Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-07
Slightly Personal.

regret to have noticed that there is con-
siderable feeling on the subject of fire engines
and that in the warmth Of the contro-
versy, resort has been had by certain par
ties to falsehood and Misrepresentation
For instance, it is stated that have assail-
ell the Cincinnati steamer as "a dutch,
sauer kraut machine" and have spoken
disrespectfuly of its owners on account of
their nationality. / hear that their agent,
Mr.. Foote, is circulating report of this
kind, and in that way seeking to create
sym pathy for the Ahrens machine, by ap-
pealing to German prejudices. New, want
to say to this man Foote, and to all others
who are repeating the assertion as stated,
that they are telling what is not true, and
that the person does not live who ever
heard me make any such remark as that at
tributed to me. In the first place do not
entertain any such feeling towards the
Ahrens machine, or the gentlemen who
manufactured it, and in the next place, if
did, hope have more sense and dscre-
tian than to give expression to such senti.
ments. | think am not generally account
ed fool, and certainly should deserve to
be were | to speak in the manner indicated
The day after the trial of the engines was
asked by Mr.. Eugene Wiggenhorn, to 5 ign
petition fer the purchase of two steamers.
declined, as | had a right to do witho ut
any liability to be lied about nd maligned.
And if it is the least satisfaction to Mr.:
Foote, or to any one else to know Why
was, and am, opposed to the purch ase of
two steamers, I will say that it was because
the Cincinnati machine had proved 40 Ut
ter failure in her tests here, having become
disabled threei mes aud rendered unfit for
duty. | remark ed 10 Mr.. Wiggenhorn, and
| say now, that l consider the machine
poor affair, and that was opposed to pur-
chasing it at any price. need not elabor-
ate her short comings as compared with the
Silsby machine, for they were observed
hSiC ~ 'hOuo"uuo WIN WktucSSCu uHE uG-
tects and breakdowns, and her entire in
capacity to do what was advertised A
machine which makes mncemeat of her
valves and destroys them by the score, as
did the Ahrens, and becomes SO easily and
frequently disabled, as she did here in her
two days experiments, is a dear purchase
at any cost. had still another objection
to purchasing two machines, and hat is
the inability of the city to do so, first be-
cause OF its financial condition, and second
ly, because it would be illegal Will not
stop to quote from the charter, but the pro-
penditure, as the city fathers will find if
they undertake to foist upon the tax-pay
ers debt of this magnitude. 1t is well
known that the Board of Street Commits
sioners last year did not purchase an en-
CINE because there did not seem to be any
way TO pay for it. We could see no method
then for buying one machine and keeping
within the limits prescribed by law, but
now the proposition is to buy n OF only one
but two. And this suggests the enquiry or
rather superstition which l would like to
have answered by some advocate of the
purchase of two machines: Suppose::the
Sisby had made three failures and come
out of the contest crippled and defeated,
with unanimous report of the committee
of experts against her, would there have
been any talk about the purchase of two
steamers then? In my opinion there would
not.
Many other considerations might yet be
presented, if were to discuss generally
the merits of the two machines, but they
do not come within the scope of this com
munication, which was simply to defend
myself against unjust attacks. expect the
lying about me will go on all the same, but
this will serve as gentle reminder to those
engaged in it that they have no justi6ca
ton, and that they are knowingly employed
in very disreputable business
J. T. MOAB.
WATERFOWL, June 5th, 1876.