The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-08-26
SELECT AN ENGINEER
Council Takes First Step to
Get Ample Water.
OTTO A. WEIlE OF SPOKANE
Will Do the Work For $50O-WiIl
Commence Immediately and
Council viii Aid Him.

water supply, was taken last night
by the selection of Otto A. Weile, an
hydraulic engineer of Spokane, to
examine and report on the citys
! available water resources. Mr..
Weile was selected from a field Of
four engineers Of repute, whose
names were presented to the council
by Mayor Hunt His proposition to
carefully examine into and report on
the city's water resources for $500
met the approval of the whole coun-
ell and his selection was made unan-
imous.
The contract that Mr.. Weile will
Immediately enter into with the
council provides for the ex-
animation of various sites and
propositions proposed to be
used as a source Of the city's
water supply, report on the merit of
! the same and make a recommenda-
ton OF a site to be adopted together
with an estimate of the probable cost
| Of construction.
To facilitate the work, and aid
| Mr.. Weile as much as possible, the
mayor appointed the council as a
committee Of the whole, with Coun-
| Gilman Glasford as chairman, he hav-
| ing had considerable experience in
water affairs as a mill man.
Mr.. Weile was present at the meet
| ing and in answer to questions stat
ed that the work will probably take
several weeks. He will remain in
! the city and take up the work imme-
diately. The mayor suggested to
Mr. Weile that he secure what infOr
DmatiOn he desires direct from mem
| bers Of the council or city engineer,
| rather than from outside sources,
the idea being conveyed that parties
who have land to sell may as well
stand aloof in the present effort to
| secure for the city a water supply.
The Thomas ranch ghost" was
raked up from dim and distant
| past by City Engineer Clark report
ing that he and Water Superintend-
ent Knight had recently measured
| the water running from the City's
pipes on the ranch and found a flow
of $50 600 gallons every "a hours.
Weirs were constructed at the mouth
| of each pipe and the measurement
carefully taken. Aside from this
the Thomas ranch never entered into
the discussion Of sites last night and
| it is doubtful if it will ever be Sc
riously considered again.
Smith Stood for Good Work
Some little furry and discussion
was created by Smith Of the street
committee, refusing to sign a com
mittee report, recommending that
the alley between Main and Alder, re-
Gently graded be accepted, basing
his objection on the grounds that the
work had not been done according
to contract He claimed that the
contract called for a half inch Of fine
screenings on top Of the crushed
!, gravel, whereas nothing but dirt had
been placed on. Mclean urged that
the work be accepted AMI that the
council could watch future contracts
Of similar nature, a little closer
, Smith still refused to sign the report
, and on the motion Of Brewer it was
adopted.
The grading of the alley has beer
I source Of more or less contention
since the work was completed, sever
al property owners affected raising
various objections.
On McLean's motion the stree
committee was authorized to inves
tigate the matter of draining off &C
4 cumulated water in the west part 0
the town &c Mill creek, either by IN
dergrOund pipes or cutters. Consider
r able complaint has been made to tn
f street department b. property own
ers that owing to the lay of tn
V streets, water accumulates in larg
e quantities in several sections am
e remains there until it evaporates
e which in certain kinds Of weathe
G takes considerable time.
y Declares Opera House Safe.
l. report having gained credenc
It that the opera house as it is bein
r remOdelled is considered unsafe
Consulting Engineer Bihler who ha
is charge Of the work, in a communica
e ton, declared he had examined til
walls several times while the worI
n was beinng carried on and consider
ed the building safe in every partiC
ular The matter of fire escapes wa
II also discussed. Manager McCab
who was present stated that tn