^/- a ^ ^t^^. \^ |S>1': '• '^-"^"^ ^. • * ■^-•f , - . * * ICMH Coiiection de microfiches- (monograpliles) Canadian liwtitut* for Historical IMicroraprpductl^/ Inatitut Canadian da microraproductions hittoriquaa rr: Ttchnical and Bibliographic Notat / Notat tachni<|uai «t bibiipgraphiquas iW« f Tha Instituta hat attamptad to obtain tha bait original copy availabia for filming. Faatura* of this ei^py which' may ba bibliographically uniqua. which may altar any/ of tha imagM in tha raproduction. or which may (ignif icantly changa tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. a Colourad covars/ Couvartura da coulaur Covar titia mining/ ! titra da couvartura manqua □ Covari damagad/ Couvartura andommagia □ Covars rastoraid and/or laminatad/ Cou;■ >%> ' /■ -->y- STy^TEMcNT From THE Directors of any In Reply to the Resolution of the City Council passed / . / November 1st, 1897. ' When in the vean 1880 and 1881 it waa proposed to have a ayatem of water works built for the town, now Citv of Stratford, tho municipal authorf- ti«a were aakod repeatedly to ttUce the works in band or Join with those, whpit seeing the need, were ready to risk th(eir money in the enter- prise. To this irruposilion ^b«y al- ways replied in the negutive. The •orporation, however, grunted a per- petual franobise, with plenary powers to the W4ter Company in their char- ter Incorporated umler the name and style of "The Stratford Water Sup- ply Compaq," and as an enoourage- m«nt to tha company to proceed with the works, giving ten years of tax ex- emption, takina a lease 'or (n term of years of the fire hydrants, and en- lemd into an agreement for water for street watering ovAr defined areas; with sewer flushintf, etp. The works were incsrporated in the year 1881, and were opened in (Vtober, 1888, aiid have nev^r been stopped' a day during tliese fourteen years. At tbe time of building the works and for several years after they had been working, It was found very diffi- eult to get men to put sufficient money into the cuturprise for- its re-' Quirements. The Subscrii>tion books lor stock remained open for years, with few caring tb risk their money in ^.he venture, and some of those who did thinking their money almost lost. By January! UBS, only 1^21.075 had been subscribed and paid on stock aoeount, with liabilities already incifrred in- eluding that to stookholders to dou- ble that amount. Something then ' had to be done, so that year (1885) the •ity guaranteed the company's loan for 140,000, which formed a first mort- gage against the works (o extend fif- teen years, that is to A. D. 1900. The proceeds of the new loan were used in paying off borrowed capital and in ex- tending the malnb and fire hydrants. In January, 1887, while the paid-up stock ol the company wiis only |22,720, we had expended un capital account the sum oi |71.21S, and in the fol lowing t4)n years, that is^ from' Janu ^^ t is. f; lg ft 7 area' being that covered by the then' by-lijfcws of the city. 'Two yea^s ago an extended street watering area was agreed upon, on the nominal yearly extra charge of 9i00 per an- num, for which ihre« extra stand- pipes were to be erected, which was done, and the extra area has now been covered for two ybars and tax«*n jpald in for it, yet for this work the payment is withheld as alleged on the advice of the solicitor. These are facta that the company keep in mind, and if the object of ttie corporation representatives in going to the Government was to vex, harass or Ty the directors Sf' the company, ve full confidence in the love play in the Government to be ty to such action, and look for irotection of the Government aiid fPiamentin guarding us in our Just rights and in the Just reward ofour energy and enterprise. They say they are in earnest now in wishing, to buy out the Water Supply Compiiny. Does it not look as if they were more in earnest to obtain them without a fair price by trying to get the Government to depreciate their value -by changing the terms of our franchise under the coriditlons of which every stockholder acquired his stock and holds it to- day? in the early months of the year 