The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-26
CITY TO OWN IT.
Water Plant Will Be Turned
Over April 1.
Company Must Perfect Title Be-
fore That Time.
STREET is SATISFIED.
Says It VIII Be Ready on Date
Specified.
Capacity of Plant Must Be In
creased.
STREET is SATISFIED.

Acting upon the favorable report of
VIM. Schmittendorff and E. B. Cowgirl.
who with the waterWorks committee
examined the pumping station of the
Topeka Water company, the city coun-
ell last night by a unanimous vote de-
cided to take possession of the plant
on April ], as proposed by the Water
company. The city attorney advised
the council not to take the plant at
that time unless the company could
give a clear title, and this plan will
be followed. The inference is that if
the company can not give a clear title
on April 1 the city will take possession
as soon as clear title can be given
President Chas. F. Street was pres
ent at the meeting. and said after 1t
was over: This plan suits us perfect
~. I believe that we will be able to
turn over the plant on April l."
All the details of the transaction were
discussed by the council in secret ses-
sion prior to the council meeting. The
star chamber was the mayors office,
and here eleven members of the coun-
ell deliberated from 7:45 till about s;49
before arriving at a plan for concerted
action. When they came into the coun-
and the resolutions and motions We're
put and carried as prearranged.
It was proposed by the water COM
pany last week that the city receive all
revenue and pay all debts OF the plant
on and after April l. even though the
company could not at that time give a
clear title. This was the part which
the city attorney objected to. His re-
port in writing was as follows:
"A careful consideration OF the pro-
posed contract with the Topeka Water
company has only confirmed me in the
opinion 1 formed last week, which is
that said contract should not be made.
/ have not time at present to state
my objections in writing. L have al
ready stated them orally and will do
so at any time before the council or
any committee. I will only state at this
time that my objections generally do
not go to matters of detail. but to the
fundamental propositions involved in
the contract. In my judgment the city
should not turn over $350.000 in bonds
or money or any other thing of value
consummate the transfer of the plant.
Again, the city should not enter into
contract binding on itself but not bind
ing on the other party"
In this opinion ]. D. Mcfarland con-
Cured with a written statement.
The following resolutions, prepared
by the city attorney, was passed unani-
mously as a substitute for the plan
proposed by the water company:
Resolved, By the mayor and coun-
ell, that the city of Topeka is ready and
willing to consummate the purchase of
the water plant now furnishing water
in the city of Topeka and will be ready
on the LIST day of April, 1904, to make
delivery of the $350,000 in bonds voted
to be used for that purpose, upon the
delivery of all the property of said
water plant to the satisfaction of the
mayor and council with a good title
free and clear of all liens and encum-
brances, except the $270,000 first mort
gage, the title to be made to the salts
faction Of the city attorney"
To follow up this action, and give it
effect, the following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, By the mayor and council
that the city attorney be authorized to
proceed at once in the preparation and
Hthographing of the $3.50, 900 waterworkS
bonds and he is hereby authorized to
have the same prepared by and upon
the forms of the United States Mort
gage and Trust company of New
York"
EXTENSIVE EXPENDITURES NEG
ESSARY.
The principal feature of the report
of the waterWorkS committee was
clause advising the council that the
capacity of the water pumping station
as it stands is inadequate to the needs
of the city and that additions to the
boiler and pumping capacity to the ex-
tent of perhaps $4,000 would be needed
almost Immediately.
z. B. Cowgirl, who was one of the
two experts who examined the plant
for the committee, thinks that this es-
innate is too liberal He says:
THE committee has made a very
generous allowance for improvements.
They contemplate the addition of a
new boiler, new wells, and new pump.
I hardly think this is necessary at
present, for the company has been US
ing only one pump. With both pumps
at work, the city can be given all the
water pressure it needs for the present.
The reason the pressure has been low
is because the water company has been
using one pump and one boiler at a
time, and the one pump is not powerful
enough to give the needed pressure. 1t
is run at full capacity every time there
is a fire. To increase the pressure, the
other pump will have to be brought in
to use"
The report submitted by Mr.. Cowgirl
and Mr.. Schmittendorf commendS the
general construction of the plant very
highly. The only fault found is with
one of the pumps which is accused of
ssslippage." "Slippage" means that the
pump needs packing, and this is exact
Nv what the water company is prepar-
ing to do before it turns the plant over
to the city.
The conclusion of the committees re-
port is as follows:
1.-The members of your committee
fully concur in their report We believe
the plant is in as good condition as it
was when the voters of the city decid-
ed upon its purchase. ordinary wear
and tear excepted. 1t is a matter of
-MNTETRnMs To prevent