The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-11-01

In the political complexion or the city.
Smith and all the old commissioners
are out. Jones Is the superintendent
now" The commission is new, the SUI
perintendent is new, just because there
has been change in the political con.
troll Smith was a good man for the
position, had had long experience, thor.
oughly understood the work in every
detail was familiar with the works.
knew all their weak points. In his long
years of service he had gathered about
him corps Of able and trained assist
ants. The works were we'll managed,
the quality Of the water above suspi-
cion, the quantity ample. The manage
ment was economical; waste was kept
at the lowest possible point. The plant
was in first class condition.
But Smith didn't belong to the right
political party. He was not an active
politician, but he hadn't helped the
party now Gin" had. in fact, voted
! against them; hence he must go. No
matter If the quality of the water is
not kept up, If the quantity IN lacking
when 4 big fire occurs because waste
/ had not been watched; no matter If
typhoid fever breaks out because the
water supply has not been properly
guarded and sickness, suffering and
death follow. the active politician, the
men WHO helped the party, must be
rewarded.
Jones is an "active politician" He
can-in fact did-carry the Seventeenth
ward for the party IN power. He is
a good man. sober, industrious and in
telligent There is nothing against
him; no fault can be found with his
appointment so far as character goes.
He was clocISmaker and a good
one, but had absolutely no knowledge
or experience with waterworks man.
agement.
Then O'Sullivan had strong pull in
the Seventh and controlled many votes,
which he pulled for the dominant par
ty. He had run an engine in Alder
man Riley's wood yard-he knew the
difference between the throttle and the
exhaust; hence he was put In charge
Of the expensive machinery at the
pumping station.
Stopplebein was a clerk In Meisner's
drug store; hence knew all about chem.
latry. water analysis, ETC., and he
controlled large German vobs. IA
was put In charge Of the filter plant
though he had no experience in man
aging either filters or men.
So down through the line the entire
force is new and inexperienced, hold
Ing the positions because Of the pollt-
lcal work they had done, not because |
Of their fitness or training.
To start with everything Is In the |
best Of condition in all departments, |
and things run on smoothly enough for |
a time. The pumping engines respond
10 the throttle, and the exhaust Is
clear. So they run smooth and pump
water with no increased expense; no
difference is perceptible. But In time
yhe boilers through neglect become
badly incrusted and require more coal
to keep up steam. The packing Of the
engines becomes worn, the plungers
worn, the pump valves broken. There
Is a loss of steam and vacuum. big
pump slippage," and more coal is re-
quired.
Water is being freely wasted, and
more has to be pumped and filtered.
The filters are overworked, and with
unskllled management soon fail to
perform their work. Impure
water Is delivered to consumers, and a
typhoid epidemic breaks out
Then there Is trouble, inquiry and In
vestigation. Maybe the state board of
health Is called In. Anyhow, the trou-
BILE is remedied for the present; but, the
city and state being controlled by the
same party, the matter is smoothed
over.
Stopplebein has had lesson, has
had experience and would probably
give efficient management as long as
the party kept In" after which more
would follow.