The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-27
some FACTS ABOUT
THE BIC CONDUIT
Taxpayers Money Squandered
by the Late Norris Ad-
miniStratiOn.
PR0FLIGATE WASTE TO
SECURE A REELECTION
Grab, Graft and Politics in
Every Move Made by the
Hierarch'S Gang.

Every Move Made by the
IIierarch'S Gang.
When the American party took posses
sion OF the city government in January,
one OF the uncompleted improvements
turned over to 1t was the Big Cottonwood
conduit. which had tccn started by the
Norris -Hicrarch administration, ostensl
bly, to increase and improve the water sup
ply OF Salt Lake, but I'm reality to secure
the reelection OF the corrupt gang then
in control of city affairs.
Attempt at Re Election Failed.
The attempt at reelection failed. How
ever. vast sum OF money had been
squandcrcd by the Morris gang, thou
sands OF dollars going to favoritcs and
much work done for the benefit OF the
hierarchy. who ruled the administration
with an iron hand. The people be id
was their motto.
Business Methods Injected.
This conduit was one Of tho legacies
handed down. The first thing the Amer
lean administration did was to inject bus
mess methods and a system into tho
conduct of city AFFAIRS. Incompetent and
grating officials were oustcd and compc-
tent and honest men put In their places.
Order was brought out OF chaos and the
wheels OF the city government started in
a new groove, one wherein the peoples
and the taxpayers interests were consd-
cred first, last and all the time.
Competent Man at Helm.
cd. and he took hold. He weeded out the
incompetents In his Office and began worR
in a business-like manner. or course the
Big Cottonwood conduit was among the
first matters 10 be looked after InYesti-
cation disclosed the fact Of the cXtrava-
CANT and wnnton waste OF the taxpayers
money by the preceding administration,
while further investigation OF the con-
duit Itself disclosed the absolute neCes-
sity of strengthening II In order that II
hold water at all. To make the necessary
changes TO accomplish this result would
necessitate the expenditure of $4,000. and
the City Engineer SO recommended to the
Council,
Howl From Apologists.
Every morning since the recommcnda-
Jlon for the changes was made in the
City Council, however, the Salt Lake |
Herald, the apologist for the Morris gang. |
has had column. or more. OF yelps con-
corning the matter. II has been charged, |
without the slightest foundation in fact
that the proposed changes constitute Il
grab" or graft" and the American
administration has been violently and
NlClouSly ATTACKED.
For Political Purposes
In the first place. # cannot and will not
be denied by any truthful man conversant !
with the situation. that work was rushed |
on the conduit by the Morris administra- |
tion, largely for political purposes. The |
work done lest fall was for the secondary |
purpose OF increasing the water supply.
The primary purpose was 10 use tho con- !
duit as platform upon which the Nor |
ris administration hoped TO be put back !
into power.
People Rebclled
The better element in Salt Lake. how |
ever, rebelled. This element had been |
forced 10 stand by and see the Infamous |
light trust granted a franchise that. J
alone. ought 10 damn any administration. |
American party was victorious and Nor |
ris and his cohorts were thrown out
Cat Out of the Bag.
As TO the matter OF politics. 1t is only |
necessary to quote from the proceedings |
OF the committees Of the Council, Satur- |
day afternoon. Mr.. Mulvey made the al
rect charge that there had been too much |
politics In the water scheme, and Wells |
resented the statement But |
right on top OF this Fcrnstrom took the |
iloor and virtually admitted the charge by |
saying that A F. Dorcmus was employed |
as consulting engineer. and that he voted |
for him because he was Republican
Ferny in Deep Water.
Tuddenham and Wells quickly saw that
Fcrnstrom was getting them into a hole |
ana hastened 10 Interrupt him by saying
mat they voted for Doremus because they |
considered him the best man for the |
place. Nor was this all. Black and Hob
day went to the support or Mr. MuveY- |
Black saying that certain members of the |
old council were passed up as being In
the white chip" class and HOLIDAY de-
clarlng that politics did cut a large hgurc
In the old Council
As to Mr. Doremus.
And now. as TO Mr. Dorcmus: 1t ls a
well-known fact that Mr. Doremus is one
OF the most eminent engineers in the
The Parley's canyon condu,t
and the gravity sewer were built under
his direction and II there has ever been
any 1ault found with either piece OF WORK
the matter has not been made public
Why Doremus Was EMPLOYED.
or course. 1t is probable that Mr.. Dore-
mus was employed by the Morris admin
because he a Republican
as Mr.. Fcrnstrom says. but there was
greater and deeper motive behind his en-
pIoyment than the matter OF his politics
with the situation Will attempt TO deny IL.
that Mr.. Doremus was employed for tho
purpose of allaying any doubts that might
arise as TO the manner In which tho " orl
on the conduit was being carried out
thus giving the administration n free
hand In the matter.
Hoped to Allay Peoples Fears.
1t was announced from the first that
hr. Doremus was the consulting enpi-
neer on this work which is the most
dlfficult, In many respects OF any piece
OF Work ever undertaken by the city The
had the desired effect and
the public, knowing the ability and oxpc-
rience OF Mr.. Doremus. presumed that the
conduit would be built In a workmanlike
manner.
Effectively Turned Down.
Mr.. Doremus. however, was not con
'ulting engineer" Instead OF being con
suited, he has been "insultcd :" And
now months after the deal MIR Doremus
apears before committee OF the CITY
Council and declares that he was never
consulting engineer" To the contrary.
nc ADDS. he was nothing more than third
or fourth. assistant engineer
His Declaration a Sensation.
Mr. Dorcmus's declaration caused g
sensauon ana there was scurry 10 cover |
on ihe part or members of the former
ADMINISTRATION, who had assisted I'm turn |
Ing him down. The significant fact re-