Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-11-29
Rockville
Turns DOlUn
WSSC Water

RockWlle's Mayor and Council
has voted final rejection of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission offer to supply the
city with water from its proposed
line to the Potomac and went on
to award the bid for the water
pipe for the city's own line to
the Lock-Joint Pipe Company of
East Orange, N. j., for SAT, ZIG.
Present at the meeting were
Charles Jamison, newly-elected
president of the county council
and William Mckinney, county
clerk, who had been invited to
study the figures of the city's
engineering and financial advis-
ors on the comparative cost to the
city Of water supplied by the city
line to the Potomac and water
purchased from WSSC.
WSSC had offered to supply
water to the city at the rate of
u cents per thousand gallons I'M
til the completion of its Potomac
line in 1860 and 20 cents per thou
sand thereafter. There was no
guarantee of the amount before
1860 and no guarantee of the
charge after that time.
The figures presented showed
an additional cost of 81, 381, 181 by
1897 for purchasing water from
WSSC. Besides getting cheaper
water from its own system, the
city would own by that date a
$2.6 million plant, which was au-
thorized by the people in ref
erendum in September.
The county council representa-
tives declined to comment on the
figures until they had chance
TO study them but Mr.. Mckinney
did ask if consideration was be-
ing given to selling water outside
the city limits.
City Attorney David Cahoon re-
ported that the question Of the
legality of this proposal was be-
ing studied by the bond counsel.
Councilman John Oxley, in
moving to reject the WSSC offer,
said that his first consideration
was to insure an adequate water
supply, and second, to do 1t in
the most economical manner.
!, Mayor Dickran Hovsepian also
pointed out that Rockville had al
ready been in the water business
for 50 years. Councilman Frank
Ecker who joined in the unani-
nous vote felt SO strongly that
the city should build its own line
that he said, IF we don't. we
should be impeached."
In other action, the council
awarded the contract for water
pipe to be used in '56-'57 construc-
ton projects to the United States
Pipe and Foundry Company Of
Burlington, N. j., for $21, 586. %.
Also, December 8, has been pro-
claimed a DAY of Remembrance"
in Rockville for the people Of
Hungary by the city council.
A copy Of the proclamation will
be sent to Secretary of State
Dulles.
The city's churches are ex-
pected to mark the occasion with
special services.
The statement exclaims that
"our hearts 60 out to the thou
sands of men, women, and chill
dren, bereft Of loved ones, who
died for their country and their
faith"
In another action taken Tues
day night, the Mayor and Coun-
Gil indicated their support for the
Rockville Library Associations
proposal to supply library serv-
ices in the city under a contract
arrangement with the Montgom-
cry County Library Department.
County Manager M. L. Reese
and County Library Director
George Moreland will meet to dis
cuss the proposal today.
At present the city library is
operated by the private associa-
ton and is almost entirely sup
ported by the Rockville govern
ment.
c. d. Gull, president of the as
ISOLATION, told the Council that
under the proposed contract the
county would give the city library
$1,000 in cash and $1,000 in books
and services annually.
The money the city saves under
the arrangement could be used
to rent a bookmobile, Mr.. Gull
said.