Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-05
FACTS In THE CASE
A Bit of History About Our
Water Bonds.
CAUSES FOR THE GREAT DELAY
The Council Blocks the Progress Of the
improvements Contemplated by
the Board.

DIR. Watson, an ex-member of the
board of health, u last Sundays Eagle
complained of the board Of public
works because il had not expended the
money voted by the people for the pur.
pose Of tssting the Cook well system
Of furnishing pure water To the city,
The writer 10 correct IN some OF hls
statements but his criticism shows he il
not familiar with the history of the
Cook well matter. he says the people
voted to bond the city in the hope OF
having the Cook system adopted If II
was . success. Thus far ne is correct
The board Of public works advertised
to the city that the object of raising
lishment Of the system provided the
test proved that supply Of water
could be procured from the wells.
When lac blsmes the board of public
works for not executing a contract he
shows he Is ignorant OF the manner IN
which contracts pass the official ma
chiDsry of the city.
The fact is the board of public works
has worked hard 10 get the system es.
tablished, but the common council has
blocked the contract aud If blame il
due 10 any one il should be placed on
the common council. TIE history OF
the whole matter is this and may be
found in the records i'll the office Of the
board of public works and IN the
official proceedings OF the council. In
June, 1891. the people of the city voted
To bond the city for $500, 900 for the
extension of water mains and the
securing Of an abundant supply oil
W wholesome water. The vote had
scarcely been counted before the board
of public works had contract con-
forming to the Ole OF the Cook We'll
company, drawn by the city author
tiles.
Red Tape Provisions.
This contract was adopted by the
board July %, 1891, and two days later
was presented to the common council
where il was hoped 1t would be ordered
executed by the mayor. 1t might be
we'll to state here that no contract
made by the board of public works j:
in force until the common council has
ordered the mayor to eign it. At any
time the council does not approve the
action Of the board it may block any
action the board may have taken.
When the contract came to the coun.
Gil Alderman Turner moved that it be
referred to a special committee. HI,
! motion Was carried, and the committee
WAS appointed. with Alderman Turner
as chairman. This committee carried
the contract IN its pockets for three
months and nothing was heard about
IL. October 8 the contract was read t.
the council. Alderman Conger moved
that the mayor be instructed to execute
it. Mayor Uhl cautioned the council
to make haste slowly and to be cure OF
what it was doing. Alderman Stein
moved to refer to the city attorney to
report on some legal aspects of the con
tract. This carried, and October /:
Mr.. Taylor reported on the matter
Nothing further WAS done until Decem
Der 81, 1891, when Alderman Fros
moved that the contract be taken up
Alderman Turner moved to reject the
contract. Alderman Conger moved to
table for one week, which was done
The next week Alderman Frost moved
to take from the table, but 1t was los
no one but Aldermen Frost, Saunder,
and Stein voting yea. The record Of
the contract ends abruptly here, and i
is supposed to be in Alderman Turner
inside pocket still.