The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-10
BOARD OF WORKS.
Superintendent Valid Submits
a Report.
NEED OF ANOTHER ENGINEER.
A Conflict Between the Charter and the
Retrenchment Ordinance Indi-
cated-Routine Work.

cated-kout1ue W OK.
Tho board of public works met yesterday
afternoon with a full attendance. The inan-
cial business was the reading of report by
superintendent Valid oa the condition OF the
water Office staff and the iinpossiblity OF con-
filming the expenses within the limits OF the re-
trenchment ordinance.
In obedience to your instructions to report on
the workings of the water department under re-
trenchment ordinances Nos l,79o and l,sSD, l
beg leave to say:
Certain provisions in those ordinances are q
barrier 10 the proper management OF this depart
nent, In SO Tar as ordinances LIS limits the ex-
penGiture for fuel and operation, and ordinance
that which is actually necessary, the first for
sufficient steam and the second Tor efficiency in
operating pumps.
To illustrate: Ordinance No. l7a5, section S,
appropriate $3.50; section disposes OF this
$50 by saying this amount is appropriated for
the purpose OF defrnying the expenditures for
supplies and iucidentals, including every out
lay except salaries. for the period OF five months
from August /, 1891, 10 December 81, 1891. One
fifth for each month gives 4 result OF l,450 per
month for tle operation OF the Lake Washing
ton and Broadway stations. lake Union sta
ton seems not 10 be covered by those ordi-
nancssl
Washington and Broadway stations for fuel, oil
and waste FOR the months of August, september
ana October were:
August Fuel Oil, Etc. Total
Lake Wash. station. 81 ,325 y $50 % $l,s65 Ii
Broadway station. SO rs s53 SSs IS
SEPTEMBER
Lake Wash. station 1.5se 81 80 70 1885 81
Broadway station -. 295 % 9 80 54 So
Lake Wash station :. 1,soa 20 30 81 1855 OF
Broadway station -. 26i 80 7sl FL SO
Total, three months .5,sl7 As sla2 % 5000 80
OF: For August. 1888 4; for september, $40. 40;
for October, $500.
Under ordinance No 1,S,o the numerical force
of engineers was cut down from seven, which
were placed as follows: Three assistants at
Lake Washington, three At Broadway, and enc
chief for all stations TO six men. the present
number. and carrying with Il the inference tina.
one of the engineers at Lake Warrington station
should act IS chief, thus requiring the chief TO
stand an assistants watch and look after the
other stations besides.
The charter limits a days work to eight hours.
and the retrenchment ordinance carries with it
the injunction that some one shall work more
than eight hour. per day, literally requiring
made ana allowed. and / find other claims OF
equal merit: although no demand therefor has
been INSIDE, still deem il but just to lay them
before you for consideration
Sixty hours, seven and half days, Joseph
HO0el. .$24 IL
Twenty-tour hours, three days, J. H.
/ would here mention that / am opposed to
overtime where q monthly salary attaches TO a
position, for it is apt to lead to extortions, and
we do not allow it on the construction force,
nor would l sanction the above were thu en-
gineer force sufficient to regularly perform the
work.
Soon after took charge noticed the incon-
sistency between charter and ordinance, and
had . iorcboding OF the predicament in
which it might place the department., and it
was then, and is yet, an open question with
me as TO whether to follow colc-blooded the
AID n -
the best interests of the department. by letting
each man stand his own watch, have only q
chief in name and let that part OF the plant run
in the shape OF an Indian canoe, without head
or tail, or let the chief do his duty as chief
conceive Ii 70 be my duty TO give proper, eff
Gent and economic service and with that fun
damental idea in view / attempted to follow the
ordinance with the result shown above. Fol-
lowing one means TO disregard the other, or 10
comply with the charter and the ordinance and
give good service is impossible.
am satisfied that the retrenchment ordinance
was drafted in the right spirit and wes intended
for the good OF the city. believe that the pub
lie disbursements should be carefully guarded,
but il this case very essential features have
been either lost sight OF or Were perhaps, not
properly laid before the council.
The fact remains. however, that the proper
and economic management OF the pumping de-
partment is crippled, and will be so long as
there is an insufficient force OF engineers TO DO
make steam is below actual needs. II ever there
was any need of an efficient chief engineer IL is
now and in the very near future The city il
about to add an expensive aad use
Holly pump. The Lake Union plant
will soon have to be used. and with all
this work TO go on can II be possible that any
one would recommend that IL should be done
without trusted and competent agent in the
city's employ ss chief engineer TO look after and
in this department protect the interest OF the
city2 It is imposs Die for the as superintendent
to guard against improper expenses and keep
the repair wolves away from the door OF our
treasurer without a chief under my Immedisse
control who is beyond question competent and
trustworthy.
The proposition that chief engine er in de-
partment having so extensive snd costly plant
under his control and the respons biljty thereof
and enIoin upon him suoordinate's work IS
well, is, TO my mind, as Incompetent as IL would
be TO reg uiTe the superintendent 70 serve eight
hours per day in subordinate position and
attend 10 the manifold duties OF superintendent
SIS well.
Gentlemen, would therefore urgently request
of you TO recommend 10 the honorable city
council TO change retrencament ordinance No
I,S0 so "a 10 admit OF one additional assistant
engineer at the usual saisry Of $40 per month /:
advance the salary Tor the position of chief eu-
giueer ~ $50 per month, because we cannot ex-
pect permanent service from the talent We need
for any less.
Raise the limit on consumption Of fuel. etc.
in ordinance No. i,495, becSuse IL attempts an
In accessibility by STIMULATING in actual figures in
advance on = prospective consumption which
cannot cease, for certainly the ordinance einuot
the fuel limit for the month shall he exhausted
A pat OF the l. ii. Griffith Banking and
Realty Comrany's addition TO the Heirs OF : A
Bells addition was referred 10 the city council
\ petition for the improvement OF the alley
between Columbia ard Marion end Front and
Second streets was referred 70 the street com
missione:s.
petition for water pipe on Gaylor street
from Temperance street east was referred u the
superintendent OF the water-works with poyer
to act.
Petitions for street lights on Williamson
stree; were referred tn the street commissioners
petition fer the renewal 81 lights on RaIliu
street was read. By virtue OF the authority
given by the council the SEATTLE Consolidated
Nectric Railway Company was notified tGat if
the lights were no; maintained steps would he
taken ~ revoke the franchise.
The secretary was authorized to invite tenders
from Moran & Durie and the Seattle Hardware
Company for 80 feet OF 81 -iueh rubber hose
The petition for ire plugs or McClain street
was referred to the superintendent of water
works
D. 7. Denny and others petitioned for the i'm.
provement of a portion OF Harrison street: re-
;erred 10 the council
The communication from the Seattle Dry
Dock and ship Building Company with refer
ence 70 the swivel nozzles for the freboat W as
transmitted 70 the council.
TIE street commissioner, to xhe-a yes re-