The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-03
HOT DEBATE
OF COUNCIh
Water Works Improvement Was the
Bone of Contention.
A JOINT REPORT WAS HUNG UPI
Several Points Of order Were Raised During
Lively Discussions and in One Instance
the Decision of the Chair Was
Appealed From.

ell last night reminded the spectators of the
sessions that were held when the electric
railway rights of way were formed the basis
of contention. The arguments were of a
most spirited character and all rules of eti-
quet were cast to the winds. The Council.
mon in attendance were Messrs. Mcclure,
Lally, Coakley Magargle, Shoemaker,
Boehm, Neswenter, Straughn James,
Englert, Brennan, Hand, Bell, Murphy and
Harkins
The wrangle was caused by a joint report
submitted by the finance and water com
mittees on the proposition to construct a
storage reservoir near the Brandonville
pumping station and it was for the special
purpose Of considering this report that the
meeting was called.
The finance committee first reported that
Tax Collector Scanlan had given assurance
that he would settle his 1856 duplicates in
full within two months and Tax Collector
Burke would be prepared to pay over 81 900
within month
The water committee reported having held
meeting with the finance committee, and
Messrs. Scanlan and Burke were present.
lhe balance of the report was practically the
same as stated by the finance committee and
theh the committee recommended the build
ing OF a storage eservoir on the stream
known as the Davis Run, the location of the
SAID reservoir to be about 900 feet south of
the present reservoir at the pumping station
at BrandOnville, Pa. The committees report
further recommends THAT the construction of
said reservoir be started at once with as large
force of men as the committee see fit To
work, subject to the order of Council the
amount of work to be regulated by the
amount of money that the tax collectors will
be able to return to Council monthly
We also recommend that the work be
done by the borough on force account or
days wages. The party to whom the work
Is entrusted to, will and must without any
extra compensation, furnish all tools. der
ricks, engines, pumps, rollers, and all ma
chinery and necessary tools fer the compile
tlon OF work and the said party to be under
the supervision and instruction of the proper
committee and the said party to give the
SAID work his undivided attention and in
consideration for services rendered and fur
nlshlng all tools, machinery, etc, he shall
receive ten llO) per cent of the cost of the
work" The committee also recommended
that an engineer and inspector be appointed.
When the report was read Mr.. Boebm
raised the question as to whether Council
could consider it at this meeting, claiming
that at the last session the committees were
instructed to bring in report at the next
regular meeting of Council This caused
reference to the minutes and it was found
that the report was to be made "at the next
meeting of Council"
Mr.. James them raised a question as To the
right of Council to appropriate money from
the general funds of the borough to construct
the reservoir and expressed the opinion that
special tax would be required for the pur-
pose
Mr.. Lally said 100000 had been appropri-
ated for street paving, or water works i'm.
provements, and that there could be no uues
ton as to the legality of the proposition.
Mr. Nelswenter said the same people who
opposed the street paving project were oppos-
ing the erection of reservoir, to which
PRESIDENT Mcclure replied that when the
paving question was up he thought, with n
majority Of Council, that money would be
forthcoming for the purpose within very
short time but when it became known that
money could not be secured from the Tax
Collector he, with majority of Council, was
opposed to the project because the borough
had no funds with which to meet the ex-
pense
Mr.. Straughn said he had no doubt as to
the legal right Of Council to spend money
Tor the storage reservoir, because it had set
aside s2O 900 for that purpose, or street paw
ing but as to the construction of the reser-
yolr he believed the water committee should
first bring in more definite plans and esti
mates, rs was done when the other reservoirs
were constructed. He expressed the belief
that the water committee had given the
question of plans and estimates very little
consideration.
Mr.. Mcclure said that in his opinion il
would take $4,000 for puddle ditch alone |
and Council should first try by means of |
trial holes or other definite method, how |
much time and expense it will require to get
bed rock and make a puddle ditch
Mr.. Lally said the cost of 10000, 600
gallon reservoir would be $4,000 aud the
capacity could be made to 70, 600, 900 gallon at
a cost Of S2i, 900.
In answer to Mr.. Coakley as to the legal
right of Council to cXpend money for the
work under existing circumstances, Borough
Solicitor Burke asked that the question be
deferred so that he might have an oppor.
tunity to consider all the facts and the law
applying to them. A motion that the Solicitor
be given two weeks in which to consider the
matter was lost.
Mr., Nelswenter veutured the opinion that
the next step should be to sell the water
plant, but Mr.. James said he did not think
any Councilman would vote for a sale.
After prolonged discussion Mr.. Englert
moved that the joint report be accepted and
the water committee get the advice of the
Borough Solicitor on the legal proposition.
after which it proceed with the work.
This motion Presiden. Mcclure declared