The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-04-29
PARIS CITIZEN PROTST WATER
RATE INCREASE

PARIS CITIZEN PROTST WATER
RATE INCREASE
Spurred by repeated protests
against the proposed increase in wa
ter rates insisted upon by the Paris
Water Company, a large and repre-
sentative delegation of Paris citizens
and taxpayers gathered in mass meet
ing at the court house, Tuesday
night, to give voice to their protests
against such increase.
The meeting was called to order
oy Mayor E. B. January, who was
made chairman. A set of resolutions.
published below, condemning the
water now furnished by the Paris
water Company, as impure, un-
clean and unwholesome, and, at
times, wholly unfit for human con-
SUMPTION" was read by Charles A.
Duncan. Speeches were made on the
resolutions by Hon. e. M. Dickson.
representing the Paris Water Com
pany, COlude M. Thomas, Edward H.
Corey, president of the Paris Com
mercial Club, DR.. F. P. Campbell.
Mayor E. B. January, Judge George
BattertOn, D. C. Parrish and Rev. w.
E. Ellis. Mr.. Dickson gave resume
OF the Paris Water Co.'s business
since its Incorporation in 1890, con-
Guiding with the statement that the
present request for an increase of IS
per cent. In rates was due to the fact
that the Water Company could not
continue to furnish it's services to
the people of Paris at a loss. Mr..
Thomas spoke in the interest of bet
ter and lower rates and service for
the people of Paris, bringing out
clearly the fact that there was on
clause in the old contract between
the City of Paris and the Paris Wa
ter Company which specified that we
were to have pure water" and that
the city had been unable to indict the
Water Company because of the lack
of that clasue in the contract. Mr..
Thomas placed himself on record as
being wholly and unreservedly in ia
vor of municipally-owned water
plant.
Mayor January gave resume of
efforts made to have the Water
Congratulated, and gave extrects
from letters received from surround
ing towns telling of lower rates in
existence there than in Paris for the
same service. DR.. Campbell stated
that during his administration as City
Health Officer of Paris he had had
many reports from the State Health
Department to the effect that the
water furnished people OF Paris was
UNIT for human consumption. Judge
George Batterton spoke decidedly in
favor of the city owning and Oper-
ating dts own water plant, and ex
planned the possibility Of the city
issuing bonds for, a portion Of the
construction cost of such y plant. and
along lines of bond issues. = ID. &C.
Parrish favored the municipally-own-
ed water plant in a vigorous speech
to that effect. Rev. Ellis and 3D.
ward H. Corey made short talks
showing the extreme impurity of the
water. Mr.. Corey speaking especially
from the viewpoint of the Louisville
Commercial Club.
Upon motion of Hon. Claude M.
Thomas, seconded by DR.. Frank M.
FAIRIES, the resolutions read by Mr..
Duncan, were put to the vote by the
Mayor. their adoption being taken
BY a unanimous vote. The resolu-
lions follow:
THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOLVED
by the citizens of Paris, in mass
meeting assembled, this April rs,
1921:
That it is the opinion of this meet
ing that Paris is in need of an en-
tirely new water works system, and
we pledge our united efforts to sus-
tain any action on the part of our
municipal authorities having in view
the building and equipment of new
plant to be owned and operated by
the City of Paris.
RESOLVED, further, that the
Mayor and Council be requested by
this meeting to take immediate steps
to ascertain the cost of installing such
plant, with mains, powerhouse, fill
tration plant, and all necessary ma
chinery, and that, if in the judgment
| of the Mayor and Council, such addi-
tional action may be necessary, re-
port of said investigation be made to
the chairman of this meeting who is
hereby authorized to call a meeting
of the citizens of Paris for action up
on said report. This meeting of citi-
zens, however, gives assurance to the
Mayor and Council that it will ap-
prove, endorse and sustain any &C
ton taken by the said Mayor and
Council having in view the securing
of an ample supply of pure and
wholesome water for the citizens of
Paris, at fair and reasonable cost,
RESOLVED, further, that we now
in advance approve any legal action
to be taken by our municipal author
tiles in, sustaining the rights of our
citizens as against the Paris Water
Company, and will furnish ample
proof even to sustain an action by
the Acknowledgement to forfeit and
revoke the charter, powers, franchises
and privileges of the said company,
! as is by law nrnyiTIed