1807, and at the request of the City Council, a provisional offer was made of the water works for the very moderate sum of flUO.OOO, which, from notice received by the Council some months later, was declined. They cost tu build more than we asked for them ; they pay a fair revenue on their capital cost ; it is a giood property, and with fair play \h carrying on the •werks from the, city authorities, it ought to bsar a g~o«d return on a much 'larger expenditure on capital account than ^B yet been made. The com- pany ond no wish to part with the works at the figure quoted, but if the city wished tu acquire them at the prioe and so expressed by u vote of citixens taken for that purpose, the di- rectors of the Water Supply Com- pany would have done everything in their ^power to have completed (he mTcrtirmuniotpai owjiwilrrp: were the MTorks for sale, and weref we deal- ing with outaMle pajrtiea, there wn cuntinuuua, till now we have a duplicated plant' thruUKfaoul, having now six engines and three builers, the two large pumpijlg engines having a coiubinetl ojtpacity of pumping 5,000,- (100 gallons |)er day, and boilers equal tu 200 hurse imwer i-uoibined. We have elev(.< the banks of the Avon then^ are sev- I eral large springs, three spring lakes, j w;hich with spring rivulets and the I river Avon all go to form uur^ source of ! water supply, which is conveyed ' through in. s(one and gravel filter, then by Ifi inch Akron tile pipe totwo <' small sett ling basins, then to two ' wells, from which it is pumped by our force nuiiin^ through the city. The " settling liasins and wells are cleaned of sand and the river and reservoir of drift leaves and weeds, the mains flushed and the river policed with IK>sters, circulars and post cards, warning all in the neightborhood against in any way defining the water. We have also had a constable patrol the riv«^r whenever wu had nny^aua- .■*.:' 1 Coinpany inoreaaed the paid-up stock, all Issued at par, to the tull extent ot our ciMirtAr, 160,000; and expended on oapital account during that decade thai sum of 188,000. making our total capi- tal expenditure to January, 1807,8104,- 812. But having written off 19,000 of this for deprecuttion and to make the plant better value for the capital exiwwded, the capital expended represented in, ^ur annual statement countant, acoordli went over, the ptotort that offf warulitgA . Wei^ being unheeded. The water supply in quantity has proven tu be lunple in the dryest sea- sons experienced, and the price reaN ised for the total water pumiied by the year is only a fraction ov« Thla ymm done becauae. while tbe paroflt bad beem made, the money i^a reauir- ed for capital exMndLture. Oountina cash amd atook divldenda, they botn equal 6 per cent, per annum to the ■tookholdera ainoe the money wa« paid In on stock accounts Ht Is possibls on hydrants; debt 9(iu,uuu; city paya lor fire protection $3,190, and tdr other purposes 91.247. total 94,437. Guelph, 10,539 population; works cost 9150,000 ; has 18 miles of mains and 120 hydrants. Ingersoll,. 4,191 population; works cost 9100,000 ; with 7 ^liles mains and 80 hydrants. St. Thomas, 10,370 population; works cost 9150,000; debt 9120,000; revenue 913,000. Woodstock, 8,612 population; water works cost 9158,5.'»2, >xith 20 miles ot main, 128 fire hydrants ; revenue from consumers 97,00>), from town $6,735, and deficits to be met from the general taxes. These excerpts are taken from the "Manual- of American Water Works, 1897.»* It has been the aim of the directors of the Stratford Water Sup- ply Company, while having regard to maintaining the sound financial basis of the works as a commercial enter-, prise, to so run the works aS would best provide for the health and welfare ot our citizens and patrons. We still aee posaibilities of improvement and await the co-operation and encourage- ment of the Mayor and aldermen of the progreaaive oity of Stratford that these may be attained. The position ot matt e ta^lMing a a regard a t h e an a b ot matt e ta„ b e ing a a regard a t h e gu j M::^ fty, the quantity and the price of the water furnished the citizens of Strat- ford, that