The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-10-25
WHERE DOES THE BLAME LIEF

That there is blame bordering OF
criminal carelessness attaching to some
one in authority for the condition of the
water supply Monday night, is plainly
borne out by the circumstances, and
through Incompetency, carelessness OF
neglect, Mankato suffers to-day the loss o.
one of the largest and most important
manufacturing institutions in the North
west, to say nothing of the sacrifice o.
individual capital to the amount ofnear'
$50, 000-itself fortune to frugal, in
dustrious business man.
When the city, at large outlay Of
money, had finally succeeded in secur.
ing flow of water from artesian wells
aggregating million and a half gallons
per day, her citizens felt reasonably Sc.
cure from the rayages of the fire fiend.
There is not city in the country that
can boast of as fine a natural water sup
ply, nor one whose citizens feel more
pleased with the final solution ola ques-
ton that had been one of constant wor-
ry for many years. With the magnifi-
cent pumps, recently put in, the system
is all that could be asked for, and in
itself model of perfection, and is mex
haustable In supply. 1t cannot, there
fore, be said that the destruction of the
magnificent property of the Creamery
Package Company is due to any cause
other than want of reasonable pru-
dence and care on the part of those in
whose hands the destiny of the city has
been placed, and upon such will the
disaster we to-day face be placed.
1t is not pleasant task for the FREE
Press to discuss this matter so plainly
as its duty as public journal demands,
but did it not sound word of warning
at this time for the future protection of
the city, it would be equally guilty with
those who have needlessly allowed a
great industry to go up in smoke.
1t has been stated and oft repeated
that the chief engineer NJ the pumping
station Is incompetent TO perform the
responsible duties of the position he
occupies. Whether or not this be true
the FREE Press will not say, but It will
unhesitatingly remark that the place is
one that requires the services ola thor
ough mechanic, a practical engineer and
= careful, pains-taking man. But how
ever competent man may be, certain
ly he cannot do two mems work and
continue it for over a Woodworking
day and night. The alderman who has
supervision over the pumping station
knew that the second or night engineer
quit work one week ago last Monday,
and since that time Mr.. Morse has been
Obliged to do the entire work. 1t is
contrary to natural laws for a man to do
himself justice under such strain, and
contrary to reason for such labors TO be
expected of him. And right here it is
we'll understood lies the blame for the
failure of water pressure Monday night.
From a prominent member of the fire
department We are told that the requis-
it pressure for fire purposes was not Sc
cured and maintained until about .
o'clock in the morning, and he AYERS
that had this pressure been on the
mains at the time the department ar
rived at the fire, the element could
have easily been confined to the Sec
ton in which the blaze orIginated-thus
saving intact two-thirds of the structure.
Had the condition of affairs at the pump
ing station been as they should, and as
the public demands from their servants,
the pressure would have been up to the
standard and a great loss prevented
What does this costly lesson teach?
Is it not time that the taxpayers and
property owners were aroused to
i sense of the deplorable condition in
which they find themselves? If COM
petent men are 10 occupy responsible
positions, the parsimonious action noted
in some things and the extravaganza in
others must be reversed.
One other thing we desire 10 call at
tention to in this connection and that is
the neglect heretofore attaching to the
care of hydrants. 1t is the duty, if we
understand Alright, of the city engineer
to test the hydrants at least once a
month. 1t is said, and on what is con-
sidered good authority. that many of
the hydrants have not been turned on
since last spring. This is all wrong and
further neglect of this kind should sub
iect the party at fault to immediate dis
charge. There is no use in whipping
the devil around the post in these mat.
tiers. Either make those in the employ !
of the city do their duty or get some one
who will.
These re marks are made without |
malice or i'll feeling toward any one, but
public welfare demands positIveness. |
will not cure existing evils. Ii |
requires strong medicine to deal justly |
with desperate cases.