Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-09-27
Is Subject Of Discussion by the CITY
COuncil-M. $. Parker Will
Investigate
And Report on the Condition and
Capacity Of the Plant-Ald.
Fitzgerald's Plan.


roll call disclosed all the counclmen to
be present and the session opened, Alder
man Young presented the following reso-
luton:
"Resolved, That Mr.. M. S. Parker be
appointed by the city council as engin-
eer to report on the construction, mater
ial and general condition of the water
works of this city at as early date as
possible, and that his remuneration shall
not exceed 5000. Further, That on tho
submission of his report to the mayor,
meeting of the council be called until
which time we adjourn subject to the
call of the mayor"
Aid. Dunn said he would be better
satisfied if some engineer from outside
the city should be appointed, and moved
as an amendment that Engineer Black
ford of Butte be appointed,
Aid. Fit: gerald seconded the amend
ment and said that he did not think the
aldermen who opposed tho appointment
OF an engineer at the last meeting should
have anything to say about naming the
man. He was opposed to the selection
OF Mr. Parker, as he didn't know what
connection or relations he might have
with the water company. He would
rather have someone entirely uncon-
nected with the city. In ali fairness
the naming of the man should be left to
those aldermen who first suggested his
employment.
Alderman Williams said that Mr..
Parker was the engineer of the Townsitc
company, consulting engineer to the
Great Northern railway, a man of ac-
knowlcdged ability and integrity, and he
didn't sec what objection could be raised
to him. He would rather trust him
than some unknown man.
The motion being put on the amend
ment of Alderman Dunn, it was dc
feated, Aldermen Dunn and Fitzgerald
voting yes and Aldermen Mitchell,
Young, Williams, Fletcher, Holmes and
Mcdonald voting in the negative.
Aid. Fitzgerald said that he would
never be satisfied with the report of an
engineer selected by these five aldermen.
and offered "A resolution to the effect that
the city engineer and another engineer
to be named and paid by tho Taxpayers
be appointed by the council to act with |
Engineer Parker, and that these addi- |
tional engineers be given tDe same ia |
clltes for an investigation by the water
company as were accorded to Engineer |
Parker.
Aid. Dunn seconded the resolution.
Aid. Young said that there was no OBJ
lection on the part of the council to the
Taxpayers hiring twenty engineers If
they wanted to. AS to their being af
forded information, they had better ad
dress themselves to the water corl pany,
which had somo rights in the promises
Alderman Dunn said the Taxpayers
had not much confidence in the council.
He didn't see what objection could be
made to the additional engineers as
long as it cost the city nothing.
Alderman Young said the taxpayers
promised to pay for some lawyers en-
ployed on this water question not long
ago, but he noticed the city had to scttIe
Che bill.
Mr.. Dunn rcioincd that If the city had
followed their advice they would be in
better shape today.
Alderman Fitz@rrald's motion being
put it was rejected, Aldermen Dunn,
Mitchell and Fitzgerald voting aye and
che other five aldermen nay.
Ira Myers said he desired to point out
an error in the mayors address to the
IpbIlCil az tIip ld5t ultoLiHE, WfllI Ilhu
caused him much annoyance. As pub.
liahed in The tribune the mayor said,
"Too great cenBure cannot be- placed on
The original Stockholders of the water
who sold out ut largo protit
without giving the city IA chance to
purchase At no time while he WAS
interested in the water plant was the
city able to purchase the plant,
even at half ite cost. At that time the
laW only allowed an indebtedness Of 3
per cent on valuation for all purposes
land it WAS therefore Uut Of the Vues.
|aion to purchase the plant. Mayor
Webster was one Of the original stock
|holders himself and he (Myersj bought
|mm out. He must have known that ne
!WaB in error when he hHcriDed blame to
Flhe old company for no, selling out 10
|the CITY rs 1t WaB l'ppo9hbIo at that tlne
For the city to purchaae,
Mayor Webster eAId that il was true
flhat he WAS ono Of the original 'aldera,
End be blamed himself for parting with
fnls stock at the titno and rot holding it
funtlI the city might avail itself Of an op-
portunity TO purchase.
., .Wadsworth spoke dcprncating the
action of the council in refusing to pass
Fhe Fitzgerald resolution.
/, H. Hughes said TIE council, when
Fhoy buy the water plant, ought at the
fame time to make arrangements for an
rflgating system.
The Great Falls Street Hallway com
Pahy asked for permit to haul dirt from
excavation on Central avenue. Alderman
founn moved that it bo granted. rhe
notion was seconded by Alderman
loImes.