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

Paper Read by John M. Diven, Secre-
tary of the American Waterworks
Association, at the Meeting of the
Organization Held In June of the
Present Year.
That politics does in many cases.
probably a large majority of cases-en-
ter into the, management of water
works owned and operated by cities
and towns will not be denied. And that
this Is not right, Is absolutely menace
to the health and welfare of the citi-
zens in many cases, as well as a great
financial loss, will not, think, be de-
MED. Too much depends upon the
proper management of a public water
supply to make 1t safe or right to al
low politics to control or affect It,
To be good waterworks super
intendent or manager requires, In adj
dition to ability and adaptability, long
study and practice. If these managers
are to be changed every time the city
administration changes, it is evident
that they can never have the expe-
rience that they should have to per-
form their duties properly. No matter
how good men they may be they will
still lack the proper training and ex-
perience.
This follows throughout the entire
staff-office force, inspector, street
foreman, meter readers and repairers,
engineers and firemen-in fact, the en-
tire force.
Again. will men who only expect to
hold the sob" for two or three years
give 1t the study and attention that 1t
should have? 1t is not natural that
they should; there is little incentive for
them to do so; they know that the
next election is likely to 60 the other
way, so that they will have to 60 at
some other work.
Then they have other duties to per.
form, other masters to serve-the men
or party that put them In the position.
Party allegiance must be observed Mt
no matter what cost to the citizens.
The men are employed for their poll
tics, not for their worth or fitness for
the particular position.
Under these circumstances, are the
best men always or even usually
chosen-the men fitted for the work?
The public water supply is matter
too all important to be made subserv-
lent to politics or any consideration ex.
cept that Of the very best possible sup
ply of the purest water obtainable. All
must use water. II It Is pure and good,
the health Of the people will be good
and the community will be prosperous.
Because It Is healthy city with low
typhoid death rate home seekers will
he attracted to 1t. But without proper
supervision and management the puri-
~ OF the water will in most cases al
ways be in danger.
These political changes are often
brought to the writer's attention in his
capacity as secretary of this assocla-
ton, one Of his duties being to try and
Keep track of the waterworks people OF
America. How frequently he finds
these changes-f0r purely political rea-
sons-golng on! How many changes
have to be made In our list OF members
FOR this reason! In looking back over
the years of his connection with tho as.
ISOLATION the number OF such changes
that come to mind Is almost as long as
the present list Of members.
man drops out, is not heard from.
One of our associate members calls |
and in the course Of conversation tells
Of visit In Grafton" Asked about |
Smith, the old superintendent, he says:
why, hadn't you heard? At the last |
election there was complete change