The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-19
STARTLING STATEMENTS
BY ENGINEERS REGARDING THE
~ WATER COMPANY. A
Hints at Deliberate Plan TO Force
the City In Purchase Of
the Plant.

Feeling the need for inatant action,
President MADDEN and Vice President
Lee, of the Police aud Fire Commits
had a meeting yesterday
morning and determined TO make a
examination Of the property
of the Water Company and OF the
laws governing it, with view to seek
ing legal remedy. The City Engi'
neer, Mai, MeriWether, his assistant,
Mr.. Ross, who has charge OF the
Sewer Department, Councilman Ran
de and Fire Chief Cleary, practical
engineers, and Mr.. Kennett, who was
engineer Of the Water Company
under the old regime, we're appointed
a committee to make an examination
Of the works. Judge Walker, City
Attorney, was requested to look into
the law governing the rights and
privileges Of the company.
The two committees los no time in
getting to work. Mr. Ross remained
on duty all day and Mr.. Kennett re-
lieved him at shutdown. He was on
watch all night.
Chief G cary, who returned to head
quarters about 3 o'clock in the after
noon, was asked by an APPEAL man
what he thought Of the condition OF
the pumping machinery.
II did not have time t)make thor
ough examination" he said; "but it
did not seem to me that any extraor-
diuary effort was being made to in
crease the supply. As matter OF
fact, the pressure was increased to
thirty pounds little after we got to
the works, and / telephoned to Capt
Ryan to put u new instrument on the
plug in front of the Office door and
test the pressure there. He did go,
and reported a pressure OF nine pounds.
That was doing first rate. remember
visiting the works a year ago when
the pressure was only fifteen pounds.
A good many met on my way
down said they had no water in the
morning, but were getting good sup
ply then"
lido l understand you to say that
the visit OF the committee to the works
cause d the sudden increase ?"
81 didn't say that" the chief an
swered. 81 am simply giving you the
facts as got them"
"Do they keep their reservoirs
filed out thereP"
"Well, I'll tell you what l know
abou' it. | looked into the basin and
could see foot or two below the sur
face numerous cracks in the mud
which covered the sides giving 1t the
appearance Of having been sun baked.
stuck q stick on one side 30 that 1t
rested on the top OF the water and
when / returned to look at II the
water had risen hall an inch above the
stick. asked President Latham why
it was that the reservoirs were being
filed when they were wanting water
80 bad in town, and he said no water
was running into it. l offered TO 20
and, show him, and he remembered
then having told his engineer to lei
water in at night. He said he sup
posed he misunderstood him or some
thing OF the kind"
"Do you think 1t possible that the
leakage could have been sufficient in
the time you mention to cover the
stick ?" was asked.
"No, / think not; and besides
noticed that the cap covering the coch
which admits water into the reservoir
had been freshly c'eaned of, as !
lately used. took look at the puml
they have been laying all the BAN,
on the past few days, and couldn'
see anything particular the mater
with it. The bottom part was a littl
out OF fix, but the man working por
ton seemed to be all right To tel
YOU the truth, it struck me that witt
a lit hard work the city might hav
all the water it needs"
While the chief was talking MI
Kennett entered and deposited hi
bag Of t1o's on the II lor. with lhs re-
mark that he intend d to return ga
remain on duty all night at the work.
"Whlt have you found out2" wa
asked.
mot enough 70 make report on,
he answered. 81 picked up few III
tie points, though"
The APPEAL man WAS absorbed in
map OF the sewer eystem.
"Why, the pressure had increased I
thirsy.fve pounds before | lrfr, end
they would change that old goverDC
over they could put it at forty or rails
the roof off the tutlding."
The APPEAL man continued to stud
the map He was becoming deepl
interested in it.
"They have only seven pumps worl
ing" Mr.. Kennett continued, growir
eloquent to the little crowd in the o
fee and paying no heed to the r.
porter, -Four of the old and three (
the new. / saw two new pumps |
prime condition and both idle. Th
engineer told me that they had q capa
ity OF 100000 gallons daily each. IT.
platforms supporting them have bee
allowed to rot out they could be put
running order in three or four day
; They complain that they can't g,
men TO work. They said one par
had promised to begin tomorro
maybe. Things have just been roc
! ing along, you know, with no pr
! vision OF any kind made for {
accident. Duplicate parts are kept {
. hand by every other water compaI
,, in the country. The fact Is, gentleme
! they are Just playing"
The APPEAL man redoubled his {
tention to the map Of the sewer BY
tenn, which was really one Of Mr.. Rot
masterpieces in blue and white.
"What do you mean by playing
= asked somebody.
"Just playing. The fact is thu
don't want to furnish q supply"
i, Mr.. Kennett lowered his voice almo
. to whisper and stopped over as
let fly this last dart.
: at will take two lawyers a week
!, get all know out OF me when
! fuish my investigation" conclude
? Mr.. Kennett.
!, UAnUHsS mnUnnn