The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-01
CITIZENS CALLED IN

CITIZENS CALLED IN
Failing in these negotiations, the
water controversy was considered by
the board of directors Of the Asso-
citation of Commerce, and upon its
suggestion a citizens committee, was
appointed to confer with the city
commission and to help determine
what course should be pursued with
reference to the municipal water
supply. This committee consisted of
A. w. Lucas, P. C. Remington, Fl. j.
Duemeland, DR.. N. o. Ramstand and ].
P. Sell. It was determined to pro-
ceed with the construction of COM
plete water works system. The
plans of the city engineer called for
filtration plant, reservoirs, pump
ing station, and complete distribu-
tion system. The estimated cost Of
such complete system was approxi-
mately $70O,00O.00. It was deemed
advisable to raise portion of the
cost of the system by the sale of
bonds. At this time it OF course was
not known whether the system would
fhave to be constructed entirely new,
or whether negotiations would be
trecpehed with the water company
for the purchase of it's property. The
city commissioners therefore sub
mitted to the voters, on May IA,
1923, the question of issuing $685.
10000 Of bonds for the purchase or
construction of complete water
works system for the furnishing Of
supply of water to the inhabitants
of the city. .s
Bonds Authorized
"The bonds were authorized by q
very large majority. It was deter
I. mined to pay for the remainder Of
the cost of the water works system
by levying special assessments upon
the property benefited. The statutes
! of this state expressly authorize the
levying Of special assessments fol-
the construction and erection Of q
pumping station, settling basin, fill
tration plant, stand pipes, and water
towers, reservoirs and other contri-
vances and structures necessary fol-
, complete water works system, and
F, for the purpose Of laying. extending
improving, enlarging, relaying or re.
placing water mains. A statute also
expressly authorizes the levying Of
special assessments for the purchase
Of a water works system, the same
as for it construction new. The city
commissioners advertised for bida
for the construction Of a complete
system, and received such bids in the
early part Of June 1928. Upon re-
! ceipt of the bids, contracts were
awarded, and while this action was
in progress, Geo. p. Flannery. of St
Paul, the president Of the Bismarck
Water Supply Company, together
with Pierce Butler Jr., an attorney
! for the company, and guardian Of
one of the heirs of the Alexander
Mckenzie Estate, came to Bismarck
J and reopened negotiations for the
! sale Of the property Of the water
supply company. As q result Of
these negotiations the city commits.
sion entered into an agreement fol
the purchase Of the plant, on June
10th. 1928, for $2e5. 100000, the en-.
tire amount to be paid in cash
within ninety days from the date Of
J, the purchase. There was no reason
At this time to anticipate any diff.
Guilty in securing the funds with
which to make the payment within
the ninety days. The plans OF ths
! city engineer immediately were re-
vised 80 % to permit Of the use Of
practically the entire system Of tn.
/ Bismarck Water Supply Company. !,
was decided, however, that in view
OF the, unsatisfactory condition Of
! the water, the filtration plant shoult
! be constructed. the necessary new
pumping equipment secured, thai
power for doing the pumping shoult
be furnished by the city, that to SO
cure adequate fire protection. an ad
| ditional main should extend from
| the old reservoirs to the city, thai
/ to secure more satisfactory servic.
in the city, the so-called dead end'
& Of the old system should be united
and that extensions should be. mad.
to those parts Of the city Whef,
there was pressing need therefor
The filtration plant. together Will
the pumping machinery and the pow
& er machinery determined upon, wal
I to cost approximately $260OO0.0 90
The pipe lines and extensions decid
ed upon made the aggregate cos
Ebrice Of the new system planned no
i to exceed $3.50, 900 90. That the plal