there has been a oontinuXiua observance in fulfilling the public duty charged in so far as they were ohairged when the act ot incorporation waa created to anpply the city and inhabit- ants with water. t Mod Niiler Mf 60 . JOHN OORRIE. President. Btrattord, Deo. U, 1891. _ tay, ^, anu a a an e noourag e- to the eempany to proceed wTyi arks, giving ten years of tazez- tn e v i ov e rnm ft nt was \o vn^^piiriiss o r ""le directors of ih''b'r^ctiDn of the Government and Pa/uament in guarding us in our Just rfghts and in the Just reward ufour enenry and enterprise. They say they are in earnest now in wishing to biiy out the Water Supply Company. Does it not look aa if they were more I'n earneat to obtain them without a fair price by trying to get the Government to depreciate their value by chiinging th^ terms of our franchise under the ooliditiona of which every stockholder acquired his stock and holds it to- day? In the early months of the year 1897, and at the request of the City Council, a provisional offer was made of the Water works for the very moderate sum of 9100,000, which, from notice received by the Council some months later, was declined. They cost to buii'd more than w« asked for them; they pay a fair revenue on their capital cost ; it is a good*property. and with fair play is carrying on the ^unerks from the city authorities, it ought to bear d* good t^turn on a much larger expenditure on capital account than ha^%Bt been made. The com- pany had no wish to part with the works at the figure tj^uoted, but if the city wished to acquire them at the price and so expressed by a vote of citizens taken for that purpose, the di- rectors of the Water Supply Com- pany'would have done everything An their power to have completed the transfer to municipal ownership. Were the works for sale, aud weref we deal- ing with outside pertirea, there would be little trouble m disposiug ot the Stratford Water Works for at least 9120,000. The City Council, with a view to purchasing the water works, asked to be alloweoi jk> have an expert examine thfl hooks sjad plant of thrs Mnapany, which wAs |girant«d. «lir. 'sNeff, ao- countant, accordingly weatNyer. the 1)00 gallons |)er day. ami Ixniers equal to UUO burse iiower coiubinttd. We have eleven miles of force mains, with eighty-three street fire hydrants, en- gine and boiler house, coal siding and shed, etc. i > . The sourpe of the main' water sup- ply has received constant attention, and enables us to assert that the water supplied by this comfpany tothe citizens is a better quality than isfur- niahed to three-fourths of -the larger cities of this continent. In confirma- tion of the satisfactory quality of the water we have th^ repeated tests and st.'iteiueoits of the local medical health ' officer, together with the other dis- tinguished medicaJ practitioners of the city. The watershed of the Avon, ia : throughout rural above Stratford and situftted 1,200 feet above .sea level, on the highest table-laind in Ontario. On the banks of the Avon there, are sev- I eral large springs, three spring lakes, t which with spring rivulets and the I river Avon all go to form our source of ! water supply, which is conveyed ' through ,11. stone and gravel filter, thon by 15 inch Akron tile pipe to two snuill settliihg basins, then to two wells, from which it is pumped by our force iiuiiin9 through the city. The settli^ag basins and wells are cleaned of sand and the river and reservoir of drift leaves und weeds, the mains flushed and the river policed with I>ostei's,' circulars and post cards, warning all in the neightjborbood a«ainst in any way defiling/he water. We have also had a coaatable patrol the river whenever we had any sus- picion that our warnings ^were being unheeded. The water supply in quantity has proven to be ample in tbei dryest sea- sons experienced, and the price rerifl-" tied tor the total water pumped by the year is only a fraction ovvr 6o. per 1,000 gallons. fn Toronto there is a revenue of 8c. relilized tor the 1,000 g&U Ions, and in S.t. Thomas 12c. per 1,000 gallons. Originally our tariff was based on that of' London, Ontario, though