Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-25
MECHANICAL FILTRATION
Aldermen Adopt Committees Re-
port Recommending It.
A Much-Discusscd Question Seems to
He settled at Last-Druggists'
Fifth Glass Licenses Fixed at
Twenty-Five Dollars.

The board of aldermen met last evening
and after a prolonged discussion turned
down a resolution providing for the en-
ployment of a DISTINGUISHED consulting en-
gineer to prepare two sets Of plans ana
specifications, one set for the erection ot
n slow sand filtration plant and one for a
mechanical plant. The board also voted
to accept the majority report Of the fltra-
ton committee. previously submitted, rec-
ommending the installation Of a mechan-
ical filter; fixed the fee for druggists
licenses at SB per annum; accepted and
adopted salary and other recommends
tons received from the board of health
commissioners and transacted a consid-
cradle amount OF routine business. All "
the members were present
FILTRATION AGAIN.
The meeting first listened to the reading
Of the report Of Whipple e Hazcn recon-
mcnduE slow sand filtration. This report
was printed in full in he Free Press of
January 2 1907 but had never been before
the board.
The resolution which occasoned the pro-
longed and at times heated discussion was
introduced by Alderman Russell and was
rs follows: Resolved, That the mayor
competent and dislnterested consulting
engineer at the expense of the city to In
vestigate and report for the Information
of the city council as to the kind of filter
hnS, adapted 10 the needs of the city of
Burlington, also to prepare IN duplicate,
ty;o sets of plans and specifications one
for the erection Of sand filtration plant
and the other for mechanical plant, each
g
millions (2.Or,COW gallons of water daily
and TO deliver said plans and specihca-
tions to the board OF aldermen ut the car
Hest possible date"
Alderman Kidder was promptly on his
feet to say that he thought the question Of
filtration was settled Ut the city meeting
held March 20 of this year when the cti-
zcrs voted for a mechanical filter. he
asked whether the resolution was intro
duccd at the instance of some society
whose members might be advocating the
passage Of the resolution for a purpose.
Before he ceased speaking Alderman Kid
der was called to order by President Bar
her for indulging in personalities.
Alderman Courtney said it was time 20
bring the matter to head and that it
should be settled at the meeting then in
session.
Alderman Russell said II ought to he be
meath the dignity of a member of the
board to Imply that members in any or
ganizatiOn had Interior motives in asking
for plans and specifications of the two
kinds Of filter. Mr.. Russell said the board
would have to have such informal ton
from some disinterested source before the
members could know where they stand.
He said the board is responsible for the
installation Of the plant and cannot dele
gate its powers. He called for an aye ana
nay vote on the resolution.
At this juncture Mayor Bigelow ad-
dressed the board. saying that four mem
bers Of the special committee on tiltra-
ton had already resigned and refused
to have anything more to do with the
matter. He earnestly supported the re-
solution. saying that its object was sole
| ly to bring before the board a statement
Of the merits Of each of the filter pro-
| positions. The object was not in any way
to usurp the power of the special com
| mittee but simply to get definite in
| formation before the boa I'd. The mayor
said if such a resolution We're voted down
such action was an expression by those
| faVoring mechanical fl'ration that they
| did not dare to have definite statement
of the respective merits OF the two sys-
/ tens submitted side by side.
Alderman Murphy asked that Mayor
, Burke be heard on the question. Mr.
| Burke said Investigations made dur; ag
! the past two years on the water question
| had already cost the city about 81 600
| Whipple e. Hazen's report. he said, Is a
definite statement and cost the city
about $500. He said the plans and spoci-
! fcations called for in the resolution
would cost the city $3.0l0 and that then
we shouldn't know any more about the
question than we do now.
In reply to Mr.. Burke. Mayor Bigc'ow
said the former disagreed with Whipple
50 wing that ne Burke) was in the right
| This the mayor thought was conclusive
evidence that the questions should he
submitted TO disinterested experts for de-
| finite information on both sides
| In response to n request from Alder
man Stone for an opinion. ]. w. Goodell
said he was convinced that either type
of plant would give equally good water
| He thought the mechanical plant the
more economical and he would be salts
| fled If one We're installed.
RESOLUTION LOST ON TIE.
| The aye and nay vote again called
| for and taken on the passage of the re-
| solution. The mea sure was lost on tie