The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-26
zee RoIIY WATER WORKS

When the hot discussion concerning
our water works and the new superinten-
dent VS.. the old one was going on, the
ARGUS only had one word of advice to
give, and that was TO wait and see. "
The time has now come to tell really
what was the matter First, there was
nothing wrong with the works-they were
as good as ever-but it was in the man
agement When Mr.. Kerr took posses
sion of the works, there was fearful
howl made by the friends of Mr.. CTamer,
to the effect that there was no one in the
city capable of controlling them but Mr..
Cramer Now this was perfectly absurd,
for all know that the Holly system of
water works has world wide reputation
for simplicity The troubles grew thicker,
aud the war extended into the council.
The mayor telegraphed for Ira Holly, an
expert Mr.. Holly came, made an exam
ination of the pumps, and we all know
what he found And we all know the
tenor of his report to the city council. 1t
was to the effect that the Holly system of
water works was very complicated-so
complicated, in fact. that it would require
the services of keen expert for one year
to initiate Mr. Kerr into the mysteries of
controlling the Holly machinery. We also
know that Mr. Holly and mfr Cramer are
great friends, and believe that the report
he made to the council was to get Mr.
Cramer reinstated. To show the unfair
ness of the report, it is only necessary tC
cite the fact that he made the assertion
that there was not man about
the works capable of understanding
them" That assertion was calculated to
make the council believe that the works
were so extremely complicated that il
would require man with years of ex
perience with the system to run them
But the mayor keen and far sighted
man, that he is, could see the drift of Mr..
Holly's argument, and set it down for al
it was woodworking. He was toe
well aware of the fact that the Holly
system was noted for not being compli
Gated and he decided to hold on to Mr.
Kerr. Mr.. Kerr remained, and has
conducted the works in a perfectly salts
factory manner. He was NO expert, We
he has gone ahead, and has shown tha
Mr.. Holly either didn't know what he wa:
talking about, or was trying to talk Mr.
Cramer into situation, when he STATED
that it would. take an exper
one year to- learn Mr. Kerr
The works never gave such satisfaction
as at present. The water they pump i:
pure. the pumps are kept clean, and there
fore work all right. In fact. il is impos-
sible for anything to get into them, as Mr.
Kerr has put in a new screen, and remov
ed the old one, which was in very BAT
condition. That explained how rubbish
could get into the pumps. Affairs hav'
gone along smoothly since then, and nj
complaints have been made. If Mr.. Ker
will keep his wits about him, keep hi
screens in good condition, the pumps viii
do the rest. for when kept in order. ten
year-old boy can run them.
Mr. Drake, well known to many of ou
citizens. and at one time part proprieto
of the ARGUS. is travelling in the interes
of the Holly Manufacturing Company
He states that he has all the business h,
can attend to. and that the company i
overrun with orders He has been travel
ing through Texas and other southern
states. and is highly elated with the sue
cess be is meeting with. He states. fur
thermore, that no one authorized Mr.
Holly to make the statement he did befor,
our city council. and convey the idea tina
the Holly system is a complicated one
just to please the purpose of an old friend
and put the company to no little troubl
and expense to do away with the impress
sion. He well knew the company baseC
the success of their system on its sim
plicity.