The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-08
City Engineer Will Complete His
Water Investigations.
THE COUNCIL so ORDERS
MAJORITY REPORT ADOPTED BY
A NARROW MARGIN.
Fernstrom and Patrick Indulge In a
Mild Tilt-Appropriation For In
proving Pioneer Park-Amend-
ment to Rules-Street Supervisor
Sedden Wants a Rock-crusher.

The city council last night, by bare
majority, decided to order the engineer
to complete his Investigations and
surveys looking towards an increased
water supply. There was no prelimin-
members voting against the report rec
ommendinS further prosecution of the
work took occasion to explain their
vote, and Fernstrom stirred up some of
the members so that general debate
took place during roll call.
Aside from the water question moth
ing of any great Importance occupied
the attention of the city fathers.
Councilman Diehl called up the report
on the water question, which laid over
since last meeting.
ternstrom, in voting against the re-
port, said he did so because no depart
ment had ever before been allowed to
spend $4,000 without a. committee of the
council supervising the expenditure He
then brought up the old difference be-
tween himself and the city engineer rel
ative to the alleged statement that the
present inVestiga tons were neither the
best or the cheapest
The speaker was repeatedly inter
rupted by points of order, which were
overruled. He finally said:
It's strange that every time we bring
this matter up some gentlemen of the
council jump around like rubber balls"
Naughter.)
In conclusion Fernstrom said he had
no malice toward the city engineer, but
he opposed it because he believed this
was a wrong time to prosecute the in
vestigations
Councilman Fernstrom, during the
course of his talk, referred to Council
rnI
truth in connection with certain mat
tiers pertaining to the question at is
sue.
At this point several members called
him TO order. but Patrick said:
1 don't mind it: let him go on
And Fernstrom finished his speech.
Councilman Howe also explained why
he voted against the report. First, the
council did not know how the $4,000 al
ready disbursed had been used, and
there was no telling now much benefit
the city would get out OF the 81 900 ad-
ditional to be expended.
Robertson said he would vote yes be-
cause the city engineer was a man to be
trusted The city was about in the
same position as a man in a house
without roof. 1t was all right as long
as the sun shines, but when the rain
comes the folly of his position was APP
parent. The city may have plenty of
water now, but this is the time TO pre-
pare for the future.
Romney was in favor of an increased
water supply, but the method pursued
was putting the cart before the horse.
SO much noise was being made in con-
nectlon with the question that people
who had water to sell would charge two
or three prices for it, consequently it
was of little use to spend money before
the council knew what was being done
This was a bad time to do engineering
work, and poor economy TO prosecute il.
Weiler's reasons We're substantially
the same as Rcmney's. He did not know
what benefit the city would get out of
this money expended, and further. he
did not think it economy to complete
the work now
President Barnes explained his rea-
sons for voting against the report, con-
tending the work could be done much
cheaper next summer. The engineer
had practically admitted this. Mr..
Barnes said no man was more in favor
Of increasing the water supply than he.
but this was d wrong time to make the
Investigations.
The report was then adopted by the
following vote:
Ayes-Allen, Buckle, Callister. DienI,
Patrick, Robertson, Siddoway and Wal
lace-S.
Nays Fernstrom, Howe, Margefts.
Norris, ROmney, Weller and Barnes.
After the vote had been taken Patrick
got an opportunity to get back at Fern
str0m. The latter asked for some in
formation from committee of which
Patrick is a member. Patrick renlied:
i would rather that some other gen.
tleman of this council make a reply,
because my Veracity has already been
assailed. l wish to add, however, that
this is the first time in all my public
career that I have been charged with
untruthfulness. l want to say, how
ever. that no gentleman has ever called
me a liar and / consider the source
from whence this charge comes"
Callister moved to amend the rules
so as TO provide that any member can
explain his vote, but not debate the
question, the recorder to note such ex-
PLANTATION.
Buckle moved a suspension of the
rules to take the matter up at once
Yes suggested Fernstrom. and
move TO amend by providing that
when member occupies the floor no
one shall rise to a point of order unless
he is right" Gaughter.)
And I move TO amend" said Buckle.
by appointing Fernstrom Judge of
whether a point raised is right or not"
daughter)
/ accept Indl, Sald FernStrOm.
After a good deal of further talk
along this line the amendment to the
rules as proposed was defeated by a
vote Of for and 6 against, a majority
of the members elected being neces-
sary.
Street Supervisor Seldom in a letter
to the council recommended that the
city purchase a rock crusher for mac
purposes. Mr.. Seldom thinks
a crusher viii cost about $3.50. and that
the old boiler now in possession of the