The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-15

lO1 WANT 70 Say IIkub ncIO Su1b any ply tuV
city has at $3 50 per ton 10 better than it, equiv
alent in so gold pieces. claim to have saved
the city from 81 ooo to 1000 that pipe. but for
this get censufed or let out. The matter that
I refer to II the condition in which the Holly
pump was received. Mr.. Van Brocklin. who APP
psars to b the II am" aud In fact the whole
board Of public works. imagined that he was the
only man connected with the city government
who from his standpoint was competent to
handle and guard the city's interests on 20 Inn
portant point He assumed full charge Of that
matter, and the citizens Of Seattle have already
paid over 5000 from the city funds for his large
experience and competency. The Holly pump
was received and paid for with . pound or jar
in her which has been growing worse all the
time ever since she has been in use. and kept
humping until shs has broken down three
times, and would have Kept breaking down had
not the cause beea discovered by Mr. Colman
and repaired. I do not claim 70 be mechanical
engineer. still protested against having that
pound or jar in her before she was received, but
was informed that it did not amount 70 any
thing, that the bearings were rough and could
not be keyed up al at oncA. The fact Of the
matter was that the machine was not Get up
properly. One side Of her was out Of line clear
through, and under one Of the water chambers
there was u bolt hole that had never been
filed, thus allowing the air to b. sucked into
the chamber to the amount of 10 per cent Of her
capacity.
This was the principal cause OF all the
trouble. which presume Ne COlman will YER
ify in his report This could not be discovered
until the solid stone foundation had been
plugged and feathered and all the stone taken
out from under the water chamber. The hole
was then discovered, plugged up and the stone
replaced with concrete, aud now she works
very smoothly, but the machinery on one side
OF the Holly has bsen iearfutly strained, which
. - nnn 81
rest OF the pumps were in q very good condition
until the very efficient board, to satisfy the
whims OF . few would-be practical men that
knew no more about the practicability OF rails
ing water 900 feet with the machinery the city
has at the Lake Warrington station than the
ordinary hog knows about Christmas,
made . test To make that test the
pressure OF the three old pump ct
Lake Washington station was increased from
l35 to 2a0 pounds pressure, something that
should not have been done. The outcome was
that the pumps were sprained badly, and have
not been in a. good working order since the
test This experimenting cost the taxpayers
from 5000 to 5000 The board OF public works
was warned against this, and told that It would
not work by some OF the most practical men In
Seattle, myself included.
Now, fellow.citizens, am going to say few
words of my own stewardship, and in doing so
wish to challenge contradiction from any man
or woman in the city of Seattle, through the
press. that all may know II am incorrect On
June q 1892, I took charge Of the city water
plant. and at that time it was in very bad con-
dition.
Citizens on Beacon hill had no water that
was reliable and now they have plenty. Citi.
Gems on Queen Anne hill had little or no water
now they have plenty. Ciu1ens ON Reuton hill
and all over the upper service were terribly
annoyed with the everlasting pounding and
cracking In the water pipes, which reduced the
price of realty. They have none of that now
and property II safe l challenge any man,
woman or child, to say other than that, / have
always treated them courteouyly and gentle
manly, attended to their wants promptly. re-
gardless OF friend or foe. challenge any one
to say aught against my competency nv atten.
ton to the duties Of the Office or neglect in
any way. and a. for my honesty in my ofIicssl
capacity. I have nothing to say At present
The examination OF my books 10 now.
under way. and the report from the
experts will DO the best proof to give 70 tie
voters and taxpayers OF Seattle, and By that re-
port am willing to stand or fall. Ialso raised
the receipts Of the ONCE between 5000 and
5000 per month, Aud now, fellow citizens. 1
want to know what are the charges sgaiust me
tha. should be kicked out Ike q dog and given
no opportunity TO defend myself Even nv
con could not escape the virus OF the rsptiles'
sting, . young man born. raised and educated
In the fair city OF Seattle. think an, safe in
saying that he has not an enemy In King
county, save the board of public works. and I
do net hesitate to say that he 10 a. far above
them In AL things pertaining to gentleman a
heaven 10 said to be above hell How long II
this thing going to Iastf viii Il pay the CITY
to experiment with anew man svery few months
in SO important, . posision7 This il a matter
that will leave in the minds OF the taxpayers
Of this fair city. e WILSON.