The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-02


We. minority of your special commit
tee. TO whom was referred Il communica-
ton of the city engineer submitting plans,
maps, profiled and other data relating TO
his Investigations toward an increased
water supply for Salt Lake City. together
with a statment of expenditures or the
regular allowance of the engineering
department as we'll as for special work
done for other departments of the city
government, we would beg leave to re-
Port as follows:
We have examined the maps. etc, as
presented by the engineer and find them
in condition TO be completed at very
small expense. We have also examined
the data and information in his possession
ard find that all the work has been very
thoroughly and painstakingiy done and
we believe it will be to the best interests
of the taxpayers of Salt Lake City TO
allow the engineer to complete his work.
We would refute the statement that the
engineer has exceeded his authority IN
making these examinations by referring
you to 4 clause in the resolution under
which he is working:
With regard to the proposed exchange
of water from Mill creek and Big Cottos-
wood creek. for water from The Salt Lake
IL Jordan canal, as also the proposal or
Mr.. j. NJ. Thomas to sell TO the city
reservoir site at the mouth of Little Cot
tonwood canyon. together with other
property, We recommend that the city
engineer be authorized to make the neces-
sary SURVEYS and estimates to determine
proposed source of supply: and that he
also be instructed to thoroughly inveSti-
gate the rights of the parties interested
in the waters of the streams from Mill
creek. and Big Cottonwood, also what
power rights. If any, would have to be
purchased before the city could obtain
legal right and title TO the amount of
water proposed to be exchanged"
We further refer you to a report of the
waterworks committee signed by four
members of that committee, which states:
Your committee finds, upon investi
cation, that the city engineer, in the
prosecution of his surveys and investiga-
tions, has been guided entirely by the
instructions given him by your honorable
body"
We would recommend that the engineer
be instructed TO complete his work and
make his report at the earliest possible
moment
partment, we can find nothing wrong,
but as there has been a great deal of
question raised by members of the coun-
ell. and a good many insinuationS cast in
regard to the engineers method of do
ing business. we would recommend that
the finance committee be authorized to
engage an expert to audit the city engin-
GERS accounts and make an itemized de-
tailed statement of them to the council.
In regard TO the statement of the en-
gineer that his allowance was expended
he did not make such statement The
statement he made to the committee was
that if he had no special work to do. GER
tain employees would nave to be had in
the department and they would be the
ones that he had mentioned and at the
salaries that he had stated and that tho
statement was simply made as d mattG
of comparison.
Debate Cut Off.
Upon the conclusion of the reading of
the two reports, Councilman Robert
son moved to substitute the minority
report for the majority, and proceeded
to make an argument in support of his
motion. Just as he was warming up,
Councilman Morris interrupted with a
motion to defer consideration of the
questions till Thursday evening, in COM
mittee of the whole. Robertson prompt
ly accepted the amendment, and the
council agreed to it. However. the time
was subsequently changed to Friday
evening at 1880, on the earnest plea of
the Republican members, who want to
spend Thursday evening at Saltair.
Maps For the Government.
A communication frons Engineer Kel-
sey stated that United States Irrigation
Engineer Elwood Meade had requested
permission TO make copies of the maps,
profiles and other data oI,athe water
supply question, the purpose being to
have the same form a part of the gov
eminent irrigation exhibit at the Paris
exposition. Since a majority of the
special committee objected to granting
the request, the city engineer hoped
the council would yield the point.
Councilman Fernstrom declared he
believed Engineer Meade had never
made any such request of the city en-
gineer. At any rate, he would oppose
the granting of the request until he
knew how much it would cost the city
to complete KelSey'S work, and how
much expense, if any. the city would
have to meet to furnish copies to the
government.
Robertson stated that the city engi-
neer's maps and other data, with one
exception, were almost completed.
Wallace thought it would be a big
advantage to the city to grant the gov
eminent engineers request. particular
~ since the expense of making copies
would be borne entirely BY Engineer
Meade.
Howe objected to granting the re-
quest now, because it meant giving
authority TO Kelsey TO complete the
work, and he wanted first to know the
cost.
Romney expressed willingness to ac-
commodate the government at the
proper time.
In Callisters opinion. the council was
manifeSting undue alarm over the mat
ter. but Fernstrom thought otherwise
because the question at issue hao
everything to do with the city enSi-
neer's uncompleted work on the prob
lem of larger water supply.
1t was agreed, however. that tn:
matter should also be taken up Friday
night in committee of the whole.
Geddes Shown Up.
The committee appointed to investi
gate the charges made by Archibald ;
Geddes against certain members of th'
council with reference to the alleged
proposition of exchanging city cana
water for 20 per cent less of Mill Creel
water, reported as follows:
The gentlemen from Mill Creek at
! tributed with having made the state
ment to Mr. Geddes and the city engi
neer. appeared before the committee
and stated that no such offer had beer
made by any member of the council
but that they themselves named the
terms of the exchange. The commit
| tee. therefore, finds that the charge:
were not sustained and that Mr.. Ged
des overstepped his proper bounds II
making them. The committee suggest:
! that no city official or employee should
cast reflections on this honorable body.
Without debate the committees re.
port was filed, to be considered Friday