Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-01
MUCH TALK ON WATER WORKS
Committee of the Whole Decides to Employ
Engineer to Value Old Plant.
WHOLE FIELD GONE OVER ONCE NONE
Disucession DiscIoses wide difference
of Opinion Among Members OF
the Council RegardinG Best
Policy to Pursue.

foltCy 10 fuFHNes
The question OF the city acquiring
ownership OF the waterworks system
either by purchase OF the present plant
or by construction of a new one was
threshed over again from start TO finish
at a meeting last night Of the committee
of the whole of the city council. The
matter was brought up by the report OF
the special committee on waterworks con-
tanning the recommendation that II be per-
mitted to engage the services OF a thor
oughly competent hydraulic engineer 10
make an estimate OF the value OF the pres
ent plant and an estimate of the cost OF
constructing a new waterworks system
adequate for the city's needs.
This report was presented by the special
committee at the last regular meeting of
the council where 1t did not meet with
general approval and was referred to the
committee of the whole The latter last
night, after a prolonged discussion, de-
cided to refer II back to the city council
with the recommendation that the recon-
mendation of the special committee be
concurred in, provided. however. that the
selection Of such hydraulic engineer be
left with the council and not with the
special committee.
Councilmen Olson. Knudsen and Younk-
erman spoke at length in support of tho
employment OF the services of a competent
hydraulic engineer on the grounds that the
city council could not make any progress
in its negotiations with the city water
works company until It had some basis
on which to proceed. This, they con-
tended could be had by securing some
competent figures as to the value Of tho
present plant and the cost of installing
an entirely new one.
MaIOney FavOrs old Plan.
Councilman Maloney took the position
that II would not be safe to abide by one
mans judgment and that IT would be far
better for the city to do as originally
planned, to have three engineers place a
value on the present plant one to be Sc
lected by the city. the second by the water
works company and the third by the two.
Councilman Knudsen practically declared
himself in favor OF the city abandoning
any idea OF purchasing the present plant,
and going ahead and building a new one.
"If we buy the old plant the first thing
we would have to do would be to expend
about 10000 in purchasing new, up-do-date
machinery and extensions" he said. At
the same time Councilman Knudser said
he wanted 1t understood that he was not
wild on municipal ownership, but only
favored it on a paying basis.
From the statement or Councilman Knud-
sen, who is a member OF the special CONF
mittee on water works. il appeared that the
hydraulic engineer whom the committee
has in view is willing to give his services
up to certain point for 1900. but would
demand $500 to $4,000 for a complete esti-
"a MIA nd Am
plant
This brought up the questions as to what
fund the money TO pay the engineer was
to come from. City Solicitor Kimball, on
being asked gave It as his opinion that
the services of such an engineer could be
paid from the fund resulting from the 2
mill levy for the purchase or construction
OF water works plant.
Councilman Maloney contended that It
would be best for all concerned for the
special committee to draw up an ordinance
providing for a new rate schedule which
It would consider fair to both the city,
private consumers and the water works
company If this was done, he said, and
the water works company declined TO ac-
cept Il, he would be willing to go into
court and fight to have the schedule de-
clsred fair and to make the company accept
it, This brought a statement from Council
man Olson to the effect that had not the
water works company enjoined the enforce
ment of the rate schedule as fixed by the
last council he would have voted in favor
of granting the company twenty-five year
franchise
Not Obliged TO Buy Old Plant.
Councilman Wallace declared the city
was under no obligations to buy the plant