The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-06
IN CITY COUNCIL.
Consideration of Filtration
System Postponed.
Morrison-IeweII Company Notify the
Council That City is Liable.

The joint special committee on investi-
CATION of the filtration system, with MEM
bers of the Board Of Aldermen, met in the
Mayors Office this morning to consider
the report and accompanying resolution to
be submitted to the City Council. The
report of the committee was accepted. 1t
gave an account Of the visits to Lawrence
and the Pettaconsett Station and the en-
gagement of Expert Clark to examine the
sand for filtration purposes which have
been previously published in reports to the
city engineer and COMMISSIONS Smith.
The report was AS follows: "Upon a
careful review OF the whole matter it is
the opinion of your committee that a sys-
tenn OF natural filtration should be estab-
lished at the Pettaconsett pumping station
at an early day. This system will, II is
believed require less original expenditure
will be more efficient, will be more uni
form in its effects and require less annual
expenditure for maintenance than any
other effectual system available, and the
passage of the accompanying resolution
is therefore recommended.
The accompanying resolution repealed
the previous resolutions which made APP
preparations aggregating s2Si 900, and di-
rected the commissioner to proceed to
contract for the construction of q natural
system at an expenditure of s2si 900.
At this point the following communics-
tion was received from the president of
the Morrison-Jewell SUSTAIN, in which the
claim is made that they shall hold the
city for the fulfiilment of its contract or for
damages for its breach:
NEW York, July 6. 1854.
Robert f. Smith, Esq, Commissioner Of
Public Works, Providence, X. i.
SIR-We have read with surprise in the
Providence Journal of the 81 inst. that the
City Council has passed a Joint resolution in
structing you TO make no contract
for n filtration plant until further
directed by the City Council. This is the first
intimation we have had of any claim that we
had not already contracted to furnish a filter
plant for your city, and we deem IL our
duty, In view OF this information,
TO notify you that we respect
fully insist that we have closed the contract.
have furnished the bonds required and pre-
pared by you, and that we always have been
and are ready TO carry out the said contract.
that we insist upon our right so to do, and
that we must look to all parties who have so
contracted with Us, either in the fulfllment
of the contract or damages for its breach.
Yours very truly.
THE MoRRIsos-J JEWEL FILTRATION CON-
PANY,
BY HENRY LEWIS, President.
This communication created a lively
discussion. The city solicitor was sent
for but could not be found. Assistant
Solicitor Baker appeared and said that he
had talked with the city solicitor and it
was their opinion that the company had
no valid claim on the city. Members
of the committee and the board adj
vised postponement of action until a writ
ten opinion could be obtained. Then
Councilman Mccarthy raised the point as
to whether the resolution recommended
by the committee repealed the reso-
luton whereby Commissioner Smith
was directed not to contract for
a filtration system until further adj
vised by the City Council. This problem
was also submitted TO the Assistant City
Solicitor. Then there was a general dis
cussion of the contract of Everson & Lid
die and as to whether it included every
thing necessary to the complete construc-
ton Of the plant. Some of the
members wanted to see plans and
specifications, and City Engineer
Shedd declared that the contract included
everything. Finally it was decided, in
view of the complications that had arisen
over the claim Of the Morrison-Jewell
and the contract OF Everson & Liddle,
that the committee adjourn TO meet two
weeks from today at 10 o'clock. The mo-
ton prevailed.
The Board then went into special ses-
sion. The report of the filtration commit
tee was received. Accompanying IL was a
communication signed by prominent ply
sicians expressing their belief "thst the
public drinking water in the city ought
to be purified, IL practicable, without the
use OF chemicals" The resolution re-
manned I'm the hands of the committee.
Concurrent Business.
The Board concurred in several matters
from the Common Council. Among chem
were bills appropriating $4,000 for the
new city barn and shed, adding $4,000
to appropriation for printing, City Hall,
and repairs On public - buildings,
authorizing the Park commits
sioners to sell buildings at Davis
Park; joint resolutions to lay out Buckley
and Taylor streets; authorizing N~srragan-
sett Electric Lighting Company to erect
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