The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-12-21
TUESDAY, DECEMBER p, 1909,
CLUB WILL INVESTIGATE
WATER AND LIGHT
PLANT

Alta meeting of the Business Mems
Cub yesterday evening committee
of four was appointed to investi-
gate the condition of the electric
tight and water plant, and 10 make
4 report upon the plant and its in
stallation, in general. and in par
ocular 10 ascertain the reason Why
tle service has been so unreliable
and irregular.
There was much discussion as to
the ACCESSIBILITY CT appointing COM
mittee at this time When the mo
ton was put to a test, however, il
was decided II to I, to appoint such
= committee
The Herald believes that the ap-
QOinting of this committee will have
q beneficial effect, inasmUch as i;
doubtless will clear away once for all
any suspicion that there was graft
or dishonesty connected with he il
gtallation of this plant, and put an
eud 10 the many ugly rumors tmat
sPe prevalent concerning it
The Herald does not believe there
was any graft OF thievery connected
with the building and installation OF
the water aud light plant. There
may have been leaks. which were
expensive, but leaks happen in the
starting of any business. especially
when men are conducting it that are
Cst familiar with the method of op-
cation of a plant. SO let US have
tEis. thing cleared up once for all.
aud put an end to all the nasty and
C&Iy things that are in nearly every
ones mouth, and can be heard at
any time the light and water plant
- discussed.
The Herald believes that lhe trou-
W. with the plant from the begin
&siC5s is that. incompetent help was
Oiaced in charge. and that it was
Ocorly managed. 1t does not take
century for incompetent help to ruin
81 electric light plant The best Of
machinery may be ruined in very
snort time by bad treatment The
brownsville plant has been mis-
1AEakkCOt anu IilN pAuAA'
4ect of this mlstreaiment.
Ger present superintendent. Mr.
8urks. assumed control of the plant
st = time when it was run down to
lUtl ng, without dollar in the trea-
SUR. with no visible means OF relief
.nd no credit What could any one
dr Under such conditions? The
wonder of it is that We have any
aia1ts at all Mr. Burks has done
much to solve the problem He has
worked faithfully in repairing the
aia2t. and has changed its business
policy. From losing proposition Il
naz been made paying one
q hen the amount of piping ana
electric wiring that have been used
IN extending the two systems. to-
geiser with the expensive repairs
thai have been necessary, and the
enormous cost OF fuel are rcc5Nned
np. Il will no doubt be found that
IT, Is little ieeWay Ics' graft.
the same time, it must be ad-
mr.ed that Brownsville people have
been Obliged TO endure almost END
less annoyance and Inconvenience
since the plant was installed. FIRST
with unsatisfactory lights and half
the time with no lights at all-hard-
IL ever knowing which To eXpec,
ana with street lights almost sure to
fail on dark, wet nights. the electric
plant has been far from satisfactory
So FAR the city has been unable To
furnish electric current during the
da.. which has been a great incon-
venience and retarded various enter
crises The water plant also has
been inadequate At first, the sup
nj vas so muddy most Of The time
rs L. be unfit for use unless il vas
drawn off into barrels or other re
ceDtacles and settled. Then, part Of
tho time there as no wafer at nh,
inf,ctine deprivation upon the citi-
zens besides incurring the terrible
risk of being without the water for
nrofection in case of fires.
Tie people have borne all this for
over ? year. and, now they want to
knotv the reason why. II Is their
privilege to ask, for it is they who
are having for the plant. as we'll as
nAving for the service. They can
hot be blamed.
vet as The Herald has said, it IS
convinced there has been no dishon-