the/ wnptioo. taking a lease 'or a teem of years of the fire hydrants, and en- /iered into an agreement for water for ' street watering oyer d'efined areas, \with sewer flushing^ etc. T|ie works were incarporated In the year 1881, and were opened In (\;tober, 1888, and' have never been stopped a d&y ibiring these fourteen "years, f T' At the time of -building the works and for several yeuiii after they had been working. It was found verv diffi- suit to get men to put sufficient money into tli« cuturpriss for- its re-' Jiuirements. The subscription books or stock remained open tor years, with few- caring to riaft: their money in thtb venture, and some ot those who did thinking their money almost lost. By January, 188S|, only 921,076 had been subscribed and paid on stock aoeount, with liabilities already incifrred in- eluding that to stockholders to dou- ble that amount. Something then had to b9 done, so that year (1885) the •ity guaranteed the* company's loan for 9*0,000, which formed a first mort- Sg* against the works to extend fif- m years, that is to A. D. 1900. The proceeds of the new loan were used in paying off borrowed capital and in ex- tending the malnb and fire, hydrants. In January, 1887, while tbe paid-up stock ot the company w-as pnly 922,720, we hod expended on capital account the sum of 971,213, and In the fol- lowing t^n years, that is. from Janu- ary. 1?87. to January. 1897, the Water Company increased the paidrup stock, all issued at par, to the full extent at our charter, 9S0,000; and expended (Mb capital accxtunt during that decade th4 sum of 933.009. making our total capi- tal expenditure to January, 1897, 910^ 312. But having written off 99.000 of this for depreciation and to make tbe plant better valUe for the capital expended. the capital expended represented in "ur annual statement CnmAiliincr t.hAn r*. <^ ^. flush! ntf/ — For Ih^ loat y.K.miO. wnicn the coiniwny have expendjd on capi- U\[ account, the return from the city corporation to the company would not pav one and a half iier cent, per annum on'the outlay, and from this deducting the tax we now pay awl from which we were exempt ten ye-irs a«o, itre- duces the return ^o less than fwo- thirds of one per xent. per annum ;. in other words, all the return the city cori)oration makes the company forii capital expandiiure of 932,000, over that given ten yeara ago, will net only flOff per annum. When the General Hospital wanted .water and water had been wanted for ■everal years at Avondale cemetery, the company, to meet both, extend- ed their maimasome 2,500 feet, andiill they got from the city for this waa th»» rent of two fire hydrants; no water hav- ing been used from the company to the eemetery to this dayV though as a poor •ubstitute a windmill was erected to pump to the cemetelr tank and tap the refuse water of the city, where thirsty children, who frequent the •emetety, find aooessible water that, in part at least, is the discharge of the olty sewers. • , . By our agreement with the city in •onneotion with' the street waterltig, the company was to erect three stand pipes, from which the water for street watering putpcMMa was to be taken, the aex^sement aa to street' watering inipaier — irom prAYtt\« vo mumtiyat ^^ia,wu. ownership of water works, an allowance of ten per cent, over values otherwise reaohed, to compen- stite the stockholders for terminating I their investment on behalf of the mu- , nicipality, which in this case would j require 95,000. a.nd by adding these to ] the engineer's estimate, we have a total beyond the figure at which the City Council were good enough to de- cline the works. Because tb6 Water Company.through its directorate, its officers and its staff, has proven a financial success, it Is objected that our dividends are too high and the stock watered. We deny both. There is not a dollar of water- ed stock in the total stock of 950,000. and the dividends were all earned be- fore being declared or paid. Our mortgage or bond for 940,000 forlq^s a first charge against the work* for in- terest and principal ; the shareholders as to dividend and stock, being second, a