The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-05
Wilson's Term of Contempt for
Board Of Works.
DENIES THERE IS A SHORTAGE,
1x-sapsrintendent Of the water works
Aakss Statement Conesrning the
Work Of the Experts.

"emen) comprising the board of public
works after thirty-four days. incessant
searching have found what they undoubt-
ediy call great big mares nest which
they claim has not yet Matched out. They
say they are going TO invite me to explain
the discrepancies. Well. am sure that
Is good news for me, for feared these
Fellows" had forgotten me entirely. Now,
Fellow citizens, friends and foes alike,
nave told you before through the medium
OF tho press that it was who demanded
my books to be examined by experts, and
whep this has been accomplished and their
report has been given to the public GER
tainly will have no fault to find. If I
cannot explain all my transactions while
In that important office to the satisfaction
OF the taxpayers Of this city shall then
be at their disposal for all the censure they
may see fit to heap upon me. If had
not Known that my accounts were correct
should have done like my predecessors
gone out leaving the books at haphazard
and without exporting. And now for the
accusation that I was in the Office and
was asked for an explanation of some
memorandum, I most emphatically say is
damnable lie, and in proof Of this will
submit the following letter from Mr.. John
Grunkranz:
SEATTLE, May 4, 1898.
W. T. Wilson. Esq.-Deor Sir: In regard to q
abatement published in the Posr INTELLIGENCKR
this morning, mentioning q shortage in your &C.
counts - superintendent OF the city water
works, would state that never called your atten-
ton to that item, AZ claimed by the above paper:
never talked with you about "eertain memo
randum" (now lost), and was not interrupted
in that conversation with you by the telephone
n ahnvn ma nav all nd laat
night at the office of the city water works while
was at work on the books and asked me for
facts. told him could not tell him anything
about ii, As we are not through examining;
have struck no balance yet. and he would have
to wait until we are ready for report That is
all know about this mornings article In the
PosrINrELLIGINcER Yours truly,
JOHN GRUNKRANz
And further, as regards the accusation
concerning rebate allowed Junius Roches-
ter, say the same as OF the former charge,
and for the facts in this case will ask you to
read the following letter from Mr.. Roch-
ester:
sxArrLK, May L. 1893
W. E. Wilson, esq.-Dear Sir: In the Posi-.
1NTELLioENCER Of this date, under the heading,
els 1t a shortage?" find the following: IAN.
other case IL . rebate of $102 allowed Junius
Rochester for over-assessment Tho charge In
-
but that he exceeded his authority In allowing
such . rebate without the knowledge and sane
ton OF the board"
do not understand the charge. It Is unQual-
ihediy false so far a. have any knowledge. On
the contrary, when you became Superintendent
of the water works notified You that laid the
water main on Rochester avenue at an expense
of between 500 and $500; that there were nine
teen houses on that main: that ought to pay
water tax. but had never been able TO get my
houses on the tax roll, because the officers of the
former administration said that the Rochester
avenue main was not on the city water books.
frequently requested them to put these houses
On You then put my houses on the water tax
rolls and have ever since paid the water rent
on these houses
still own this main and the city, ever since
your administration, has been receiving water
rent from nineteen houses on my main.
Last summer the water rent ON block 20,
Burke's I'd addition, Tor lawn purposes became
20 onerous-about SIS per month-that quit
taking water. and a bill was sent In for one
month after had cut the water of. the amount
about s25. declined 10 pay, because / had not
used the water that month. do not know any.
thing further about water rents under your ad-
ministratiOn. never asked any rebate for any
tax or rate. Yours sincerely,
JuNIUs ROCHESTER,.
And again. so far as the allegation con-
corning the Chinaman, this also 1 have
tried to chase down today. but failed to
get any light on the subject, but which
will find no trouble to explain when the
time comes. There are quite number of
accounts on the ledgers in the water de-
partment that are frequently changing
ownership, where entries have been made
that require the explanation of the book
keeper making these entries. This ex-
PLANTATION have held myself in readiness
to give at any time for the past thirty
three days. A list of these matters has
been kept by the experts. they informing
me that when they had gone through
everything they would call myself and the
bookkeeper in and go through the whole
thing, making one job of il. This am
ready to do at any time, and until this
has been completed l most emphaticaliy
say that any statement of the board of
public works or any other man or men
that my accounts are short TO the amount
OF one cent are unmtigated liars and l
will hold any papers that may publish the
same responsible for libel.
Now in regards to your statement that I
hai visited the board OF public works and
warned them that the experts were q long
time oyer their work is another, manufac-
tured out of the same cloth as all the rest
Let us see. | have not been inside of the
board of public works office since the day
| was let out. Neither have / conde-
scended To speak 70 any one of those
fellows since two or three days from that
time You say it is unfortunate, in view
of the development, that Mr.. T. ].
Chilberg, who was bookkeeper during
most of my time, should be absent from
the city. / want TO know what Mr.. Chill
herg's absence has 10 do with this case?
You might just as well have saved your
self making any such insinuaton against
so noble young man as Mr.. Chi berg
want to say right here that there is not
and can III no way be any respon sibility
resting on that gentleman. / stand ready
to take any charge that may be made
against that official on my back.
Now as regards the condition Of the
books when they came into my posses
sion. l have not time TO go into at this
date. but may do so in the near future if
you so desire, and perhaps could through
the assistance of some experts give you
some valuable information.
In conclusion, allow me TO say that
have no. time TO devote TO these fellows,
meaning the so-cailed board of public
works." but / have not forgotten them
nor their efficiency, and will attend TO
their wants later on. Yours respectfully,
w. f. WILSON.
Ex-Supt. Seattle Water Works.
EASEMENTS.