The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-21

r-INTELLIGENCER, FRID.
works was required b b. in his infallibls ssti-
nation.
The city owns tt water plant very sxpsn-
ave one With three separate pumping stations,
the motive power In all cases being steam. The
city 10 elso desirous Of owning its electric light
plant also necessarily driven BY steam. The
city u also constructing fabulously exponsivo
and . monumental useless systsm Of sewerage
The city = also largely interested IN the harbor.
and ito whaEves are In . state of chronic dsbil-
lily always
The streets Of the city ars . disgrace - IL.
and large force are continually engaged In
spaschine." New streets are being opened In
III soes1onas lev Of them without deep cuttings,
and every cutting In the city u . standing testi.
mony 70 the ignorance and folly which has
dirscted the work. The city IL also possessof Of
an extensive collection OF nrs appafatus and
also Of . ''6se boat." which demands continual
repairs. renewals and extensions.
ALI OF the above named departments come
under the direct supervision and control Of the
board Of works, yet our mayor solsmnly asserts
that knowledge Of construction OF mechanical
engineering r. not required Of the members Of
the board. Now let ~ see how we'll the mayor
and cofporations have carried ont their idea In
filing the board with eompetsnts or incom-
petentA
This board occupies the same position to the
city Of Seattle - dos 0ould's or Hills engi-
pesEs.1n-chief 70 their Iailroads, but Jim Hill
has lesson 70 learn from the city Of Seattle In
choostng mon for such an all-important post-
ton. who know absolutsly nothing OF their
duties. or the city OF Seattle must learn the les
son from Jim Hill Of appointing. not barnacless
but men thoroughly qualified for the position.
Let ~ take the present members in review.
First and oldest in point OF ssFvios ON the Hat,
having served from the drst organisation OF the
board. comes Jesse Cochran-ss he says himself
. good painter and sign writer, but believe he
himself would disciaim all knowledge Of
engineering construction. He might b
and numbeTS, but fail to remember
that his abilities have bean called into
action in that cause. Possibly they have. and
the street names aud number may b stored up
In some OF the numerous civic depositoriss OF
curios and the citissns may he surprised to
ind street names on every corner some morn
Ing, - we'll - discover the number Of the house
Q while.
No Of the trio Is the most ponderous,
not In avoirdupots. but In knowledge J. w.
Van Brocklin used to be, believe, the engineer
tn-chief OF . wheeibarrow. pick and shovel in
the Montana mines, but made sstrike" and
promoted himself 70 be . full-dedged mill.
wright and helped in the construction OF .
small stamp mill In Montana, and. believe,
he saw another in Alaska He also Is response
BILE for the middle building belonging to the
TRAINER Company, having designed it and super.
intended its construction, and 1t IS the only one
OF the three main buildings belonging to the
Transfer Company which has failed. The first
faii rod vRha Nh lotA
clerk. had the northeast corner leased from the
company for an ice house, aud il gave way for
want OF SUFFICIENT strength to carry the load,
dep0siting the whole Of the ice. q horse aud
three men in the water. The men had . most
miraculous escape from death, though consid-
eraby injured.
The second break down was during the heavy
snow OF last winter, when a couple of sections
Of the roof OF toe same building collapsed.
The county commissioners In their wisdom
appointed Van BrOcklin superintendent Of
works on the courthouse. and after that was
finished he was, like many more. out OF = job,
but worked like Trojan for J. T. Ronald ct the
last city election, and believe the last Qualif-
ton was the one specially considered when
Ronald appointed him. zone good turn deserves
another"
Tbs last OF the trio, J. W. Wolf. had . good
deal to say in his own appointment. being
member of the board of aldermen, but President
Sweeney excused him from voting for himself.
Tho Tact 10 the present council have q new in.
terpretation Of the saying that ~ public ONCE II
public trust" Oh. no. not now. at least with
our present city administration. Their version
u - public ONCE IL . private snap"
A short time after Wolf was appointed heard
him asked how he was getting along In his new
position.
ooh, very well I'll get used to 1t BY and BY"
"How are they getting on with the sewer tun-
HavA hoAs1 hoPn At
Eyes, was there YESTERDAY; it was the second
time in my lie was under ground; but don't
know anything about tunnel told them that
before went"
swell. how are they progressing With the
brick work.
I am not q brickiayer, but would be glad to
have those who do know visit the tunnel with
me-"
was sorely tempted to ask him what in the
name OF thunder he Was appointed for. but re-
Trained.
Now, It ia we'll for the citizens to realise the
fact that to these men the whole of the expens-
i've and important machinery of the city il en-
trusted. They are to determine what II right or
wrong about it, and their knowledge Is sup
posed by many to be sufficient for them to do SO
Their fitness for the position was well exempli.
fed by themselves a few days ago, when their
wisdom In purchasing fire engiue was Ques-
bers OF the council questioned the board on
what grounds they based their selection OF the
Watrous engine they immortalized themselves
by their answer: "Oh. We examined the CUTS
of the different engines and We listened to the
stories OF the agents"
don't believe that either of the two could
tell stea m fire engine from q donkey-uniess
same one else told them-and for deciding on
tho merits OF a fire engine they are most utterly
Incapable.
As to Mr.. Wilson's election think that If the
whole truth was known it would show that the
members OF the board of works. knowing abso-
luiely nothing themselves OF the duties or re-
quirements OF man fitted for the position OF
superintendent OF water works. wanted no one
in that important position who knew more than
they did. 80 ~ to put their knowledge 10 shame.
Mr.. Wilson himself tells us he is no mechan-
icai engineer, but that 10 a position which de-
mands the services OF o thoroughly practical
mechanic-one who 10 conversant with every
detail OF steam engines and pumping ma
cninery. That posit;on ought to be separated
from the clerical part entirely, and the duties
of superintendent of the water works confined
strictly 10 the pumping and distributing ma
chinery of the city. The collection of water
rents should form no part of his duties, but that
part of the work should be transferred TO the
city treasurer's Office and transacted by the
treasurers present staff, or. II that Is not sum-
Gent, appoint a special clerk for that purpose.
The water works superintendent should b
not only skilled mechanic, but q thorough
draughtsman, able to des!gn and carry out all
extensions required. and he must be possessed
OF competent knowledge OF hydraulics
Had the city selected such man, there would