Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-16
DE LAITTRE TAKES WATER.


DE LAITTRE TAKES WATER.
The "Conre of Inquiry" Continues Its Re
searches Respecting the 25 Per Cent. In
Surdnce Robbsry-Hauor An,es' TeSti-
snOny-JOet BGssett's SGscdmst and Filth.
The "Court of Inquiry" went into ses-
sion yesterday afternoon at O'Clock.
Superintendent Henion,o the water board,
was the first witness. He testified respecting
those castings which are needed to connect
the three pumps with the we'll at the pump
house. He said they had been ordered be
fore Joel Bgssett had complained OF the
delay in making the connection; they were
ordered July 9th, and Bassett ma g no
complaint until two or three weeks ago.
The castings we're ordered in st. Lonis,
because they could be purchased the
clelpest there; six pieces OF
short pips had been ordered of the j.. A.
Pray manufacturing company In March,
but the order was net filled until late IN
June; that shows that delays are liable to
occur in Minneapolis as we'll as in ST.
Louis. All the pipe manufacturers are
driven to their utmost to supply the de-
mand, and hence it is impossible to
get orders filled with anything like
promptness.
MAYOR AMEs
was placed upon the witness stand. He
testified especially respecting the ambig-
uous charges of John De Laittre, ie.: that
trouble existed between the water board
and the fire department., occasioning bad
service to the city. He, as president of
Ill nd hcI %
trouble. Mr.. De Laittre find
ing himself closely cornered,
took the floor with manifest excitement,
and stated that he proposed to prove that
there was trouble. "Mr. Mayor" said ne,
"what would you infer from city official
should he say to you, if I had property
burned at the Syndicate block fire, I'd in
vestigate the thing to the bottom?'"
Mayor Ames-I should naturally infer
that he had theory of his own.
Chairman Waters-Mr. De Laittre, if an
officer told you this, why don't you come
squarely before this committee and give
that officers name?
De Laittre-It was Engineer Waters.
Eng. Waters-I did say to De Laittre l
thought the matter should be investigated
but L never implied that there was trouble
between the board and the fire department.
never knew of any'trouble, and further
more, don't believe in the allegation.
DeLaittre, finding himself blocked in
his patriotic endeavors to bring the fire
department and the water board into dis
grace, took his feet and apologised for his
unfonnded and unwarranted allegation.
The mayor continued in respect
to the Syndicate block fire
said he had criticised very severely the
manner in which the block had been built.
1t was represented to be fire proof struc-
ture, but think it was far from it. I
think one trouble at that time lies in the
fact that too many streams were thrown
from the one 6-inch main on Moo let
avenue. I am satisfied that the pumps are
kept in good condition; the pressure
was as good at the time.
of the syndicate fire as
could be secured with the pumps which
were in operation. have found no
grounds for any complaints which have
been made respecting any person en-
ployed' in the water works department.;
there are defects in the system, and have,
through the city council, secured one i'm
portant remedy; there is constant
stream of sand which comes pouring into
the pumps, cutting almost constantly the
cylinders. 1 urged upon the
city council the necessity of laying
the intake pipe SO as to secure purer
water; they have complied with my re-
quests.
THE TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT. ROBBERY. 3.
Respecting the 25 per cent. extortion the
mayor stated:
I notice that where the mains are the
largest there is where the insurance COM
panies have put on this 25 per cent. rob-
berry. The companies explain
that they will take off this 25
per cent robbery if the city
will lay large mains in other portions of
the city; it looks to me very much as
though the insurance companies are en-
deavoring to coerce orr city. The water
board is ready and anxious to lay water
mains, but it is almost impossible to get
pipe.
Col. Henion explained that he had taken
a trip to st. Louis and also to Cincinnati.
and had paid his expenses out of his own
pocket, for the sole purpose of
hurrying up the pipe, which
has already been ordered.
Mayor Ames-The city council has ex-
pended every dollar it could possibly get
for the purpose, in putting down mains; if
we can continue our extensions during the
coming year We can collect large revenue
from rents, so that in the end our water
system will result in profit to the city and
taxpayers. rather than bnrthen, as most
people seem to think; under the
the superintendencs of Col. Henion, the
increase in collection of rates has been
truly surprising.
Chairman Merriam in adiourning the
meeting explained that he had served two
years upon the board of water commits
sioners, and was consequently in position
to know whereof he spoke when he said
there has never been any friction between
the board of the fire department or
the city council, and he declared there was
not single scintilla of truth in the al
legation.
The investigation will continue this az
ternoon at o'clock.
W0nted-HOrseS.
E. D. Falts, the inspector land buyer for the
Minneapolis Street Railway company, will be at
the harm at the oornar of Cedar and Franklin