The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-09-19

we wish to explain why the board
unanimously voted the 500 extra to
the superintendent.
When the present superintendent
took charge of the Water Works depart
ment the books and accounts were IN
very poor shape. Owing to the poor
system of allowing connections to he
made without proper record, ard oe1f'S
unable to obtain the books of the old
artesian company. there were, we may
say, hundreds of users of city water
who were not paying for the water
they used. Under the supervision OF
the present superintendent new and
complete system of bookkeeping was
put in and house to house canvass OF
water consumers was made, and when
both were completed we had an almost
perfect system.
The income of the Water Depart
ment increased during this time
$4, 352.38 and the number Of consumers
Increased ISL. This work was not
done in day or a week but was con-
tinued througho the year by the
Superintendent with the able assist
ance of a number of other gentlemen,
who might be mentioned but for lack
of space; although the whole work
was suggested and carried out by the
superintendent.
These are the reasons why we gave
the Superintendent 800 extra pay for
the year, and we think the money was
very we'll earned.
In regard to giving contracts tor
large amounts of coal to bidders who
were sway high" we wish to say that
as usual we asked for bids on years
supply of coal. We received bids from
the two local companies and one from
Mr.. German, of Chicago, who was
introduced to the Commissioners by
our present Mayor, and who requested
to be allowed to bid on the coal; also
one from another Chicago firm. We
received bids on a number of different
kinds of coal from our local dealers,
but decided on the lump size, Morgan
Run from Ohio at $3.25 delivered at
pump house, which we knew from
former experience would give us good
satisfaction. Mr.. German had good
looking Illinois coal which he offered
f. o. b. cars at Kenosha at $40, MAX
ing the total cost delivered at the pump
house $500 per ton, or rs cents per ton
less than the Morgan coaI. We inn
mediately ordered trial car from Mr..
German, but found that, although his
coal was good, it would not give the
same amount of steam per ton, and by
| actual illustration it was dearer coal
| for the use of the city than the Morgan
Run coal, as is shown by the following
record: '''
German coal will pump about 217 gals
per pound of coal.
Morgan Run will pump about 245 gals.
| per pound of coal.
While waiting to give Mr.. Germans
coal "a trial we were notified by both
| local dealers to raise their bid 10 cents
per ton on all Eastern coal. Notwith-
standing this raise of 10 cents per ton
we considered it cheaper for the city to
buy the Eastern coal than Mr.. Cor
mans; not to mention the fact that we
have always bought everything of
Kenosha dealers when possible. An
other point we had to consider was the
fact that by buying of home dealers
the coal could be had at any minute
and was not subject to railroad delays
or strikes.
We submit the foregoing to you and
are here at your request to answer any
and all questions, and we insist that
you make thorough and complete in
vestigation of the charges against the
Water Commissioners and give your
report to the public, for if there is any
mismanagement of the Water Works
Department the people should know it.
Respectfully,
' o. M. CALKINs,
JAMES S. BARR,
E. r. HEAD,