People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-05-16


greater in consequence thereof. The
proper method Of procedure, however,
was question that they hal not had
time to sufficiently consider.
After very general discussion Of
the council, the mayor called upon
Jos. Nj. ThrallS the manager of the
water works company for any expla-
nation he might have to make.
Every one present who had seen Jos.
eph in the same situation before knew
Just what he was going to say. lie
didn't know exactly why the pressure
at the fire had not been sufficient. but
he did know that the waterwOrks
were all right and the company was
moi at fault. He then went on TO
complain that the people paid no at.
tention to the ordinance requiring all
private consumers to shut of their
water supply as soon as fire alarm is
given. He complained that during a
part OF the time Of this fire was in pro-
greSs one newspaper THE Monitor.
Press had run its water motor and
that another newspaper 1.-THE Voice.
had run its motor during all the time
Of the fire and claimed that these, tc.
gether with private lawn sprinklers
were enough TO materially weaken the
water pressure at the fire. He then
INDUCED in general and promiscu.
Gus growl about the private custo.
merS failing to observe the ordinance
in case Of fire. The ordinance grant.
ing the franchise TO the waterwOrks
company and STIMULATING what pres
sure it shall furnish had heed read and
and during Mr.. Thralls' talk Council
man SaylOr asked him whether the
company could comply with the re-
quirements of that ordinance under
any circumstances whatever. Mr..
SaylOr had TO repeat his question time
and again but he finally got an an
swer: II don't suppose we could"
A. A. Ragan, acting chief Of the
fire department at yesterdays fire
was also called upon and, besides CIV
ing the details of the management of
the fire, gave the council many facts
relative to the water pressure furnish.
ed at different fires in the past.
The mayor then called upon the edi.
tor of the Mail, who called attention
to the fact that the ordinance pro-
hibltiug the private consumption Of
water during fire, contained a pro-
vision that no one except an officer or
agent Of the waterwOrks company
could institute prosecution under
it and if it was not observed to the
liking of that company they, and not
the city are TO blame. He further ex-
pressed the opinion that there was
something radically wrong with the
water mains leading to Piety Hill as
there never has been, at any time, a
sufficient pressure at any fire on the
hill, statement which was cOrrO-
bOrated by Mr.. Raglan.
The council then decided to 90 into
executive session and did so. After
they adjourned it was announced that
they had passed a resolution not to
pay any more water rental until the
company makes its works comply with
its franchise. If this is all the cOuu.
Gil proposes TO do, then our predict
ion last night that there would be a
little bluff and buster for appearance
sake and then the water works CON-
pany would turn up as master Of the
situation again is already fulfilled.
This same course has been pursued be-
fore, but in the end the corporation al
ways got every cent claimed. But re-
cOgnizing'the possibility OF the council
having decided upon other measures
which are not made public, we with
hold all censure for the present; but
We do not purpose to lose sight Of
this subject nor to permit the people
or the constituted authorities OF the
city to forget this matter until some
thing is done that will actually rene
dy the evils com claimed of.-Mail, 10.
Councilman Forsyth Resigns.
Councilman FORSYTH filed his resig-