Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-23
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FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH %. 1877
THE WATER WORKS' HOSTlLIrIEs.

|
| LATE FRACAs-ATTENPT TT SUSPEND
| THE s.! PERINTENDENT--T MATTER
| OF COMPETENCY TO BE SETTLED,
| SC, &C., &C.
at the City Council, Tuesday night,
all the members were present except
Messrs. Bagby and Burke. and
large number of spectators had con-
gregated to hear the report Of the
committee on the recent assault by A.
w. Smith, superintend Of the water works,
upon j. 3. Evans, chairman of the Special
and Regular Water Committees. The
| Committee in their report stated that they
had limited their inquiry to the assault
only, and reported that it was ''unprovok-
ed and unjustifable, and deserved the sever
est censure Of your body" A motion was
offered by Mr.. Larew that the report be
received and filed.
A SUSP aNSION INSTEAD OF A CENSURE.
MI. Fultz, member Of the Special Com
mittee. moved, as d substitute for MI. La
rew's motion, that the report be received
and filed, and Superintendent Smith be sus-
pended from office for three months. This
motion was pretty nearly equal to ex
pulsion from Office, as the superintendent
term of office expires list July. Mr.. Fultz's
motion fell Though by the folio wing vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Fultz, Abby, Witt and
Bledsoe.
| Noes-Messrs. Powell, Todd, Bye:s, La
rev and Weller. 5.
| Mr.. Evans did not vote.
MI. LareW's motion for the reception and
| fling OF lhe Commit tee 5 report was then
slilop, ed.
INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPETENCY OF
| THE SUPERINTENDENT.
| Mr.. Abby said he she ult ask to be re-
| eyed from service on the Special Water
ommittee. He thought the man who was
aiming the engine was doing 1t good
zeal Of injury.
Mr.. Todd called Mr.. A. to order, as there
vas nothing before the Council.
The following communications we e then
read:
OFFICE CITY ENGINEER,
March Sd, 1877.
70 the SpectcI Water Conn1ittee:
| 0ENTLEMl3N In reply to u resolution OF
fered by MI. Il by, March list, 1877, in the
following words, to Wit;
That the engineer lie Instructed to eX-
anime the pump house aud engine, and re-
port the condition of the same to this com
hittee on Saturday next, beg leave to
present the following: On the same Gay
| list March, the resolution was passed. L
visited tue engine house and WAS much sur
prised to find everything pertaining &c the
neatness of the house ard The condition OF
the machinery in such disorder. believe
| the engine had been used the day previous.
Both rooms, the boiler and engine, were
dirty, and the floor OF the engine roam,
which is intended to be kept polished, be-
| ing an oiled one, especially 50; the WAITS
| cOting In the same r0OAn also being splash
ed with the dirty water used III Wlping up
the floor at some previous date. Tie wal
nut tagging covering the cylinders, was
covered with dust and oil. And the sides
Of the well were also very dusty In the
boiler room | found the same state OF
things, with the addition Of some chick
ems which had been fed III the room. Tie
stone-door step Of this room has been chip
ped considerably by carts hauling coal, be-
ing allowed to back against it, A condl-
zion OF things entirely unnecessary and to
which attention has been called On q pr
vious occasion. | am almost ashamed tC
report the condition l found the pumping
engine 1t was covered with dust and OH
and gum, the Drasses beginning to turn
green and the Oil cups all ruunlLg over, and
| everything ab Ut it showing utter neglect.
| This was the Same case with tine smaller
pump in the boiler room. There can beno
Reuse for tie ngine room and engine Ill
it, not being as clean and well kepta3 one's
parlor should be, rs there is 10 dirt 80 come
in this room. No one ever SAW a lOcOm0-
/ tive come out 0f tie round house here with
I any dirt or oil on any part OF it, left from
d previous trip. And surely, with a piece
OF stationery machinery exposed 10 no dirt,
the excuse for its condition can be far l. SIS.
[ think on the sc, re of decency, steps
should be taken 10 have everything per
tanning to the water supply OF the city
present as attr ctlve AL appearance as
possible. And certainly the lasting OF tue
| bulldog and machinery will not be de-
creased by such mode of arrangement.
1t does seem to me that with three men to
look after this work, and only pumping
| Two DAYS out Of seven that a better state
of thing should exist.
| had no means, nor am L suiflclently an
expert to state the condition OF he engine
further than appea IA ces go, as IL was hoG
| working. But safe rule is that "a good
| workman will not leave his tools in such
! condition when he is through With them
| as [ find this engine. And l am frank to
confess my confidence in the management
| Of the whole machinery is in no way in
creased Ivy III, inspection Thursday last.
Steps Should at once be taken to correct
| the trouble pointed out and by asystem of
| rigid inspections. Should these fail 10 pro-
duce the results desired then there but
one help for the whole trouble, which
| should he applied without fear, favor or
| prejudice, and as soon as you are convinced
| the works are not under the proper man
| agement, as the interests are too costly and
important to be put in Jeopardy by either
| want of ability, OF neglect on the part Of
the party entrusted with the care OF them.
| DONALD ALLEN,
| City Engineer.
! REPLY OF SUPERINTENDENT SMITH.
| CITY Council of Std1nton
! GENTLEMEN understand that COM
| plants have been made, that the engine
nas not been kept in proper condition as to
| cleanliness. In regard to this [ wish to
say, that since haye been in charge OF the
! engine l have never been furnished with
any waste, although / have repeatedly ap
| piled to Mr.. Evans. chairman OF the com
| mittee for it. Everyone at all acquainted
with machinery. we'll knows that it is
simply impossible for an engine to be kept
clean without waste. Mention has been
made Of chickens being iii the house. tits
true, That on the day She committee called
there were two small chickens in the boiler
room; they did not belong there, however,
having been purchased by me the day ore
vious Of a countryman, and | forgot to
bring them away, it being late when left.
ALI ask is, that I be furnished proper
material, and | promise it shall be III good
condition at all tmes-and | would be
pleased to have members of the Council
call and inspect the premises frequently.
Very Respectfully,
A. w. SMITH.
Superintendent. |
A motion being made, that the Presi-
dent of the Council aD,Djnt a committee |