The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-19
CITY WATER
QUESTION is
UP ONCE MORE
City Commission Discusses
Matter and Decides on
s265,ooo Offer for Plant
ASK FOR AN ANSWER
Action Follows Lengthy Dis
cussiOn of Various Phases
OF Problem

lengtn, the matter being raised by
President Lenhart who said that
there were many good people of tn
city demanding that steps be taken
to settle the matter and that they
looked to the city commission to do
it. He said the commission ought to
consult the city engineer and then
make an offer for the present plant.
This opened a discussion which
ended in agreement to offer the
company $265,000 for the plant. The
water plant has been variously val
ued at from 100000 to $500,000 on
the cost of reproduction and histori-
cal cost plans by engineers. The
commission once before made an Of
fer of s225,O00. City Attorney O'Harc
told Geo. P. Flannery, administrator
of the Mckenzie estate some months
ago, that he would recommend 9
$25O,000 offer if the company was
disposed to consider it. Mr.. Flannery
intimated that the plan was valued
at about s450,000.
A method of financing the pur-
chase was not considered beyond the
inclusion of the idea that warrants
bearing percent interest should De
taken by the company.
The city engineer said his valua-
ton figure stood at the same place,
about $225,OO0. He produced figures
used in one of the rate cases which
placed the value on May l, 1922, at
1921 900, less depreciation. This was
on cost of reproduction of the pres
ent plant.
Wants Action
Commissioner Henzler said that
considering the cost of the sewer the
city was putting in south OF the
tracks he didn't see how the mains
coNld be laid through the city for
such figure, and it seemed too
low. There was then some discus
sion of the method proposed at the
time the building of new plant
was considered.
Mr.. Lenhart again remarked that
people felt that something ought t.
be done to settle the question. Com-
missioner Henzler said he thought
the commission should have started
long along.
Commissioner Thompson said, to
get something definite up, he would
propose an offer Of 100000 for the
plant, saying this would be giving
$4,000 for the franchise. He remark
ed that it would take 100000 more
to make good plant.
Commissioner Larson said that II
the plant were taken over it would
be necessary to connect up dead-end
mains which he said retarded circu'
lation of the water. He said with this
done filtration plant would not be
needed for some years. Commissioners
Thompson remarked if there was not
filtration plant the use Of chlorine
would have to be continued. Com
missioner Larson thought that but q
little would have to be used If there
was settling basin at the foot OF
the hill. -
Commissioner Thompson said the
water company held the cards and
that the trouble was caused when
, the franchise was extended. he also
said he didn't think the city would
get any cheaper water.
Mr.. Lenhart said that this might
be true. He said he looked over the
Fargo budget year or so ago anu
saw they had in $165,O0O or $175,0Oo
to be paid out of general taxation
for the water plant. Mr.. Thompson
said the property owner got soaked
under the plan used there, and the
transient got water cheap, that the
water rate was low but the water
taxes high. =
commissioner French said he was
willing to pay waht the plant was
worth. Commissioner Henzler said
he had had in mind $250,0OO. Mr..
Lenhart said that the owners OF the
water company were business men
and ought to be able to deal IN a
fair, business-like way. Mr.. Ihomp'
son remarked the company had al
ready turned down a $225,OOO offer
and it didn't seem much use to re-
new it. Commissioner Larson though.
100000 was too high. Mr.. Lenhar:
expressed the same idea.
All the commissioners wrote 4
nrice on separate sheets of paper
and four of them read $250,00O. After
some discussion it was decided to
make it s265 900. A resolution was
drawn incorporating the Offer TO
he sent to the officers of the COM
pany, and reply requested by jan
uary 8.
The railroad commission valuation
and rate fixing order probably Will
be handed down next week.
Report on Gas
A report was received previously
from the city engineer on the gas
pressure. Mr.. Atkinson sald on !he
10th "the plant was in full operation
and working satisfactorily and fur
nishing gas up to the standard re-
CURED by the board Of railroad COM
m;ssioners." He said the failure on
the 10th and 11th was due 10 re-
nuired shut down of one OF the
benches on account of bad bed OF
clinkers in the fire bed. Before the
bench could placed in operation the
gas stored at an adequate pressure
He said it was apparent that IN
crease in consumption Of gas SINCE
tho plant has now reached a point
where it is necessary to increase
. the equipment of the plant in order
that good service be maintained.
1t was reported that electric lights