The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-11
The FOUNTAIN MUDDLE
A Heap of Trouble Over Turning on
the Water in the Public Drinking
Place-The Insistence of the Water
Company on Having an Additional
Meter Installed Figures Promi-
nently in the Muddle.

The fountains maintained by the
hty within and in front of memorial
park are causing city Engineer Frick
70 worry bit during these warm
days.
AS starter IL was away behind
schedule time this season when coun-
ellis took action looking to the turning
on of the water, and when the water
was turned on the troubles of the
city engineer began. The fountains a.
either end of the city were sent off on
their errand of beneftting humanity
but there's a different story to relate
about the park fountains. First, there
was some misunderstanding about
whether water was to be turned on
In the drinking places for horses only,
or both that and the fountains that
supplies the thirsty public. The cour-
cllmanic resolution said the trough
only, but when the city engineer COM
menced work to carry out this idea.
one of the councilmen intcrposed and
declared that the water should he turn
de on in both places. To be sure of
ms ground the city engineer held off
FOR few days, until Monday nights
meeting OF Common council. when he
consulted the councilmen who informed
ed him that the resolution meant lust
what it said, turn the water on to
supply the trouGhs," IMeawhie the
public clamor To turn on the water
grew louder and louder.
Yesterday the city engineer directed
operations to commence at the con-
nections for the fountain in the park,
nut he was considerably chagrined
when the water was set flowing 70
md that there was leak somewhere
In the supply pipe. The frost during
the winter caused the pipe to burst.
ana instead ofthe stream going inward
through the fountain, il flowed from,
the base. Operations were then ceas-
ed and the repair man was called
IN. The drinking fountain in front of
the park was given attention in the
medtine, Last year this fountain was
supplied by the waste water from Tho
park fountain, This year it was in
tended to have direct supply. by
connecting the fountain supply nine
with the main water pipe. Excavations
were made about the fountain, but
just after the men started to con-
rect the pipes, Engineer Frick, of
the Consolidated Water company came
on the scene, and firmly insisted on
a meter being installed TO measure
the water that would pass through
the fountain, The company last wear
estimated the quantity of water used
hut this year such an arrangement
would not suffice Mr.. Frick emphat- .
ically said and he refused to allow tho
connection to be made unless the city
compiled with the order.
To be Dl9ilNer the cit,. croircn, &c. a,
he was up against it," no matter how
he surveyed the ground The fountain
is so located that there is absolutely
no room for meter, and the only
course was to order it to be moved
a few feet in order to accommodate the
measuring device that the water COM
pany firmly and resolutely insisted on
having installed
Argument with the water comnanv
offcial, was as useless as protests
against the Continued hgh ten,nars-
turs or the weather forecaster, and the
city engineer made virtue of neces-
sity' and began to devise a means Of
meeting the water company's wiebos
and law, However he is still fiaur,rg
but 1t appears that the only course is
10 move the fountain few feet there
by making room for the device that 50
ialthtully looks after the interests of
the water company,
WhateVed plan will be followed, il
VIII mean an additional outlay Of
twenty-five or thirty dollars, which is
quite Il sum i'm the eyes of the econo-
mists In councils, 1t is possible, too.
that'with the meter installed, the ex-
pensc OF maintaining the fountain win
De greater than last year, when the
waste water from the park fountain.
instead of being discharged into the
sewer was piped and sent through the
fountain outside, the one that is now
causing the worry and trouble. This
waiter, even though it was waste kot-
er, had to be paid for. the water COM