The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-10
Report of City Engineer Creates
Discussion,
SOME WARM EXCHANGES
FERNSTRoM DEMANDS INVESTI-
eating COMMITTEE.
His Motion to Appoint One Carried,
After a Debate That Lasted Near
ly An Hour and That Was at
Times of a Decidedly Personal
Character.

The report of City Engineer KELSEY
on amount OF money expended under
his direction for surveys and inyestiga-
tions looking to an increased water
supply, was a bone of contention thai
the council wrangled over for some
thing like an hour last night Some OF
the speeches made We're peppery ano
some of the members nearly lost thell
heads. The report showed that S4.ioi j.
mad been spent by the engineer out ol
the original $1,000 appropriation.
Mr.. Kelsey submitted an itemized
statement showing in detail the points
where work was done and the amount
each part of il cost. His report covered
only the expenditures to April l. The
engineer said that the total cost might
exceed the original estimate by $500
or $500. His full report, he stated, would
not be ready before July or August, as
measurements during the irrigatin2
season cannot be obtained until that
time.
Councilman Fernstrom started the
discussion by moving the appointment
of a special committee of five to eX-
anime into the report and ascertain
whether or not it was correct. He said
the auditor had furnished him with fig
ures showing the expense to be in ex-
cess of Mr.. Kelsey's figures and he
wanted to know which official was
right.
This brought Robertson to his feet
red with rage. He declared with much
warmth that Fernstrom had made mis-
statements and had misrepresented the
facts. IF you want to make a tight
against the engineer come out like a
man and make it," he added. Il defy
you to prove your charges" Fern
strom here broke in with a statement
that he accepted Robertson's chal-
ienge.
: Continuing, Robertson said that Audi
tor Swans figures We're wrong and that
Swan had told him so. He declared
that the auditor had entered the same
item twice and thereby led Fernstrom
into error. when l get up to make
charges against a man." he concluded,
''Ill know my figures are correct"
Buckle attempted to pour some oil on
the troubled waters. He said the mat
ter should be answered calmly and no
action taken without due reflection. He
believed a committee should investi-
gate the question, but thought the
waterWorks committee the proper body
to look into ii.
Patrick declared that he wanted to
know what the engineer had been do
ing. mo proper report has been made"
he said, but the money has been eX-
pended. looked for a report long ago.
Now the engineer says it won't be
ready before July or August When
that time comes he'll probably say he
won't be able to furnish a report to this
administration"
This gave Robertson a chance to talk
again. He announced change of
heart on the special committee propo-
sition, declaring himself in favor of 1t.
"A special committees purpose in 60
ing into an investigation" said he,
would be solely to make a fight on the
city engineer" Fernstrom interrupted
with: Il deny the insinuation."
Il would like to see this fight brought
I'D and finished" Robertson went on.
IF you people can remove Mr.. Kelsey
/ would like to see you prefer charges
against him and remove him"
Buckles amendment. carrying
reference to the waterworks committee,
was then voted down and Fernstrom's
motion was adopted. The alternatives
were Allen, Fernstrom, Howe, Mar
gets. Morris. Patrick, Robertson, Sid
doway, Wallace and Barnes. The mega
tives were Buckle, CalliSter, Diehl and
Romney Weller was absent. Presi-
dent Barnes named Howe, Fernstrom,
Weller, Wallace and Robertson as the
committee.
Later in the meeting Allen introduced
a resolution directing superintendent
Game to suspend all work ordered done
by the city council in City Creek can
yon and elsewhere in improving the
waterworks system. The resolution
was adopted after some debate, the
only negatives being Robertson, Buckle
and Diehl. The introduction and pas
sage of the resolution is the result of
the injunction suit recently instituted
against the city by w. A. Nelden, NJ.
H. Walker and J. E. DoOly to REQUIRE
the proposed work to be done under
the supervision of the board of public
works.