Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-03-20
Convincing Statement to Good
Government League.
COUNCILMAN BACKS ASSERTIONS
WITH lNDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE
Shows Water Mains To Be in Perfect
Condition and Proves That City
Can Cut Rates to Consumers.

At the meeting of the Good Gov
ernment league held last night in the
han over Zeiger's cafe a large number
of citizens were addressed by Alder
man Hanley of the First ward on the
question of the purchase of the Water
Supply company's system by the city
OF Albuquerque. Alderman Hanley.
who is chairman of the street COM
mittee of the city council has made
the city water system the subject of a
study almost as thorough and exhaust
i've as that made by expert RIFLES, who
reported on the water plant for the
city. Mr.. Hanley has devoted more
! time and thought to the solving OF
the water problem, than any other
member of the city council and as
far as it Is possible for a layman to
make an investigation so far has his
! investigation gone.
Mr.. Hanley presented bluntly and
| practically an array of facts and fig
ures showing most conclusively that
the city is getting more than the
worth of its money In paying $250,-
| 600 for the plant of the Water SUBJ
/ ply company He took up every de-
tail of the question and his argument
| for the purchase of the plant was
about as unanswerable a one as has
yet been presented Mr.. Hanley, for
the benefit of any doubling ThomaSes.
reviewed Mr.. Rifles qualifications
and declared that his report did not
/ eXaggerate the worth OF the compa-
ny's plant in any detail; he said that
by personal inspection he had not
been able to find a water main In town
that was not in perfect condition.; as
serted positively that in his opinion
the water pipes were good for the
next sixty years. that the pipes alone
without the expense OF laying them
and connecting them are worth s75.-
000; that it was an utter impossible
ity for the city i'm ease II should build
a new plant to nut in sufficient pipes
alone for 100000.
Mr. Ilanley showed COncusively that
there is easily 100000 worth OF prop
erty In the company's pump house:
declared the pumps We're entirely ad-
equate because they had no difficulty
in handling the daily demand of two
and a quarter million gallons; said
the pressure was always at least 90
pounds that the pipes were amply
able to stand any pull" upon them
by fire engines, and last, but not
least, Mr.. Hanley showed beyond the
shadow OF a doubt, from reliable Zig
ures secured concerning the compa-
ny's receipts and expenditures, that
the city could make the water works
PAY.
There was only one little question
left to ask when Mr.. Hanley conclud-
ed and that had already been an
swered. His presentation of the sit
uation was absolutely convincing and
as final clncher he produced spoci-
mems of the Kalamein pine which TO
his certain knowledge had been bur-
led In this city for twenty years. He
had sections of everything. from the
fourteen inch main down to the small
est pipes and every one Of them was
as bright and shining beneath the OUT
side covering as when laid in the
ground. Even the asphaltum coating
was hardly removed and the clear
ring of the metal was all the argu-
ment needed to prove even to the will
fully blind that the Kalamein pipe Is
practically indestructible.
Mr., HanIey's Talk in Detail.
Mr.. Hanley said I'm passing in regard
to expert Rifle that he was mem
Der of the American Society OF Civil
Engineers. to Join which a member
must have had ten years experience
rs a supervising engineer. He re-
viewed briefly some of Mr.. Rifles
qualifications, dwelling particularly on
IlIlt ldIflbuH uIIuEt ONU ittl nlRn HRTONN
the Canyon Diabo on the Oroya rail-
road in Peru, which joins the mouths
Of two tunnels each In the face OF a
perpendicular cliff and Is one OF the
greatest railway achievements I'm the
world. 1t was supervised by Mr. Riff
ne and Mr. Hanley himself examined
the structure. He referred to Mr..
Rifles work on the Columbia and
Willamette rivers in oregon. which
represents an outlay Of millions OF
dollars.
Regarding the claim made that the
report was not complete Mr.. Hnnley
said II covered every detail OF the
water system down to the smallest
item and was fair and conservative
estimate
Mr.. Hanley said he had inspected
twenty or so openings In the last few
weeks where plumbers were making
connections with the water mains and
found nowhere a piece of bad or rot
ten" pipe He invited any and all in
terested persons to come at any time
and look at the mains while connec-
tions are being made. These pipes
are no secret said the alderman.
amy citizen can take look at them
at any time"
Not Enough Pipes.
THE complaint Is also made" said
Mr.. Hanley. that there are not
enough pipes. Very true. Let the
city buy the system and then we can
make what extensions we wish"
The Bakersfield Plant.
Regarding the Bakersfield plant
which has been held up as n model
for Albuquerque. Mr.. Hanley gave the
interesting Information that Bakers
; field. with Its 1000 population. has
seven centrifugal pumps. which fur
nish pressure OF from 80 to 80
pounds--sa system utterly inadequate
for Albuquerque and far Inferior 10
, the one now used The California
! plant Is said to have cost 500. O00.
In giving his valuation Of s7b.n
for the pipes alone Mr.. Hanley gave
an itemlzed specification Of all the