The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-11
FINANCING OF
WATER WORKS
IS NEXT STEP
Bids to be Received by Com.
mission Tonight for Bonds
And Warrants
A SEPARATE SYSTEM
>Mayor Lenhart FavOrs Con-
ducting Plant on Separate
Business-like Basis

The city commission will receive
tonight bids from financial firms for
S225 900 of s percent bonds and up
to $475,O00 of 6 percent improve
warrants to pay for the purchase and
improvement of n water system.
The contract for the sale Of the
water company to the city has been
completed, following the agreement
on a purchase price of $265,OOO Sat
urday afternoon. The city commits
sion will use all of the bond money
On the purchase price and as much
Of the warrant money as needed.
Whether the city will issue $475,0OO
Warrants depends on the extent of
improvements.
Contracts already have been let
for the building Of filtration plant
building costing $l08,292.24; install
lation of heating plant, costing ST.
292.00; installation of filters, cost
ing $25075.O0; a total of $3.50 O,559.24
Which, added to the $265,O00 pur-
jhase price, make 1896 ,559.24 in
vcstment for the city. Extensions
Of mains, installation of new pumps,
repairs, etc, are yet to be figured
out.
Mayor Lenhart said today, speak
ing Of the closing of the deal for
the purchase of the plant, 81 am
glad that negotiations with the Bis
marck Water Supply Company and
the city have resulted in the taking
over of the plant at satisfactory
price. feel now that the city is in
position to proceed with all neces-
sary improvements and extensions
End to meet the needs of our grow.
ling city in every way"
A Separate Business
Mr.. Lenhart favors the handling
of the water works system as sep
arate proposition, financially, from
all other city business. This is
done in some cities, although not
generally in Mandan. 1t is probable
that the city commission will send
Il representative to Fargo to study
the methods of conducting the city
owned plant there.
~
take up the proposition of operating
the present plant. There is, Of
course, no plan except as informal
ly discussed among the commission
err. The matter of rates, operators
oil the plant, Offices, etc, is yet to
be settled. While the time for TAX
ing over the plant is not fixed, it is
h., lo,,
the financial arrangements can be
completed. 1t is more than likely
that it will be taken over August /.
Judge Flannery ana Pierce But
len -Jr, left for st. Paul after COM
plating the negotiations here and
Mr.. Flannery signed the contract for
the transfer Of the plant.
Approval Given
Expressions of opinion heard gen.
orally on the streets of the city
among business men and others is
that satisfactory solution has been
reached, and that in taking over the
plant the city commission did the
best thing possible. Payment of an
excessive price was avoided. There
are some who believe the city got
the plant cheap. Taking many
factors into consideration-avoid
ance Of litigation, other trouble,
avoidance of necessity of tearing up
is generally felt that the proposit-
ion was good one for the city.
A sigh of relief Is breathed on all
sides because the long-standing
water controversy is ended. 1t is
considered as big step in remov-
ing the evils of factionalism, and
paving the way for the further grow
tn of Bismarck.
The Bismarck Water Supply
Company has maintained that with
the fight being made against it and
.iate troubles, it has not been able
TO finance additions to the plant.
Many sections of the city have not
received the additional water mains
they believe they should have. The
city, it is believed, will be able to
~provide the additional mains to meet
Nhe needs of the growing city.
p. C. Remington, one of the citi-
zens' committee who advised the
commission in the negotiations, to-
day expressed himself as we'll salts,
fled with the outcome and believed
that it would be big thing for the
city, -. 90
The City of Bitmarck will get
back some of the purchase price in
the payment of taxes by the water
company The treasurer's Office re-
ports that the company owes &c.
5000 taxes for 1921 and $1O,822.36
for 1922, without penalty, or over
$4,000 Of taxes. The company has
claimed it's inability to pay. The taxes
now will be paid and the city will
gat it's share, the county and school
city also benefitting. The county will
of SSurse, lose $4,000 year in the
future in taxes, since the city will
not pay taxes on the plant or on the
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