The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-08-02
BAD AS THE TRUNK MYSTERY
Selection Of New Reservoir site
Being Kept in The Dark
It IS Up TO THE WATER COMMITTEE
MAY TURN WATER INTO NEW
SYSTEM AND TALK RESER-
voIR LATER ON.
IT IS UP TO THE WATER COMMITTEE

Secrecy, deep, dark and impentrable
surrounds the conferences and the re-
suits of conferences of the water COM
mittee of the city council which has
in charge the purchase of a site for
the new reservoir.
At the last regular meeting Of the
council, Chairman Kirkman of the
water committee, moved to reject the
offer for the purchase of the Thomas
ranch site. This left the matter in the
air SO far as the council is concerned
and the committee is free to select the
site they first favored.
The report has been circulated that
the Mclean ranch site was favored
but so far the committee has sue
ceeded in keeping up a guessing con-
test as big as the trunk mystery.
Il think the committee has chosen
a Site said Councilman Mexican this
morning, but think further that
you'll have to go to Kirkman to find
out. He is chairman of the commit
tee and he may tell but 1 don't think
he will
Personnel of Water Committee.
There is considerable speculation as
to whether the water committee will
announce its decision as to the site
before the reorganization of the COM
mittee, made necessary by the change
in the administration. With the re-
tirement of Councilman Martin from
the council the committee is shy one
member and it is the belief that moth
ing will be done until a new member
is appointed by the mayor.
1t is not believed the present COM
mittee on water will be changed. The
story is that Councilman Tausick will
succeed Martin and that, as in the
water supply will be left to the COM
mittee which will then be composed
of Kirkman, Mexican and Tausick.
Engineer Wilson who is superintend-
ing the construction of the new water
system, was in the city from head
quarters on upper Mill creek yester-
day and reported that the new pipe
line as far as the Wickersham bridge
will be ready for water within another
week or ten days. Engineer Wilson
said he understood that it is the in
tention to take water from the stream
at the Wickersham bridge for the time
being and use the system without a
reservoir until the vexing question of
site is settled. Engineer Wilson pro-
fessed ignorance as to the water COM
mittee's intentions regarding a site.
Waiting for Material.
The Warren Construction company
is making rapid progress in excavating
the upper end of the ditch line. The
last 600 feet of the line is being blast
ed through almost solid rock and ne
cessitates the use of considerable ex-
plosives.
The National Wood Pipe company
has been compelled to lay off a number
of men owing to the nOn-arrival Of the
| iron material. Lumber is being laid
along the ditch line and construction
work will be resumed as soon as mate
rial is received on the ground. Water
Superintendent Knight is hurrying the
completion of the new distributing
system, connecting the new gravity
system with the city mains and ex-
poets to have the line completed with
| in another week or So. AS soon as the
new mains are laid, water will prob
ably be turned in and the question
of a reservoir site settled later.