Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-04-06
Ig[Mhe Mtnhieatur+
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 6. 1877.
Local.
CHICKENS ON THE BLOW PIPE.


EXAMINATION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF
WATER COMMITTEE.
On Friday night last with full Council,
President Fultz in the chair, gave the sig
nal to go on in the investigation of states
ments made by City Engineer Donald AL
len touching the competency OF Superln-
tendent A. W. Smith of the water works.
The examination was prefaced by Chair
man Evans of the Special Water Con nit
tee recalling Engineer Allen to testif, on
an important point.
sMr. Allen,'' said Mr.. Evans looking
the witness square in the eye, Elm your
evidence last night you spoke about some
chickens in the pump house. Mr.. Smith in
his communication says he had.only bought
them the day before. Did they seem to
have been there longer than a day p
Mr.. Allen-They seemed to have been
there two or three days. That of course
is merely an opinion. They bad been roost-
ing or the blow pipe.
Cross examined by MI. White-I can't
say the exact time they were there, though
think it looked as if they bad been there
two or three days. 1t might have been
longer or shorter. don't want to be held
down to that opinion; of course it is mere
ly an opinion.
MIR. EVANS ON THE STAND.
Mr.. Evans, one of the jury 10 try the
case, was then put upon the witness stand
about o'clock and remained there under
examination until nearly midnight. He
gave statement of his entire connection
with the water works since they COM
menced operations. The points made
against tie Superintendent were that he
had said he knew how to run the engine,
but on the first trial had to say he couldn't
do it. His failure was such that the day
the citizens were invited out Frank Smith
the New York expert said ''Smith couldn't
start it and was damned fool for wanting
to start it before the Council.' Before
the New Y ork expert left he said to wit
ness, "A. w. Smith is not tie enan [
thought he was, but don't think he can
do the engine any harm and if he goes to
work with all lis might he may redeem
himself and make you a good engineer"
Superintendent Smith took charge after
the expert left and in letter written to
New York, afterwards witness wrote that
Smith was getting along very well and he
was very much gratiied. After a while
witnessed noticed difference in the ell
duty. He first observed that Smith was in
efficient in his street work, and then that
he was inefficient at the pump house. Nc
Keever and others said he was not compe-
tent TO do the street work. Smith had
several hands at work, while McKeever
one assistant.
At the pump-house Smith seemed always
worried and fretful. When witness found
the engine laboring, would ask Smith the
cause. On one occasion told Smith the
cause was he was running the engine too
fast, and, On trying, he found that was the
cause. Saw many things that convinced
bin Smith was incompetent. Was so fully
convinced of it that at one time he was
| about to resign his position on the Special
Water Committee, and said to Smith, then,
| that he didn't propose to give him any
| further instruction, but II believe you
| are as willing as any man 1 ever saw, but
don believe you are competent Smith
SAID he hoped witness would not resign
| from the committee. Since the Special
| Water Committee had been relieved by the
| Council, witness, as chairman OF the Regu-
| I.,,. Ny.,tf ha6 Il
any communication with Smith, and re-
| ferred HIM to the other committeeman.
Cross examined-Wit illness is not an en-
| gineer, ami never built, repaired, or ran
one. Had said the donkey engine could
BIZ run little time by vacuum. but had
never said it could be Started by vacuum.
POINT OF ORDER.
Witness was asked if he had ever advised
Il citizen to resist the Superintendent in
the discharge Of his duties.
Witness said he did not wish to answer
that question, because it had nothing to
do with the question, before the Council,
of competency.
Messrs. Abby and Bledsoe protested
against the question being asked.
Mr.. White insisted ON his right to ask
it. but President Fultz oyerruled it.
Mr. Todd-ThenI suppose l can appeal
from the decision of the President
President FultZ-No, sir, you cannot.
Mr.. Todd-A member Of the Council
cannot appeal from ruling of the Presi-
dent to the members of the Board?
,,1t ~,
| ton, Mr.. Evans, tG save time
Mr.Evans then SAID that on the night
of Monday week, few minutes before Mr..
Harrison made an assault on Superinten-
dent Smith, Mr.. IL. saw him near the
Council room, and asked about whether
off without notifying him. Evans
told him Smith had not the right
Mr.. Evans here read from sec. "a Of the
water ordinance passage, which he said
required Smith to notify citizen before
proceeding as he had donel. Witness said
he advised Harrison not to assault Smith,
Cross examined-The boiler was thought
to have been burnt before Smith took
charge the engine. Witness could not say
that the engine had Teen broken in any
way since Smith had it. Smith could start
the engine now as we'll as any man he ever
saw start it, bnt did not underst and the
relative working of it. Whenever the en-
CINE would work badly Smith attributed it
to the trash in the valve. Trash was found
in the valve when it was opened. The
pipes of the springs were covered with wire
netting, and with proper attention trash Of
any size would not get into the pump we'll.
4 Lo ],