The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-10
CLEANING OF
RESERVOIRS
is REFUSED
Head of Bismarck Water Sup
ply Company Won't Correct
Condition of the Water
WANTS CITY TO PAY
Commission Flatly Rejects
Proposition, Declaring It's
Water Company's Business

The city commission, In special
meeting last night, declined to agree
to pay for the cleaning of the water
works reservoirs, holding that the
plant still is the property of the
Bismarck Water Supply Company
and that it is the duty Of that COM
papy to provide the city with pure,
wholesome water as long as it is get
ting the revenue.
The proposition was first brought
before the city commission last Mon
day night, when representative of
the company locally said that they
were anxious to have the reservoirs
cleaned and had suggested to George
p. Flannery, St. Paul, president Of
the firm, that the company and city
divide the. expense, estimated at
$3.50. The local representatives view
was that the city had been expect
ed to take over the plant August l
but had not done SO because OF de-
lay in getting money from bonds and
the city would In all probability take
over the plant September /; that the
benefit of the cleaning would 60
beyond that time and it was fair
that the expense be divided.
The matter was continued, how
ever, until Mr.. Flannery had an
swered local officials of the water
company. His answer was presented
to the city commission last night. 1t
was that the city had taken over the
plant-insofar as future improve
ments are involved-when the agree
ment to purchase was made in June
and that therefore the city should
bear all the expense of cleanin)s the
reservoirs.
Reject the View
The city commission flatly reject
ed the view. Mayor Lenhart said
that the reservoirs had not been
cleaned for one year. They were to
have been cleaned last October but
were not because, company officials
said, the water was so high and mud
dy that It would be useless. They
were not cleaned after the June rise
this summer because, company off,
cials said, the June rise was follow
ed by other rises. Recently the riv-
er has gone down so that the reser4
voirs could be cleaned, company Off
cials said. It was admitted that
there 10 great deal of mud in them
and they ought to be cleaned.
The city commission assumes the
expense Of new connections and sim
liar improvements to the present
plant which will continue after the
city owns It, Mayor Lenhart said, but
the city won't pay out money to clean
the reservoirs since the cleaning al
resdy is long overdue and it Is q
part Of the everyday operating ex-
pense Of the company, which is get
ting all the revenue. ....,-
The answer Of Judge Flannery was
disappointing to local officials.
Health Board Order
e. M, Stanton of the state board
Of health has issued an order to the
water company to clean the reser-
voir4 Whether this will be done is
undetermined. Meantime the in
junction Of the city health officer to
continue boiling the water continues
and it has such a great turbidity as
to be Objectionable to people using
it. ~
The city officials hope that the de-.
cision pf the supreme court in the
bond case may come soon, or that
other action may be taken, 80 that
the city can take over the water
company by September I. Its con-
tract to take over the plant expires
September 8. &
The commission also. in its special
meeting last night allowed estimates
Of the Woodrich Construction Com
pany and DeGraff Wolff on work al
ready done on the additions to the
water works system.
Il also ordered down to grade that
portion Of the sidewalk on the north
side Of Second street between Broad
way and Thayer streets that is not
now down to grade, leading from the
new Hughes building north. The
city pays Tor bringing sidewalks
down to grade.