can abandon
the action at any time. Should the
plant be purchased, It would be operated
under commission, provided for under
the new city charter. He explained that
the plant can be operated at a profit
by tho city, where the company is un-
able to do so, because the city has
greater power. The city can extend the
service and require residents on streets
along mains to use such service, whereas
the company cannot extend the service
except at the request of the property
owners. Az to purchasing the plant,
bonds would have to be issued. possibly
up to $150,OOO, he said. Mayor Berg
helm quoted Judge Wilson of Saltwater
as saying that the munici pal water
plant there is paying for itself and is
giving very satisfactory service. It
there, he said. Summing up the situa-
tion, the mayor said that the water
mains are the big item to be considered,
but a pumping station must be built
and filtration plant should be put in
to insure supply Of good water. Suffi-
cient mains must he put in to insure
an adequate water supply for the fire
protection, and by so doing much could
be saved on lower insurance rates.
T. G. Gordon, formerly manager for
the Water Power Company, said he was
opposed to municipal ownership, but
since this is case Of the city being
forced into it, the city should own both
light and water plants, and get the
greater profits Of the light service.
He said that both systems could be
handled by the same department or com
mission and a saving would thus be ef-
fected. Speaking of the report by Mr..
Bass on the water system here. Mr..
Gordon said that it would prove
valuable in making negotiations as the
investigation bv Mr.. Bass was thorough.
and fair to both sides, although he was
employed by the city. Mr.. Gordon
urged speedy action in this matter, as
it is serious and very vital to the wcl-
fare of the city. He said that no mum
icipal enterprise should be operated for
profit, az improvements or extensions,
should he paid by bond issues.
P. J. Vasaly expressed himself as fav-
oring municipal ownership of public
utilities and Of operating the electrical
as we'll as water distributing system. He
said he believed the company had taken
the wrong attitude in its dealings with
the water committee, as while price
had been made, the company as much as
iintimated that it did not expect it to be
satisfactory to the city.
> A. F. Kosloskv said the city and the
company as we'll should 90 about this
matter in sensible manner. without a
chip on the shoulder. Every step
should be taken carefully and in the
right spirit, he said.
John vertin said in figuring the v91ue
of the water plant, the company should
consider what it would be worth to
them should it be abandoned. He con.
sidered the price asked by the company
as too high. !
Chas. Sylvester said he was opposed
to municipal ownership of anything.
He believed that the committee had
overlooked the possibility of a private
" operated plant, in its deliberation.
He said that he did not believe service
could be had any cheaper through mum
icipal ownership than private. .
Il Dr.. Newman said that if he had a
proposition that was a money loser, he
wouldn't have any trouble in arriving:
at an agreement with a prospective.
buyer. Il
~ D. M. Cameron said he favored muni-5