The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-24
OFFICIALS OF
WATER CO. TO
COME TO CITY
Judge Flannery to Meet City
Commission During Early
Part Of May
CONTRACT DISCUSSED
Phases of Water Question
- Informally Placed Before
Commissioners

The city commission was informed
last night by President A. r. Len
hart that Judge George f. Flanncry
of st. Paul and associates desired to
meet the members Of the city com
mission here sometime after May
to discuss the Bismarck Water Sup
ply company question. The COM
mission was asked to fix q date on
the last day Of the week because Of
Mr. Flannery's cuties at the trust
company of which he is president.
The commission left the matter of
fixing a date to President Lenhart.
1t is likely the conference will be
on May s or Maybe
The water question was brought
up by Gen. +. A. Williams, Il former
member and former president of the
city commission, who said he was
defeated for the council 30 years
ago when he ran on platform of a
municipality owned water plant. Gen.
Williams, appearing, he said, on his
own motion, asked the city commits
sion to have published in pamphlet
form the extended franchise and
contract the city has with the Bis
marck Water Supply Company, say
ing it had an important bearing up
on the question the citizens were to
vote on.
Would AVOID Friction
He said he had no objection TO
acquiring a municipality owned wa
ter plant, and that he had always be-
leved that as long as the plant
was in private hands there would
he friction. He said he wished the
information published because citi-
zens ought to be informed on the
matter.
Commissioner Thompson said that
it would be of no avail to publish
the contract, that the railroad COM
mission had broken every contract
the city had with every utility. He
suggested public meeting at the
Auditorium where all sides of the
water question would be discussed.
There was informal discussion
about the franchise, which was ex-
tended on May 26, 1915, by the city
commission for nine years from
May 2G, 1926 to May &c, 1895. The
franchise contained contract for
hydrant rental, for "a hydrants. The
city now has over 20. Mr. Williams
said there was question as to
whether or not, if the city built a
plant, it would not still have to
keep up its contract with the water
company for the "a hydrants until
1895. He said, of course, this was a
legal question.
The opinion wss voiced from the
commission that if the bonds were
voted on May ID the cicy commission
would be free to act, either in build
ing new plant or acquiring the
present, but if they failed the door
would be closed altogether for years
to come, and nothing would be done.
Include Power Plant Bids
The commission formally instruct
ed the city engineer to include in
specifications an ofI-burning engine
power plant for furnishing power
for pumping water. A representa-
tive of the Fairbanks Morse company
which sought to place a bid had
gone to Minneapolis to consult the
company's Office there and specifi-
cations would be presented next
Monday night, City Engineer Atkin-
son said. Bids for the new plant
are to be received May %.
A petition was received from a |
number of people living in the west !
part of the city, asking the COM
mission to enact an ordinance pro-
hibiting the keeping and maintain
ing of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep,
goats, etc. on their premises within !
limits as follows: Beginning at the
intersection of Mandan avenue and |
N. P. Ry. Co., north to section line,
thence west to intersection of Sec
tion line and Griffin. street, thence
south to intersection of Griffin street
and N. P. Ry. Co., thence south
easterly, following the northermost
boundary of said right-of-way to
point of beginning. The petitions
and draft Of an ordinance were
submitted by City Attorney O'Hare
in lieu of action taken by the COM
mission last Monday night, direct
ing legal steps to prevent erection
of the Schneider barn near the
swimming pool, the city attorney
expressing the opinion the city could
not legally stop the building until
it should become nuisance.
A petition was received from %
people living near 22l Seventh street
south complaining of condition of
premises occupied by Peter Reinick.
The city health officers was instruct
ed to take action.
Sidewalk Bids
Bids for cement sidewalk work for
the year were received, VIM. j. Nog-
gle being awarded the contract as
lowest bidder. Bids were: VIM. j:
Noggle, cement walk in place 18 3-4
cents per So. it,; earth excavation
80 cents per cub. IT,; earth filling
rs cents per, cub. IT,; relaying tile
walk, 80 cents per 81. yd.; straight
Continued on page three)