Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-19
Ght 3rf( Dress.
OUR WATER WORKS.
The Burlington Aldermen Vote TO
Spend 5000
In Enlarging and Repairing the
Pumping Apparatus.

In Enlarging and Repairing the
Pumping Apparatus.
Doings and Sayings OF III. Board of Al
dcrmen, Last Night.
All the aldermen but MIR. Sibey answered
the table OF $50 bill of the Sherman Ban,
for parade duty and of smaller bills Of Jus
tees Brownell and llaselton, proceeded t.
tackle the water works repairs.- Alderman
Brink stated that he received a report from
Experts Mlingtou and Brownell Saturday
night, and a separate one from Manufacture
Henry H. Worthington, who investigated
through4hls agent Mr.. Root, on the night o.
the meeting It appeared on reading these
reports that they agreed in their main feat
ures, both reports stating that the engines
we're good for another 10 years IL thoroughly
repaired, that there should be two suction
pipes from the lake, one reach pump, instead
of using only one pipe as in the past that
two new boilers should be put in, the chin
ney much enlarged, etc. Mr.. Worthingtons
paper said that the pumping engines need a
thorough overhauing and increased pungers.
at a cost of not over $1,000 then the pumps
would be in safe condition for the present
supply Of 800, 900 gallons per "a hours Both
reports were accepted, but no action was
taken on Mr.. Worthinglon's report, which
recommended that the maker OF the pumps
be hired to repair them, and it seemed from
statements made that this recommendation
was the reason for the other two experts
sending In a separate report. Alderman
Peck moved to adopt the majority report.
Numerous objections were made that
this would commit the board to the course
laid down in the report. In the discussion
following it was generally admitted that the
board would thus be committed in general
policy though, as some urged, not necessar-
lily in detail as future resolutions would be
required to direct the work. Alderman
Alger would be glad to have an additional
suction pipe put in at once as with the pres
ent one We probably haven't been pumping
the quantity that has been supposed. Alder
man Blink objected to adopting the report as
there were some changes in the plan that he
wanted to make. Alderman Ayers motion
to postpone the whole matter to
the next meeting to give time
for consideration of Ithe report was lost by
vote of to 3, and Alderman Pecks motion
like number, Aldermen Alger, Peck and Taft
voting in favor an Aldermen Brink, Drew,
Drury, Richardson, Taylor and Woodbury.
against.
Alderman Brink then produced resolu-
ton directing the treasurer to borrow an
amount not exceeding 10000 TO be placed to
the credit of the construction account, and
providing for the expenditure of $500 of
the money in this way For two new boilers,
$780, for setting the boilers, etc, $1,000
new chimney, $500; repairing the pumps.
$1,000; new suction pipe, 5000 payment for
the motor house and fence at the reservoir,
$0IO; for extra pipe NEW supply pipe in
certain streets, etc. $3.50.
Alderman Peck objected strongly to this
resolution as an omnibus bill, providing for
expenditures thai had nothing to do with the
main object of lettering the pumping facil-
tiles. After six weeks struggle the board
had at last got report giving detail
cd estimates as to what was need
cd to this end, and had shown their conf
dence in the experts by rejecting their report.
The present resolution gave too wide latitude
to The water committee. He didn't suppose
that the committee intended to pocket any Of
the money, but the resolution didn't state
definitely whether the repairs to the pumps
were to be thorough or temporary. There
was no definite statement as to what was to
be done, and he wanted Mr.. Brink to mark
out his policy more plainly.
Alderman Alger followed Mr.. Peck as an
objector, with little more warmth, declar-
ing that the water committee had without
authority run pipes through street that had
not been accepted and probably could not be
through Mr.. Barrows's grounds-and had
built tie motor house and fence
without money aud now wanted the pay.
Mr.. Brink had explained that though money
had once been appropriated from the incl
dental fund for a motor house they had not
been able to get the money because there
was no incidental fund just now. Mr.. AL
ger continued: "Why did they expend that
money without asking for it. What will
they do with this money if it is appropra-
ted? Do you think they won't expend II 2"
MIR. Brink had said tina, if the money was
app opriated as in his resolution it might
not necessarily be expended Nobody
knows, said Mr.. Alger, where they have
spent certain sums which he limited had
been laid out at their own will. He didn't
want to take their say-so as to these repairs
to the pumping machinery. He wanted time
to think 1t over. They ask money without
saying what they are going to do with il.
They know great deal about water works
some of US don't. They come forward in
the same line as a month ago when they
wanted $50, 900. When they have used the
$4,000 they may want $4,000 more to finish
the bill.
Alderman Brink rose to explain the laying
OF pipe through an uuaccepted street, to
which Mr.. A.ger referred, saying that little
pipe that was on hand, $50 or $40 worth, had
been laid through misunderstanding.
The money for extra pipe was then with
drawn from the Brink resolution, and after
m n oh hn nrY .Aria ion, for
the motor house, Mr.. Alger moved to strike
out from the resolution ali but the 5000 for
new suction pipe, so as to let the other mat
tiers pass over for consideration. MIR. Alger
supported his motion in an elaborate speech,
in which he severely attacked Alderman
Brink.
Alderman Brink said he should call Alder
man Alger to order, but it was not worth
while.
Alderman Woodbury. thought tina. Alder
man Ayers remarks were entirely out of
place. He thought there wastoo much quar-
rcling in the Board. If we can't get along
without it We ought to get out and let others
have chance. Alderman Peck suggested
that perhaps that would come about anyway,
In the natural course of events
Alderman Ayers motion was then put to
vote and lost, only Aldermen Algcr, Peck
and Taft voting for it.
A long and not particularly pointed discus.
sion followed, at the close of which vote
was had on Alderman Drinks original reso-
luton so far as II applied to the water works
repairs, the result being as follows: Yeas,
Aldermen Brink, Drew, Drury, Richardson,
Taylor, Woodbury-G, Nays, Aldermen
Ager, Peck, Taft-3. This vote calls for
$1,000 expenditure.