The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-02-16


sion, when it was first read. was a
good report. 1t was a good report
until Mrs. -Sweeny (cheers) landed on
the report at the chamber of COM
merce meeting. (Cheers.)
Then it wasn't good report
CHEERS and laughter.)
IF you are prepared to go into
this water meter business, the re-
port of this commission is a good
one. If you are not prepared to take
water meters, it is not a good re-
port.
Il have had experience with water
meters. 1 don't mean my home. but
pay 500 a month for meter at
the hotel. l am with Mrs. Sweeny
on this proposition. l am opposed
to water meters. The whole COM
mittee is prepared, I think, to say
we will have no wooden pipes-they
must be of iron. That is an increase
in the cost
Take the engineers report and see
what we want. The figures show
that the plant proposed is no better
than the one we have today. 1t is
true we are given a reservoir but also
we are given no more water.
81 think the water meter question
is cut out-in spite of the Spokes-
man-Review and the Chronicle.
There is one mistake we made
with that body of experts. We ought
to have told them how much money
we could spend. Our debt is $2,098,-
140. We can only borrow 10 per cent
against $2,500,00O. That allows us
only $4,000 to go into debt for.
There is always a lot of additional
expense. The cost will go to $780,
900 easy. It's just plain business
proposition. We get all we can bor-
row in that 2,000-andare short
the additional cost, That is the prac-
teal way to go at it. We can't spend
more than we can borrow.
Mr.. Gill and Mr.. Weymouth have
prepared plans which are cheaper
than the commission plans. These
should be considered. You can't sell
the bonds if you adopt the plan.
w Hdt Is the USE Oh BOlIlS Ill WueIl
you can't borrow the money.
There should be some plan adopted
by which we can get water, and
plenty of it, in all sections of the
city. 1 have gone into the water
meter question and have seen them
perience. If you put in meters on
a charge of 10 or Is per cent your
plant will lose money. You can't pay
out.
I'VE are going to make this city
and our lawns pretty. There is
plenty of water in the river and we
have got to get plans that will get
the water out.
LAS to Mr.. Gills plan, while 1
don't endorse all of it, l say it has
within it the elements to give us
plenty of water. 1t is based on good
business judgment and places a plant
within our means. The Lidgerwood
standpipe is furnished direct in addi-
ton to the pipes on the north side"
G. b. Dennis: Il am an ordinary,
common sense business man. 1 have
been here 20 years. When / first
came here my taxes were quarter
of a mill. Now they are four mills.
don't want to pay more than 1 am
paying on something from which we
may not derive adequate good.
I'VE are confronted with an ex-
pense of $450.000 for something
which we as citizens and non-hydrau-
lie engineers don't know a dam thing
about We rightly called in engin-
GERS. i credit them with all honesty
and credit them with believing they
are right, but l say that report, if
we are conservative and act as good
business men, that report should be
confirmed by an engineer who is in
dependent of influences locally.
Il wouldn't buy a mine on the re-
port of one engineer, or two engin-
GERS. l would have a second and a
third report.
so it is with this water question.
We have made mistakes on the water
question in the past. l want some
something-get fellow far away
from here and from local influence
and have him pass on all the plans
submitted"
Councilman Pratt: "As / can see
that different opinions are existing
and so that you may know where /
stand on this matter | want to say
a few words. l will say first l have
never seen larger or more represen-
tative body of citizens before this
council, such representing a big ma
jority of the people. / regret to say
that l will have to oppose the adop-
ton of the water commissions re-
port. l have arrived at this conclu-
sion after n careful study of facts
and figures. l trust / will be ac-
corded an honesty of purpose just as
I shall accord honesty in purpose to
those who oppose me.
II do not think this is solely an
engineering proposition. 1t is a case
of two and two making four. If this
city desires to measure the water
think through that the meter ques-
ton is eliminated and the meters are
not in this fight.
But cut out the meter question
and the engineers, and the question
is are We going to get more water.
If reservoir is constructed-and If
there isn't going to be any reduction