The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-23
was any way that this could be done

me that it was not true, the city
valve was chained and locked, that
there was no way for the engineer tt
use it only by breaking of chain
that he had given arbitrary instruc.
lions that this chain should not be
meddled with and if done the party
that did it would be summarily dis
| charged, that there was no truth in
the statement made by Morse. l be-
lieved him (Watters) and rested in
this belief
Some time after this, during the
month of March. Mr.. Swan, President
of the Board of Public Works, came
to me and said Morse had told him
that we were using city water. /
said to Mr.. Swan that there was nc
truth in the statement and invited
him to go to the engine room and see
for himself. We went down to the
engine room. Mr.. Koke, head engi-
neer, was not there at the time. |
called up the second engineer and
asked him to show US the valve that
opened up the city main. He opened
a trap door and showed us the valve,
which was chained and made fast to
jOist. II wish to say here that up
to this time l had not known the To-
cation of this valve, it had been placed
during my absence and there had
been no occasion for me to look it up,
as Mr.. Waters had charge of this
part of the business. l asked him
1.-THE I'd engineer) if we were using any
water from that valve. He replied
by saying mo, and have not since
the elevator burned; which was on
Aug. 3lst, 1890. At this point in the
conversation Mr.. Walters came to US
apparently just having come in from
outdoor, as he had his Overcoat on.
then asked him if we were using
any of the city water and told him
that Morse said we were. He then
said in presence of Mr.. Swan and N.Y.
self that we had not and that we had
three times the water we needed and
had pressure sufficient to flow to the
top of the mill and that Morse lied.
l believed him and think Mr.. Swan
did.
After this l removed a large
Knowles pump from the engine room,
that we had used to pump our con-
densing water prior to the use of the
artesian well, shipped it to New York
in exchange for a Boiler Feed pump,
also destroyed the foundations on
which it stood, thinking and believ-
ing we had an abundance of water for
all purposes then and for all time. and
that it's services would no longer be
needed. Mr.. Walters and Mr.. Koke
both knew all about this removal
and gave me no word of warning that
it would ever again be wanted: in
fact, Mr.. Koke urged its removal and
exchange, saying, using his own lam
guage, 1t is OF no value where it is,
while a boiler feed pump would be,
after our new boilers are in.''
This change, you will understand,
left US helpless in case we had not
sufficient water and pressure from our
we'll to provide for our wants. Dur
ing the last days of March Mr.. Koke
started for Europe to be away some
three months or more, and a Mr..
Woolson was hired to take his place
with the understanding that Mr..
koke should have his old position on
MS return.
Some time during the month of
June, i think, Mr. Woolson said to
me, Mr.. Hubbard, did you know
that we are using city water?' l said
TO himI did not. He replied, 'come
here and will show YOU" I went
with him. He pointed to the city
valve which yet had the chain upon
t. and said, THAT valve has hole
drilled in it," l could not believe
lim, and asked him how he knew.
He said Charley told him, meaning
koke). l yet believed him to be mis-
Jaken, but said to him "We lust |
plug it at once, if it is a fact: in any
event we must take up the valve and |
'ee." He then replied by saying, "We
;annot do it without shutting off |
,he city water" l then concluded to
wait a short time when we would be
hut down and an examination could |
De made and the valve be repaired if |
Ound as stated.
Some days after the above stated |
brought Mr.. Woolson
Ind our head miller, Mr. Brooks, to-
!ether, accidently seeming to them,
)ut Intentionally on my part. | then |
lsked Mr.. WOolson what he knew
lbout there being hole in the city
'aIve. He replied by saying there |
we're several or three holes in it.
After he made this last statement it |
hOOh LILY OOuu III u11ll. l. ulu
lot know What to believe but was
trongly of the opinion that he was
mistaken, but had fully made up my
mind to know as soon as we shut down. |
Soon after this / went east. While |
way, the city official from some |
ause shut the water off their mains.
The results were in a short time it
hut our mill down owing to lack of
PRESSURE from our well. On my re-
urn, was told Of this occurrence. l
hen knew Woolsons statement was
Substantially correct and Immediate
y took steps to replace the condenser
Jump had shipped out in March and
Ilm0St given away. | went to Mime
polls and st. Paul. Could not find
What wanted then. and after writing
nd getting no satisfaction went to
,hicag1 and contracted with the
Knowles people for suitable pump.
aging therefore S72S, to be furnished
S soon as possible, which will cost
'hen erected, including foundation
omething like 81, 100 to 200.
During the time [ was negotiating
or the pump Mr.. Swan came into the
f1lce and asked me if l did not think
re were using city water, or words to
hat effect, l answered him by saying
nat had been told there was a hole
the city valve, that 1 was doing all
could to get pump and would get
as soon as possible and would fix