position which admits of a langer dividend being earned than, would otherwise be posaiible. Thirty-five per cnt. of dividends was paid in stook. at par In ILau of cash dividi&ivds. This was done because, while tbe profit had bean made, the mtmey i^as reauir- ed for capital exmnditare. CouBtina td stock dividends, they both cash am* equal 8 per cent, per stockholders since the money was paid in on stock account. Jt is possible on equal 8 per cent, per aiukum to the Woodstock, 8,612 population; water works cost f 158,5.'i2, \icith 20 miles ot main, 128 fire hydrants; revenue from consumers 97,000, from town $6,735, and deficits to be met from the general taxes. These exctirpts are taken from the "Manual- of American Water Works, 1897/' It haa been the aim of the directors of the Stratford Water Sup- ply Company, while having regard to maintaining the sound financial basis ot the works as a commercial enter- prise, to so run the works as would best provide for the health and welfare ot our citizens and patrona. We still see possibilities of improvement and await the co-operation and encourage- ment ot the Mayor and aldermen of the progressive oity ot Stx'at'ford that these may be attained. The position ot matters being as regards the qual- ity, the quantity and tne price of the water furnislMd the citizens of Strat- ford, that there has been a continuous observance m fulfilling the public duty charged m so far as they were chsirged when the act of incorporation was created to sapply the oity and inhabit- ants with water. niiiSMnlNoierMiCo. JOBDK; GOBBIE. PresidAnt. Stratford, Dec. 18, 1891. ♦*. /• ble that amount.. Something then h»d to be done, so that yea^r (1885) the •ity guaranteed the company's loan for 140.000. which formed a first mort- sase anainst the works to extend fif- teen years, that ia to A. O. 1900. The proceeds of the new loan were used in paying off borrowed capital and m ex- tending the malriu'and fire hydrants. In January, 1887. while the pa"l-uP ■took ol the company was only 9£Z,7iU, we had expended On capital account the sum of #71.213, and in the fol- lowing ten years, that »«. f'on* Ja^^- arv. W87* to January. 1897, the Water Company increaaed the paidrup stock, all issued at par, to the full ext^t of our charter. $50,000; and expended on capital account during that decade the sum of #33.099. making o^r total capi- tal expenditure to January. ^^9],9WAr 312. But having written off #9.000 of this for depreciation/ and to make the plant iietter value /for the capital expemed, the capital expended represented in f^ur t^nual statement ^ ^^ of Jainuary. 1897, i8y#95,312. book8r"accoujita^ vouchers and cop- As regards the development of the I struetion manifests and reported m works, the position/goes to show that substance the sam** figures as that we have gone aa mr and as fast as given in our laat published annual fi- we wer«i warrmhtefl in going, but with nancial statement that tlto works per more encouragement and support from account had cost net #104,S49.w. Six. the city, as prov^ by our offer made Van Buakirk's report, we thinly, found to the Municipal Council in 1896, >»* fault with too much', bttt according to were ready to undertake a new devell his opinion the present value of wo*ta oi>ment ot tbo works, provided it wa^ a.nd business la estimated at #88.37i.Wi. Bvmmetrical aifad put on a reasonable ^ ^The company have these reports only oapital cost; it is a good property, and with fair play in carrying on the werks from the city' authorities, it ouirht to bear a good return on a much larger exi)endLture on capital account than has yet been made. The com- pany had no wish to part with the works at the 'figure quoted, but if the cify wished to acquire them at the prioe and so expressed by a vote ot citizens taken for that purpose, the di- rectors of the Water Supply Com- pany would have done everything in their power to have completed the transfer to muuicipal ownership. Were the works for sale, and were we deal- ing with outside paxtiee. there "would be little trouble in disposing ot the Stratford Water Works for at least #120.000. The City Council, with a view to purchasing 'the water worka. asked to be allowed to have an expert examine the bo(^LS ajid plant of the company, which was igranted. Mr. Neff. ac- countant, accordingly went over the ston<^ and gravel filter, then by 15 inch Akron tile pipe totwo through til )y 15 ii , . sin.