Graham guardian., 1921-05-20
Explanation by Receiver
of Local Water Company
To THE LIGHT AND WATER CONSUMERS

To THE LIGHT AND WATER CONSUMERS
OF Stafford:
q The purpose of this communication
is to bring about better understand.
ing between the Water Company ano
the users of light and water, as well as
to show to the people Of Stafford the
value and necessity of light and water
plant in the town. Due to circum-
stances over which we have no present
control. condition has arisen which
now requires the best efforts and the
entire cooperation of taxpayers, con-
sumers and the company or the town
may lose its light, if not its water
plant. For this reason the receiver APP
pointed by the Court TO take charge OF
the affairs of the company feels that it
is time to take into confidence all those
interested and to attempt to bring
about an adjustment of affairs that
will take care Of the interests of all.
Due to a water supply that under
present conditions is limited in amount
both because of inability to furnish
proper means of conservation and of
DEVELOPMENT, and because of the great
cost Of properly serving compara-
lively widely scattered community, the
water service has been subject to
much criticism, some merited and a
great deal that is not merited, since
the company has done all within its
power to furnish an adequate service
in the face of great difficulty. Since
the receiver has taken charge of the
affairs of the company, considerable
number of persons have been found
who have used water for years who
have never been on the books of the
company nor paid for the service;
others have been found using water
for irrigsting gardens and using it
wastefully in other ways, conditions
that the present water supply will not
permit if all users are to have their
reasonable supply of water. As to the
light service: This has not been salts
factory, and cannot be made satifac-
tory under present equipment. But
this fact does remain, that Stafford
CANNOT AND MUST NOT BE
WITHOUT LIGHT AND WATER.
and can and must work in harmony to
secure adequate facilities and supply.
We cannot 20 back to kerosene lamps
and salty well water. M.
So let us look the situation fairly in
the face and see what can be done.
The company has become indebted to
an extent of about sixty thousand dol
lars, this indebtedness is all valid in
debtedness. and great part Of 1t is
local and owing to our own people. 1t
is an indebtedness that must be paid.
Suit has been filed against the COM
pany by one of the larger creditors,
in which suit practically all the other
creditors have joined. either as defend
ants or intervenors, and the property
must ultimately be sold under execu-
tion to meet these debts due. But suits
at law are expensive, sometimes long
drawn out, and fair adjustment is al
ways better than winning lawsuit.
Further than that, questions of prior
tiles and rights of liens have arisen
among the creditors, with the probable
result, in case any large creditor is ad-
judged to hold valid lien upon the as
sets Of the concern. that the smaller
creditors will be cut out, and lose their
claims. There seems to be disposi-
ton on the part of some, both credi-
tors and prospective purchas ers, TO let
tbs property go to execution and buy il
in at nominal cost. At least to buy il
and operate the water plspt and let the
light plant go. We are satisfied that