The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-01-09
Present Owners Announce They Arc
Ready To Consider Sale Of Property
Representatives Of Mountain States Power Company Meet
with City Council and Discuss Matter-Say Electric
Plant Not for Sale-Many Interested Citizens Attend
and Take Part in Discussion

from the melting SLOWS, there is plenty
Of it and it is easily brought into the
city. However, he said one bad Tea
ture Is that At certain times Of the
year the water carridA considerable
dirt and silt because Of lack Of tilterinx
or settling facilities; also there Is not
sufficient storage facilities to insure
an ample supply at all times.
An Excellent Source.
Reading from the engineers report
he brought out that there is a natural
reservoir site 1000 feet above the pres
ent reservoir, and after considerable
further consideration of the question,
DR.. Cairns stated that what the health
department and the city expect is
the following: A reservoir at the nat
ural dam site sufficient to provide
a supply ample for all purposes; i'm
provernent in the pipe line SO as to
make it safe against any reasonable
chances of breakage and shutting off
of the city's water supply; in view Of
the fact that costs are considered too
high, an agreement whereby there
would be no charge for fire hydrant
service or for sprinkling and reduc-
ton in water rates so that the monthly
charge for serving five room house
would range in the neighborhood of
$3.50. If the company is prepared to
meet these conditions, the doctor
stated the city would be satisfied; If
it is opposed to making such improve
ments and concessions, then the city
council is in favor of taking over the
water, system. DR. Cairns said doubt
had existed at one time as to whether
the city could finance such purchase
but investigation showed finances
could be raised for such transaction,
that in fact the city could bond for as
high as $4,000.
Letter From Whitefish-
DR. Cairns also had letters from a
number of cities that own their water
systems, written in reply to inquiries
from Libby He read the letter from
Whitefish which gave much infonna-
ton as to what had been done in that
city. The letter showed an easy fl
nancing Of the purchase OF the
Whitefish water system a number of
years ago, the enlargement of the sys-
tenn, a substantial reduction in rates
and an easy paying off of the purchase
Indebtedness. The doctor said all the
other letters were of the same tenor.
AT the conclusion of the doctors
remarks, there was little round-table
discussion and then the representatives
Of the company were asked for
statement as to the company's position.
Mr.. Mandley responded and recited
improvements the company had made
during recent years, this in answer to
the statement that very little had been
done by the company in the way of
substantial Improvements since the
system was first installed
Says Many Improvements Made.
Mr.. Mandley said an entirely new
transmission line had been put in, ard
that while it is true the present dam Is
substantially the same as when built,
yet new concrete headworks had been
built and extensions and engagements
of the distributing system had been
made. He said it was of course true
that there was considerable sediment
in the water in the spring but that this
trouble had extended into other seasons
was news to him. He said chlorinat-.
ing system had been installed num-
Der of years ago not only because the
Montana state board of health had so
required but also because the COM
pany's own bacteriologist had SO rec
commended He stated this was done
because of the fact that periodically
the water had shown presence of some
colon bacillus
| Mr.. Mandley further stated that his
company is studying the situation in
order. to determine what could be done
to improve the water; that the
engineering staff is. dated for a visit
here later to see if a settling basin or
some other method can be installed to
do away with the silt trouble.
Mayor McCully then asked if the
company had definitely decided to in
stall settling basin.
Questions md Answers.
mo, cannot say that it has" re-
Piled Mr.. Mandley, "but study will
be made with the object in mind OF
correcting the trouble
i DR.. Cairns then asked, Does the
company contemplate building dam
at the new site and creating reservoir
there?"
"Not at the present time repliee
Mandley.
"Are you at liberty to state. or dc
, you know at this time, what price thu
company would place on its water sys-
temp" asked DR.. Cairns,
) 81 do not know what that figur'
] would be-" said Mr.. Mandley. THE cos
I would be somewhat due to diffcren