-ill settliiug -basins, then to two financial basiS^ '^The offer of 1896 Sroposed an expenditure of #25,000 to 3«L00O, in making the works more efficient and complete, but to this offer we hive bud La reply beyond ac- knowledging receipt of odr communy' cation. It provided for a secopfl force main of large diameter from the pump house, and doubling of circuits xuv »/i/ijii»i*iij ».«•»■« •Mw—— .„r— . — r~ •' through the ^ress. no particulars hav- ing been furnished the company by the Council. If -the published reports are fair to those making them, they lack completeness, in giving but a partial summary of the assets of the conlpany. In Mr. Ncff s rMwrt we have the item intake basin and dams put at #5.507.04 In Mr. Van Busfci^'s report this is pump iiouse, aim uuuuiihk ui v,.**.^."" i x." x.*...- » .w ^-»—^~ - — "^I j #_„~ ffenerallv throughout the city. But put in as of little value, and from without a new agreement providing an increased revenue from the city, it would bo unwise for the comipany to m«ke further rapid expejwliture on eapitul account, their better policy be- ing to reduce liabilities and make pro- vision for nuiintaining the efficiency of the works for all purpoass for which the water works are now • required. The company has not received the return to which it was fairly.entitled - by t he mi leaKeof-inams covered by our fire hydrants, the extended street watered area and the irregular sewcir flushing/ For the last #32,000, which the company have expended on capi- t)il account, the return from the city corporation to the company would not pav one and a half per cent, per annum on'the outlay, and from this deducting the tax we now pay and from which We were exempt ten ye;irs ago. it re- duces the return ^o less than two- thirds of one per .cent, per Annum ;, in other words, all 'the rettirn the city corporation makes the company for a capital expandiiure of #32.000, over that given ten jears ago, >vill net only' #190 per annum. When the General Hospital wanted water and water had been wanted for Kverai years at Avondale cemetery, the company, to meet both, extend- ed their manna some 2,500 feet, and all they got from the city for this was thi» rent of t^vftiire hydrants; no water hav- ing been used from the company to the eemetery to this day. though os a poor •ubstitute a windmill was erected to ?>ump to the oemeteir tank and tap he refuse water of the city, where thirsty children, who frequent the cemetery. find aooessible water that, in part at least, is the discharge of the olty sewers. By our agreement with the city m •onoeotion with' the street watering, the oompany was to erect three stand pipea, from whi«h the water tor street watering pu'rpoMS was to be taken, the a^yaseniBnt aa to street wfttcring. remark made, evidently not appreci- ating that, by having our pipe line and reservoir so far up the river, we were able to keep out all the amber waters of the EllLce swamp nod the washings of the Northern Gravel road. We s&e no account* taken in the same report of an item whioh the company values as one ot their prime assets, the right to all the water in per- petuity that goes to form their water supply, vjhich was acquire by pur- chase and appraise^, easily now at #5,i000. - The statute provides in a transfer from private to municipal ownership • of water works, an allowance of ten per cent, over values otherwise reached, to compen- sate the stockholders for terminating their investment on behivlf of the mu- nicipality, which in this case would require #5.Q0O,' and by adding these to the engineer's estimate, we have a total beyond the figure at which the City Council were good enough to de- cline the works Because the Water Company.through its directorate, its officers and its staff, has proved a financial success, it is objected that our dividends are too high and the