The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-09-29
CITY GETS WATER
AT FAIR PRICE
PAYS $150 PER INCH FOR SUP
PLY SECURED FROM C. ANDP.
RAILROAD.

AN-AA
At special meeting of the city
council Tuesday night the matter of
securing a city water supply came up
for consideration, when it was found
that three bids were to be offered for
the sale of this necessity in all we'll
regulated cities. These offers came
from the Gilmore and Pittsburg rail-
road, the Citizens national bank and
Harry Kelly, representing himself
with 20 inches and Ernest Long with
Is inches, total of 35 inches. The
railroad offered 1857 inches and the
bank rs inches. 1t was determined to
reject all these bids and ask for others
at a meeting called for the following
night when the railroad people came
down to bed rock in the offer of the
same water for $3.50 per inch, condi
toned upon the proposition that the
city should extend its present four
inch main to connect with the rail
road station and supply 2 inches of
water for the railroads use. The esti-
mated cost of this extension was plac-
ed at from 1000 to $1,000. The actual
cost of the water thus furnished the
Icity would be $7,6S4.50, plus the cost
of the extension. The other bids were
as follows: Bank $3.50 per inch with
reversion of secondary rights now held
by the city, at total cost of S26, 6,250.
! The Kelly bid was dollar less than
that of the bank, with reversion also
to Kelly.
After full consideration of the bids
| it was unanimously determined that
the railroads bid was the best and
entirely acceptable and accordingly
was accepted. w. N. Bickler was pres
ent to present the offer.
Twice in the last year or two efforts
have been made to acquire sufficient
lunfailing water for the uses of the
city, the proposition to vote bonds for
1.-The purchase having twice been voted
down. The best on these occasions
was $500 an inch as presented by
w. C. Smith and conditioned on a
trade in of second right water to lower
Ithe price somewhat but to nowhere
near the offer of Bickler, not even
| half as good for the city. And so there
has been luck in leisure in THIS IN
stance of buying water.
Mr.. Bickler told the city fathers
that he would order immediate trans
fer of the railroad water to the city
RESERVOIR and that it might be paid for
at the convenience of the clty,wlthln
year or so,whether by bonds or war
rants. 1t is known that the city desires
to avoid the expense of another cleo
ton which again might fail to carry
and there may be a way out in the IS
suance of some other form of security
to be given the railroad. The city at
torney and Mayor Brown are already
working out the matter and Will act
in the premises as soon as the pest
plan can be agreed upon.
1t is certainly matter for general
Icongratulation that the city has been
enabled to secure an unfailing water
supply after all and at a cost less
than one-half than that heretofore de
manded. At the same time 1t IS mos
gratifying to find a corporation. 50
public spirited as the G. and +. mas
shown itself to be in this instance,
| II IS stated that ample water for the
railroad lands may be secured IRON
the Salmon river at cost not to eA-
lceed the price of its Jesse creek water
$50 nobody is worse off in this transac'
tion. ,oo,
Under the terms of the present dea
the only expense incurred by the CITY
lies in providing the main to carry
the water to the railroad station, the
abroad retaining ownership of the
water to be supplied for Its use. -.
| It is estimated that a saving .. ::
at least $4,000 is thus effected II
taking up withe this offer rather thal i
consummating the deal two years ago