The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-25
TACoMA's $1,000, 900 SCANDAL.
Testimony Relative To the Value of the
AIa..arao... III. l.ifx- EnlohL

springs the City Bought.
Tacoma, Dec. 4.-Special-There were
number OF very amusing features today in
the trial OF the city's 81 900, go damage suit
against e. b. Wright and the Tacoma
Light and Water Company. Fred Plum
mer, the engineer, was placed on the
stand by the city TO testify TO the flow of
water COR lack OF it, from the Thomas and
Patterson springs. When the direct ex-
animation was finished Judge Parsons,
for the defendant company. took the Wit
ness in hand and subjected him to a Sc
we're cross-examination. Witness knowl-
edge OF civil ard hydraulic engineering
was gone into in detail and Judge Par
sons Piled pointed and sarcastic interro-
cations thick and fast. But Mr.. Plummer
was a match for the gray-haired attorney.
In crOss-examining witnesses on the flow
Of the springs Judge Parsons has often re-
ferred to "the water boiling up at the foot
of the bluT," where the springs are To-
Gated. To hear Judge Parsons questions
along this line a stranger Tor the jury
might be led TO believe there was verit-
able geyser spouting up out on the prai-
RE The veteran attorney tried this on
Mr.. Parsons, but did not obtain satisfac-
tory results. Indeed, the witness assev-
Grated fatty that 1.-The water didn't boil
up at all
Judge Parsons wormed the admission
from the witness that he had not Gradu-
ated from any regular college of civil en-
gineering. Replying TO the question OF
how he had formed his ideas Of the geo.
logical conditions surrounding the springs
witness said he had gone over the entire
country from Hood canal to Pasco. Hero
the attorney thought he had Mr.. Plummer,
remarking that he had kept his eye on
Pasco," but couldn't possibly figure out
where ii could be in the territory between
the city and the Thomas and Patterson
strings. The attorney then gravely asked
the witness:
Where do you find Hood canal between
here and Patterson springs?"
Witness-Nowhere
Judge Parsons-Where do you locate
Pasco between the city and the springs?
The witness made no reply 10 this, and
the attorney insisted on an answer. Judge
Wickersham interposed saying 10 the wit
ness: Just tell the court what you did
out there"
Never mind" said Judge Parsons,
quickly; ''let the witness answer him
SELF
The Court guess witness can take
care OF himself.
Mr. Pmmmer testified that Engineer
Herring DID not know as much about the
springs. when he reported that 10000 COO
gallons per day could be developed" as
he himself did.
Judge Parsons tried to get the witness
to admit that 1t was question OF 1udg-
ment between Mr.. Herring and himself
Said the attorney; 1T didn't require any
particular inspiration TO get the flow Of
those springs did it?'
1T must have been inspiration in Her
ing's case" said the witness.
Arytd Rydstrou1. Of the board Of public
works. testified that he had estimated the
value Of the plants shortly after the city
came into possession. They were worth
M ri W ffNaf7 90 m ~
Judge Parsons wanted the witness to adj
init that IN estimating the value OF the
plants he should have taken into consider
alton their earning capacity. Then the
attorney asked him what the water and
light plants had earned per year since the
city got control of them. Judge Wicker
sham vigorously objected. but the evidence
was allowed IN. Mr. Rydstrom being IN
structed 10 prepare a statement to be
handed in or Thursday Then Judge Vick-
ersham caused a surprise ~ putting Ju6 ga
Parsons on the stand. He showed to tha
witness an interview IN the Ledger OF Jam
uary g. lNa8 which IS directly opposed %
this doctrine TIE interview vas not al
lowed 20 be read. although II convulsed
the court. as tho pos ton taken BY Judge
Parsons in his arguments on the evidence
of Mr. Hydstrom was directly contrary TO
his interview. This reads as follows:
The city should own the light and
water works. / know nothing Of the wall
uation Of che plant. However I do not
think its present earning capacity should
he made the basis % that valuation for
The purpose 81 the proposed purchase. ono
or enc objects OF tho purchase SIS 30 fur
uish the city and it's inhabitants with
water nj the lowest reasonable price. The
present earning capacity is no measure Of
the valuation o. the property
Yesterday joan Thomas testified that
% rf Is "a FL I'm -