stock watered. We deny both. There is not a dollar of water- ed stock in the total stock of #50.000. and the dividends were all earned be- •fore being declared or paid. Our mortgage or bond for #40.000 'forms a first charge agaimst the works for in- terest and principal ; the shareholders as to dividend and stock, being second, a position which admits of a langer dividend being earned than, would otherwise be posaiible. Thirty-five per ont. of dividends was paid in, stoolr at par in lieu of cash 4iTid»n48. This WHS done because, while tba nroflt had been made, the mAaey was reauir- ed for capital expandLture. Xioantins cash amd stock dividends, they botb equal 8 per cent, per annam to the stockholders ainoe.the money was paid In on ■taeig aeconnt^ lit is possibla on OXIIMI ■ ■ C7^1.«^ai>aaca ■hrt.acr* saHf ,v«a'w«a *»', v -•• '- wells, from wnich it" is pumped by our force nmiins t|hrough the city. The settl^ng basins and wells are cleaned of Siind and the river and r,eservoir of drift leaves and weeds, the mains flushed adfid the river policed , with posters, circulars and post cards, warning all in the neighborhootl against in any way defiling, the water. We^bavealso had a consmble patrol ~ the river whenever we had any sus- picion that our warnings were being unheeded. The water supply m quantity has proven to be ample in the dryest sea- t sons experienced, and the price real- ized for the totaJ water pumped by the • year is only a fraction over (3c. per ~ 1.000 gallons. In Toronto there is a revenue of 8c. realized for the 1,000 gal- lons, and in St. Thomas 12c. per 1,000 giitlons. Originally our tajriff was ba;wd ' on that of London, Ontario, though that city, was doing threerlfourtlis .of.^ its pumping by water power. Our tar- iff was revised in the year 1890 in the ~ interest of consumers. In Belleville jwith 0,914 population, the water works 'company has perpet- . uai franchise ; the city pays #7,000 pv ' year -for 10 years for 175 hydrants, and 10 per cent, of cost. of all extensions; has 17 miles of main ; works valued at #200,0i00. Berlin with 7,425 population, pays #45 . each per anVium on 9S hydrants ; it has ten miles of main and works valued at #135,000. Brantford, 12,753 population; works cost #237,598; has 22 1-2 miles of main, 1*77 hydrants; revenue from consumers #14,000. and from city #11.000. Chatham, 9,0.52 population; water works cost #145,000; has 14 3-4 miles of main and 166 hydrants, but no pro- per water supply. Cobourg, 4,829 population ; works 72 hydrants ; debt #60,000 ; city paya for fire protection #3,190, and for other purposes #1.247; total #4,437. Guelph, 10,539 population; works cost #150,000 ; has 18 miles of mains and 120 hydrants. Ihgersoil, 4,191 population; works cost #100,000 ; with 7 miles mains and 80 hydrants. St. Thomas, 10,370 population; works cost #150,000; debt #120,000; revenue #13,000. Woodstock, 8,612 population; water works cost #158,^.')2, with 20 miles ot main, 128 fire hydrants ; revenue from consumers #7,000, from town #6,735, and deficits to be met from the general taxes. I These excerpts are taken from the , "Manual- of American Water Works, 1897.*' It has been the aim of the directors of the Stfatford Water Sup- I ply Company, while having regard to < maintaining the sound financial basis of the works as a commercial enter- prise, to so run tJie works as would best provide for the health and welfare of our citizens and patrons. We still see possibilities of improvement and await the co-operation and encourage- ment of the Mayor and aldermen of the progressive oity of Strat'ford ■, „ * : < " ■ ' ^ ■ ■ 1 '."■■'."■* 1 1 ■ ■ - ■ B ■'■ ^ ■'■'.■". ♦ .; I , . .' , ■■;■,' ■ ' ■ ' •^ '■ - '" ^HJH^H^BHHHHH^HHHHHH^H i^l^Hli ^■^■F: ' ^' /^^^^^^■m .-- '■■- '^^^^^^^^^^^^^L . ^^^^^'■- - '"^'-^ '; ^^^^L^:': :. \ *, ■ ' .' ' . " '■ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^W'' .. ' ^^^^^^^^A k^^i .■. 1^ ^^T''- ' ■ ^^^^^^^^1 ^^^^^^1 ^' ' '"'-'■''^'-,^^ ^^^H ^^B « ■ ■■ 1,' \ 1 . ■« " .V * ■ : -,■■ ■ / ^: ' ' / , ' ' ' V - • ■ / ' .-- .r»«>i- ■ ■ * ■ ' \; '/ ... ■r ! * ■ 1 '1 ', . . ,^-K^ i . ■ . ■ ■ :^-' -•v ■%>■■' K imP