The herald., 1897-04-20


an estimate of the cost of the old water
plant owned by the Los Angeles CITY
Water company, and give to this coun-
ell the number of feet of different sized
pine used and the number OF years IN
use. In order for this council to arrive at
| a fair valuation of the same.
Councilman Hutchison seconded the
resolution. and thought it should be
adopted. He said that the city should
| have a careful survey made of the old
plant and ascertain what they had to
offer. AS for purchasing the old plant,
he was utterly opposed to it, as 1t was
absolutely valueless and could not pos
sibly be utilized in any way.
| Councilman Nickel spoke in support
of the committees report and depre-
Gated any such resolution as that which
had been offered. While there was no
objection, particularly, to making the
report of the engineer public, he thought
it would be premature at this time ana
would hinder the committee in its work.
The committee had been trying to do
its duty honestly and conscientiously.
If the council was not satisfied, he, Tor
one. was willing to get off the commit
tee. but he did think that they should
proceed in a business-like manner.
Councilman Hutchison again declared
his opposition to the purchase of the
present plant He thought that the city
should get to work as soon as possible.
AS for keeping the report secret any
longer. that was useless, as the parties
in interest already knew what they
were and he himself had a copy of the
principal items.
Councilman Toll deprecated the action
of the councilman in offering the resolu-
tion The report of the city engineer
had been prepared for purposes of COM
parison, and to make it public at this
time would be, to say the least prema-
ture. He for one, was in favor of ap-
preaching this matter in a straight
forward, business-like manner, just the
same as if he was attending tc per-
sonal business transaction. The whole
question before the council was whether
it was better to buy the old system or
build a new one. He did not favor bring
ing in outside issues. and, in his opinion
this thing OF dragging in gallery plays,
ard the raising of damaging side issues
could not fail to result disastrously, so
far as acquiring the present plant was
concerned. In attempting to force the
DrOOuCllOH OI lllt tlly thSiiNSi ? hSPOAN
at this time they were not pursuing busi-
ness tactics, at least, in his opinion.
Councilman Grider wanted the council
to get to work What the members
wanted was an estimate of the old plant
as it stood today.
Councilman Nickel protested against
any gallery play being interjected in the
discussion at this time. The committee
4 ;fe~I Itttx
Nothing but an estimate of the cost of
the present plant would satisfy Mr..
Grider and Councilman Hutchison
thought that, If necessary, 100000 should
be spent to save 81, 900, 900. The council
wanted to know what the present plant
was worth.
President Silver thought the resolution
was reflection on the committee having
the matter in charge. with full power to
act, in which proposition Councilman
Grder did not concur.
Councilman Toll finally offered an
amendment to the effect that the water
company be requested to furnish the
council with full statement of the con-
dition of it's plant, with the cost of the
pipe. ETC., which statement could be sub
mitted to a board of competent engin-
GERS lOi dc " AZ toi OStiNES,
but Mr.. Hutchison objected on the
ground that this was indefinite. for the
reason that the water company might
never submit a statement.
City Engineer Dockweiler was called
upon for a statement and promptly as
serted that he knew just about what the
water company's plant consisted Of
1t claimed about $50 miles of pipe. and to
rto
number of borings the cost of which
would be about s2500
Councilman Nickel could not see any
use of the committees going ahead if the
engineer was to do this work
This stopped the discussion and vote
was taken, when Mr.. Orders amend
ment was defeated by vote of TO 2,
Messrs. Grider and Hutchison. The re-
port of the committee was adopted and
shortly afterward the council adjourned
for the noon recess.
AGAIN RAISED
1t was supposed that the whole matter
had been settled with the adoption of the
committees report at the morning ses-
sion, but as soon as the council met in
the afternoon President Silver offered a
motion that the report of the city engi-
neer on the estimated cost of a new plant
be submitted at once to the council.
The motion was in the nature of sur
prise, but it was seconded by Mr. Grider,
who promptly offered the following:
Whereas, 1t is of the first Importance
that the tax payers of the city of Los An
geles shall have prompt and full infor-
nation of all matters pertaining to the
acquisition by the said city of system
of waterworks for the use of said city
and its inhabitants; and
Whereas, The city engineer. under the
direction of this council on the 10Th day
OF the cost of a system of works for the
said city, and report the same to this
council at the earliest possible time; and
said report having been made, now
therefore be it
Resolved, That the city engineer be
ard he is hereby instructed to have said
report published in pamphlet form, and
that he include therein all such maps
charts and diagrams as may fully and
clearly illustrate said report. to the end
that the same may be clearly and readily
understood by the public; that the
number of said pamphlets be fixed at
5000, and that the same may be distribut-
ed gratuitously. on application therefor
by any tax payer, not more than one
copy to be furnished to any one person.
After debate Mr.. Orders resolution
sion followed on the advisa bility of max
NJ NIL