The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-03
Ready to Answer Any Questions That
Counchmen Put To Him
WILL Be ON HAND At MEETING TONIGHT
DECLINES TO SAY ANYTHING RE.
GARDING CHARGES OF JOB"
BEING PREFERRED.

A tempest in a teapot has been
stirred up among several members of
the council owing to the discovery
that the original specifications for the
new system of water works were
| changed in some respects when the
contract for building the pipe line was
drawn up between the city and the
National Wood Pipe company and at
tonight's council meeting Engineer
Thomson will probably be called upon
to give an explanation of the mat
ter. Engineer Thomson who arrived
in the city from Seattle this morning
stated to Statesman representative
that he would be on hand at tonight's
| meeting to answer any questions re-
garding the specifications and contract
entered into between the National
Wood Pipe company and the city.
Will Talk to the Council.
Il have nothing to say in regard to
the accusations made by one or two
members of the council that the city
has been jobbed," Engineer Thomson
said. Il will be on hand at tonights
council meeting ready and willing to
answer any and all questions that
either Councilman Kirkman or Bridges
see fit to ask me-"
late last week it was discovered that
there was a difference between the
original specifications and the contract
regarding the quality of lumber the
National Wood Pipe company is to
furnish and the matter was called to
the attention Of Engineer Thomson
over the long distance telephone En-
gineer Thomson promised to come to |
Walla Walla Immediately and look into |
the matter and arrived in the city this |
morning for that purpose.
The original specifications on which |
contractors bid provided the wooden |
slaves should be of first quality timber,
locally known as Washington fir, per-
fectly sound, straight grained en-
tirely free from knots, dry rot, pitch
seams, cracks, shakes. sapwOod, and
other defects that might impair the
and durability of same or,
from the best California redwood.
How the contract reads.
The contract with the National Wood
Pipe company in regard to the quality
Of lumber reads as follows:
Pipe slaves shall be made from
sound air dried or kiln dried fir lum-
Der, free from knots on one side and
both edges, entirely free from shakes
or rot but will allow pitch seams up
to four inches in length if not extend
ing through pieces or hard bright knots
up to q Inches in diameter if not ex-
tending through pieces. Will allow sap
not exceeding 3-16 inches in thickness
on inside of staves.'
Effect Big Saving.
1t is claimed that by the change
in the specifications the National
Wood Pipe company will effect a saw
ng of considerable money. Council
man Bridges and Kirkman say that the
company would save as much as $4,000,
but this it is believed is too high and
he exact figures can only be ascer-
aimed from the woop-pipe people
who are conversant with
matters Of this kind.
Several members of the council are
Inclined to take a more charitable view
If the matter, arguing that if the orig
nal specifications were lived up to
hat the wood pipe company would not
De able to furnish the amount of clear
lumber necessary to build the line
within a year. The fact, however,
hat the company is getting paid for
irst- class lumber as provided for in
he original specifications and fur
fishes an inferior grade remains unev-
'lained