Evening journal., 1908-04-24
SPENT THOUSANDS AND
THEN GAVE UP PROJECT
RockIand Water Project Abandoned After Great Our
lay, Engineer Leisen Testified, and Also Says
sos, 900 Rockford Tower is No Use To-day

lLeisen said he could not take the
present for mof payroll and distribute
the various items as they were dis
tributed on the original form Of pay
roll
Mr.. Townsend cited that Ss,425.2s
was expended in junketing trips by
Mr.. Lessen and some Of the officers in
1905. 1906 and 1907, and asked whether
these trips were taken to get informa-
ton to improve the construction work
land the efficiency of the department.
Mr.. Leisen said he believed they were
taken for that purpose.
''Then the city Of Wilmington has
lpaid to educate you as an engineer"
mo; that is not right"
"To try to settle definitely some
points as to what would be the best FL
ltration system"
did you know what would be the
best filtration system before you
started on these trips?"
mo"
"Do you know now?"
yes"
"Then the city did pay to educate
you?" suggested Mr.. Townsend.
Il would not put it that way" said
Mr.. Leisen.
Then the city did pay to educate
you In some particular"
Possibly it did, yes"
What per cent. Of expense during
the year 1907 does the item of repairs
and renewals TO water mains and con-
INJECTIONS bear in relation to the total
lopenating expense
4 Mr.. Leisen suggested that Mr.. Nc
lIntyre be brought in to try to get that
information, and Mr.. Mcintyre said the
Water Board system of accounts does
mot permit US to give that informa-
ton"
Mr.. Townsend asked a similar ques-
! ton as to the comparative cost Of re-
pairs and renewals of meters to the
total operating expenses. and Mr.. Lei
sen said it was not possible to give Il.
"Then is this department keeping
track as to the expenses of the vari-
Gus items of operation?"
cit is not. in detail"
"Can YOU or not as an engineer
properly manage the affairs of this
department without an itemized ac-
count of the expenses oc operation?'
Il believe can"
How. by your own personal judg-
ment2"
II should say by my own personal
Judgment. because my own judgment
would not dictate that close relation
/ ship between the items of operation" B."
Gould you figure depreciation with
out this lnowledge?"
mot accurately"
Is that the method in all properly
conducted business enterprises Of any
nlagnitude?"
Il should say not"
Under such conditions and without
this knowledge are YOU capable. or
would anyone else be capable Of con-
Quoting this department in a business
like manner and in the best interests
Of the taxpayers?"
''Yes"
Explain how"
"As I said before don't think the
i close relationship Of these items mater
iallv affects the result in this depart
ment. If the department is getting
dollar for dollar I don't think the tax
PAYERS interest suffer.
I without this information is the de-
partment being conducted in a busi-
ness-lilne manner2''
THAT is an open question. What I
might consider q business-lilSe manner
you might not"
"Do YOU consider that a business-like
way of conducting the affairs Of this
department?"
mo. A better classification to get
at the details would be an improve
ment. but don't consider it materially
affects the results in this department"
Does it in any degree affect it?"
ct think not"
do you know"
'Not positively"
Mr.. Townsend returned to 1904 and
asked Mr.. Leisen what mart Of his time
was taken up in planning for new
work then. He said he was on Rock
ford Park work then.
, Can you. If we give you all day. dis
tribute this payroll-weelS ending July
6. 1904-in the same manner as the
payroll Of 1903"
I can with the aid Of the time
sheets"
Continued on Second Page.