The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-12-28
City Council and The Water Works.


Council has had three meetings dur
ing the past week, with view to reach.
ing the third reading of the ordinance
providing for the election of Water
Works Trustees. But at the last meet.
ing, Tuesday evening, Prof. Smith, one
of the four who favor the ordinance, was
unavoidably out of the city, and there
were not enough present to pass it.
Pence, who opposes the measure, gazed
across at the members on the right with
many a triumphant wink, and shook his
fat sides as he chuckled at their dilema
There will be another meeting Friday
evening, and then We shall see what We
shall see.
In regard to the hydrant question,
copies OF the correspondence between
Engineer Moler and the Boughen Engi.
neering Company were laid before
Council, but their consideration was
postponed until the next meeting. These
papers show possibility of an amicable
solution of the difficulty. Mr.. Moler
agrees to submit to arbitration by com.
petent engineers of the questions in
dispute, except, he says there must be
test oi three hundred pounds to the
square inch anu the inside iron surfaces
must be coated with paratine. Beyond
this, Mr.. Moler makes objection to some
features OF construction, including the
drip and rubber valve. The contractors
claim that two Of the hydrants men
toned in the specifications are rubber
valve hydrants. The drip, they say q,
drains all water above the valve. As tu
arbitration, they are anxious for it, but
insist that if the decision is in their
favor they shall not have to bear the ex.
pense, while, if it should be adverse,
they will not only pay all expenses
cheerfully, but agree to donate 500 to
the City's Engineer. The Board of Ar.
bitrators is to consist of one man 10 BIZ
selected by MIR. Moler, and one by the
the contractors. In case these two can
not agree, they are to select a third
man-all three to be practical water
works engineers. Mr.. Moler's chief OBJ.
lection seems to have been because of
apparent lack of testing an parafine
coating. In these matters, he was, from
his standpoint, unquestionably right,
inasmuch as he evidently had not been
informed concerning the five hundred
pound test, and did not know as TO the
contractors parafine coating. Now, il
these points can be reliably established
as being fulfilled, why cannot all parties
get together, throw aside all spirit OF
controversy, confer in a kind, candid
way and settle this matter satisfactorily?
The city is hard run for money to meet
current expenses. A law suit, if won.
would cost two or three thousand dol.
lars, and arbitration by experts would,
perhaps involve an expense of four or
five hundred dollars. The town cannot
afford either. The city withholds from
the contractors large percentage to in.
sure the best mechanical results 1t
also requires the guarantee of heavy
bond. Under these circumstances, we
think it may be possible for all parties
to the affair to get together, and devise
a way out of this wrangle without jeop.
ardizing any municipal interests. We
are not of those who see anything in
tentionally wrong on the part of Coun.
Gil, the engineer or the contractors. We
believe their differences are honest, and
that, as honest men, they will be will
ing to meet, and by mutual concessions,
II necessary, arrive at some satisfactory
adjustment of their differences. In ali
OF this, however, We are confident that
the interests Of the city will not be com
promised single iota.