The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-18

treated by the board, who alone are my supe-
riors On the other hand, have to say that they
nave treated me very fairly in all cases.
Ny knowledge Of the water department and
the best methods of conducting the details OF
TIE same has not been obtained at the expense
OF the city thus far, and expect to make it
oenefit the city greatly in excess of the amount
of my salary
You say that accuse Jesse Cochran of caus-
Ing Mr.. Fitten's removal from the position OF
foreman. wish to say thar Mr.. Cochran did
not know Mr.. FIFTEEN was to be removed until
after he had been. Mr.. Fitten's friends may
mold me responsible for his removal. and also
Tor placing Mr.. Gavin in the position he now
occupies. Thus far Mr.. Gavin has been per-
fectly satisfactory to me-
Regarding my appointment as superintendent
Oh water-works, can say that have been cit
lien OF Seattle much longer than either of my
predecessors. and probably have as many friends
as either OF them. And while have not, as you
intimate, been as successful as Mr.. Valid, in q
financial way, can truthfully say that have
not made the necessary subsistence of myself
ana family and education of nv children at the
expense and misfortune OF others; and when
nard times came did not take the advantage OF
my debtors and deprive them of their homes in
court because had more money than they with
which to purchase the services of lawyers, and
no one can say truthfully that ! have ever
wronged them out OF cent.
Inc pipe that you say was hauled from West
street to the Transfer stables and back was
hauled by order OF the board Of public works.
First ! recommended s-inch as being large
enough to supply the needs for that part of the
city for some years to come, and was ordered to
put II down, which / proceeded to do. After
having hauled q portion of it my superior, Mr..
van Brocklin, requested me to change same to
l2-lnch pipe which commenced to do, and was
laying 1t when the board of public works ordered
me to discontinue, part of the ground on
which the pipe was to be laid was in contro-
versy between the city. the Oregon Improve
ment Company and Seattle Transfer Company
Who is the responsible party in this work which
you critlcise so severely?
Now just q word about one transaction which
was made by the administration which preceded
ours some time after the purchase of the old
Spring hill plant by the city, the city purchased
a large quantity OF spiral pipe for the water
work at cost to the city OF ST. Al per foot After
the pipe had been strung out over large part
OF the city and tested in some places it was con-
demned as worthless, and was not worth to the
city the cost of hauling and dumping in the
bay. few days ago found an opportunity to
sell 1900 feet OF this pipe, and, being authorized
by the board OF pubic works, sold 4,00o feet at
so cents per foot, thereby saving for the city
5000 as the city had already lost the first cost
OF this pipe, $l.41 per foot, and the hauling in
addition to this. This was mistake (if mistake
1t can be called) not made by Democratic ad-
ministration.
Regarding the ordinance passed by the coun-
Gil requiring bond of $4,000 from the CASH
Ter, want to say that when an employe OF my
department gives bonds the bonds must be to
me and for my protection, as / am under bonds
to the board OF public works. not only for my
self. but for the conduct OF my department and
all connected with it And, while / am super
intendent, be the time long or short, will con-
duct the affairs of the department to the best of
my ability and for the best interest of the city.
Regarding my own bonds, want it under
stood that have no lack of bondsmen and
when file another it will be signed by those
who cannot be bought nor bulldozed by the
gambling element OF the city, and who will
have backbone enough to stand by their sigma
lures.
hear many complaints of a scarcity of water
from parties who, perhaps. are not aware OF the
fact that last summer We had the same pump
ing capacity that we have now. and ali will re-
member that we were without water much
more than we have been this summer
This summer We supply from Lake Washing
ton for the Queen Anne district and all the
extensions and new services put in since last
summer, making almost twice as much water
from the same pumps as was furnished last
summer. and for the past month we have had
to take down and repair the pumps one by one
for the Holly test and have had only two to fur
nish the city with twice as much water as one
could not furnish last summer.
These repairs should have been made during
wet weather. when the demand for water was
smaller and the danger of fire much less than
now. This would have saved q vigorous kick
from our Republican friends and the interest
on $4,000, the price OF the Holly pump, while
they were waiting for the test.
Should yourself or the public desire any
further light on the affairs of the water depart
ment We shall be pleased to continue this in
you next issue. Yours very respectfully,
W. E. WILSON. Superintendent