The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-31
WILSON TO RESIGN.
3. H. Calligan the Next Super
intendent of Water Works.
THE WATER FUND se. ses SHORT.
Unanimous DETERMINATION OF the Board
Of Public Works-Publio Inter.
ests Demand . Chango.

Today ". Z Wilson q Superintendent Of the
water works: tomorrow IL il more than prob.
able B. q. Calligau will be. Yesterday Mr. Cal.
ligan and Nr. J. n. Colman spent some time at
the pumping station 1t Lake Warrington. -
they have done for many days. and in the after.
noon they were Joined By Commisioosr Van
Brocklin.
Mr.. Wilson will b asked this morning 70 ten.
der his resignation. to be handed In at the meet
ing Of the board Of public works In the after.
doom, and il he refuse, the once will b de-
c,ared vacant and Robert II. Calltgan elected 70
take his place
The immediate cause 10 not made Known. The
members of the board give M Wilson credit for
industry and for desire to do his best, but they
have come 70 the conclusion that the best In
tsrssts of the city require . change Of manage
ment The members are unanimously OF the
opinion that - they are under bonds they can
not be controlled By merely political considera.
lions. There 10 no imputation whatever upon
Mr.. Wilson's integrity: but the board has n.
rived at the opinion that his previous exDer'-
once WAS not OF such character ~ to specially
at him for the ONCE of superintendent OF Watef
works
Other members Of the government who have
been consulted on the subject have come 70 the
same conclusion and the board feels satisfied
that neither the executive nor legislative body
will fail to endorse its action.
TOR the position, but he was not . candidate.
Mr.. Calligan ID the member OF the house OF
delegates from the Fourth ward. He has been
member OF the city council several times, and
was 1t one time street commissioner. He was
also . member OF the freeholders' convention
which drafted the present city charter. He has
been . resident Of the Sound for many years.
most of which were spent in Seattle. He IL the
owner Of considerable property, and 10 q me-
chanical engineer OF considerable experience.
It was for this reason that he was invited to &C
company MI. Colman in his examination Of the
pumps
The trouble has been brewing some time, and
eliminated upon the discovery that Mr.. Wilson
had purchased without the knowledge OK au.
thority of'ths board about 600 worth Of pipe
beyond the quantity contracted for.
In August last an ordinance was passed by the
city council authorixng . contract between the
city and the Northwestern Supply Company, of
Portland, for the purchase OF 600 tons of water
pipe at $3.50 per ton, the company representing
that the price Of the pipe was $42 usually, but
they had a quantity on hand they would sell at
the reduced price The contract called for the
purchase Of 1000 tons only. but required the
company, II more were ordered, to supply IL at
the same price.
That quantity was taken at . cost Of 81, 500. OF
which $1,000 was paid, and It was assumed that
- there was $50. 600 in the water fund, the pay
ment OF the balance OF $l9,5OO would sull leave
margin. Now the discovery IL made that Will
son ordered 476 tons moro at an additional cost
Of 316S9S. The result 10 that the fund will be
overdrawn by $6,398, which must be borrowed
from another fund.
II was resolved. - there were seven car loads
lying at the depot, not to accept them, but later
still another discovery was made, namely, that
Wilson had taken some 10-inch pipe from nearly
ALL II not all. Of the cars 20 that the entire con-
Segment had been accepted"
The board very politely sxonerstes Nj. Wilson
from any other charge than bad judgment, but
firmly requests his resignation.