St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-11
WATER WORKS FUNDS.
Special Meeting Of tie Board of Water
commissioners 'oiio,rcd bya Joint Meet
ing With the CRY Council Committee a.,
min

ySSSiNay aiIeTnOOu 10 discuss matters to be
taken before the council committee on legis-
lation. and further consider the report of the
committee on ways aud means which had
been submitted at a previous meeting, final
action upon which had been deferred until
yesterday, but owing to the absence of the
mayor the report was not taken up
II will be remembered that Geo. Fl.
Christian, Jr.. of st. Paul, was invited to
present his views upon the reservoir and
stand pipe system. In accordance he pre-
sented a lengthy paper, of which the follow
ing is an extract
To build one or more tank reservoirs. evil
lndrical in shape, of 1000, 900 gallons capac-
lily, constructed of boiler steel, Iifty-six feet
inside diameter, tlfty-four feet high, resting
on top OFT circular tower 100 feet high, built
OF orick and stone The lower portion of
the tower could be used for machinery etc.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN claimed that the tank on top of
Tue tower would nave supply of water SUI
ncient IN case Of an emergency at night, es-
peciaily when most fires occur, to supply
water for fire purposes from eight to ten
hours, without the engines making stroke,
which would lessen the expense to the city
ana lower insurance rates. The value to be
attached 10 the tank is the having of a
sufhclent quantity of water, at a good
nre elevation, to reach all portions
OF this city, and to last long
enough to prev ent the city from being en-
tirely cut off from water. Another advan-
tage claimed for the plan is the greater safety
to the city in case of any accident to the ma
chinery or pipes. With the direct pressure
system there is great loss of force by fric-
ton, and the reserve force of the pump is
called upon to make this up, while with the
reservoir system, there being large supply
of water on hand, the engines would meet
no strain to work up to the demand made
upon them. Mr.. Christian at this point
quoted an example to prove his point. The
remainder Of the paper gave the various ar
guments in favor of the reservoir system,
quoting the reports of a number of author
tiles who had made Investigations of the sub
iect. The expense of plant like the one
described would be about $4,000
the matter was referred to the committee
on construction.
The matter of raising money by issuing
city bonds to meet the requirements of the
water works department for the ensuing
TWO years was brought up and discussed at
agree upon any specific amount to be raised,
the opinions varying from $3.50, 900 to
S350,000 Davis favored $3.50, 900 while
Foote favored $3.50, 900, Brown $500, 900 and
Andrews $50, 900 only. Finally the board
adjourned to meet the city council com
mittee on legislation in the council cham
Der.
T1L, ii
ing.
Commissioner Brown explained that the
board had not arrived at any decision and
Com missioner Foote stated that it required
deal OF figuring TO arrive at the needs in
money by the department.
Commissioner Andrews thought the coun-
ell should have the power TO issue city bonds
to a stipulated amount to raise fund to bear
the running expenses of the water
board. He believed that by issuing bonds
from time to time, as the emergency de-
mands, it would not only be a matter Of
great economy, but to the credit of the city.
He thought bonds should be issued in that
way for all city Improvements.
Commissioner Foote addressed the commit
tee. He favored generally the plan of Issuing
bonds only as fast as needed, but it would
NC a lAidlttA VI CGOuOull W nave ROOlly
sum of money in the treasury. Often
times material can be contracted for at a re-
duced price, as was the case in purchasing
the pipes last year. In that instance the
city saved many thousands of dollars. Prices
were at minimum, and soon
after the prices went up. Such
things are Liable TO occur Mt anv
time, but under our city charter no contract
h. ~. 4.
city treasury.
Com missioner Andrews thought II should
require at least two-thirds of the council to
issue bonds. Purchasers Of bonds are always
DESTROYS to buy the entire block, so that the
city finds it necessary TO sell all the issue
ordered.
Com missioner Foote stated that last year
the expense Of laying water mains was about
1872, 900, whereas the assessments was only
S32, 900, leaving 300, 900 unprovided for.
Contracts for iron have been made the pres
ent winter TO the amount Of about s53, 900
and the board can add twenty-eight per cent
to that There will be no heavy collections
until next May, and between now and then
the board will need large sums Of money to
take care of outstanding contracts. Com
missioner Andrews further explained his
lltd AildA tic NlAN tOuhNli HuOulI DG duluOT-
lied to issue bonds not to exceed four mills
upon the assessed valuation Of the CITY,
which would give about $500, 900 in the case
Of an emergency. Aid. johnson thought the
water board should have the discretionary
power to say when bonds should be issued
and to what amounts.
Tue mayor was of the opinion that It
would have been in the interest of the CITY
a
bonds must have been issued through some
city official-prooaby the comptroller-and
ut the order of the city council.
Aid. Morse was OF the opinion that In case
the powers of the water board we're enlarged
for laying water mains.
Commissioner Foote did not think the point
of more than trivial consequence. He had
been a member Of the board for two years,
and during that time the council had never
failed to confirm the action OF the board in
that respect.
Commissioner Andrews brought up the
question Of getting description OF the prop
erty assessed II has always been matter
of great expense 10 the citY. He believed
that in st. Paul the system had been simpli-
fled BY assessing so much a front foot.
Aid. Morse thought it made little difference
in that the owners would have to be looked
up by some officer before a collection could
be made.
Aid Walsh stated that it would devolve
upon the county auditor
Aid. Morse could not agree. He stated
that the assessment rolls were made up in
the office Of the city engineer. Commits
sioner FoOic believed that the system OF the
fh.s
cal changes would WORK to the detrmeut OF
the city. He believed the commissioners
should either be elected by the people or BY
the city council, but did not think anything
was TO oe gained BY increasing the number
of members. he thought furthermore that
the city engineer should be the
81 all cit