The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-18
Engineer Who Investigated
The Water Works Plant
Asks City to Pay Him
$1,95O.99 for Services.
CITY Fathers THINK
IT GOOD INVESTMENT
But Were Not Quite Prepared
To Receive Such a Bill
Street improvements Caus-
es Some Debate.

At the adjourned session of council
last evening. a report was made show
ing that the total expense to the city
of employing Daubney b. Maury hy-
draulic expert engineer. and his as
to inspect the books and
plant of the Richmond City Water
Works company. was $l.950.S9 which.
while much higher than anticipated.
was agreed by all councilmen to be
an ordinary figure for such work.
An ordinance was presented to ap-
propriate $1.45O.99 to meet this ex-
penditure as the city has already ap-
propriated $500 for the expert exam.
ination. An effort was made to pass
1t on suspension OF the rules, but
Councilman Bartel killed all such ef-
fort by voting In the negative.
1t was evident that council and the
other city officials had anticipated
that possibly $1,000 would be suffS-
cient to meet the expenses OF the ex-
animation and consequently a bill al
most double this amount was no
small surprise. Councilman Bartel
took upon himself the blame for the
council not investigating what It
would cost before employing an ex-
pert
Believe Il Worth While.
Other members were apparently sat-
isfied. or at least knew they would
have to be, for they said that Mr..
Manrys comprehensive report on his
examination would be worth the
amount. especially when It came time
for the city to act on the water works
question. City Attorney r. J. Study
said that now the public knows the
value OF the plant. and all of its de-
tails. the city can act in q business
like manner on any franchise propos-
ais.
According to the intimation made
by Councilman Engelbert. the street
car company officials care little for
the condition or appearances Of the
city streets on which they operate.
His first complaint was directed at
city engineer. Fred Charles. for per-
mitting the company to use old and
new bricks in replacing the pavement
between the tracks on Main street.
between Thirteenth and .Twentieth
streets. He said that the company
was putting down new and old bricks
Unfortunately. He said that Mr..
Charles ought to have back hone
enough to prevent any such procedure
on the part of the company. for he
believes that II is a very poor kind Of
a job, from the standpoint Of appear
ance.
A Tie Causes Trouble.
On Nineteenth and North e street
the city Is having q cement cross walk
laid. Between the street car COM
pany's tracks and between which the
cross walk will be laid. is q loose tie,
making the whole track in the imme-
diate vicinity unstaple. The contrac-
tor admits that he can not make
lasting job because OF this loose tie
Superintendent Gordon's attention
was called to the matter. according to
Mr.. Engelbert. and the former replied
that the company did not have time
to make the repair.
Report was made on the expense
Of the city election. held early In the
month, by City Clerk C. w. Merrill.
The total expense was 81 ,30s 81, the
principal items Of expense being the
wages of the election precinct board
officials. meals and rent. There was
an expense item Of 81 for q broken
window pane. This occurred in the
first ward. The expense Of the elec-
ton was practically the same a. that
OF the previous election. although Mr..
Merrill said that $500 appropriated for
the previous election could not be ac-
counted for as there were vouchers
for only $1,000 on file in the city con-
troller's office.
The ordinance making It Illegal TO
keep a stallion within 500 feet Of .
school house came up but ~ several
members said they wanted . longer
time to consider IL. it was laid over for
another two weeks.
Kick on Hedge Fences
About six weeks ago. the attention
of the board of works was called 70
the hedge fences on National avenue
and West Fifth street growing 50
large that they intSrferred with the
side walks. Nothing has been done
about the matter by the board and
again last evening. Councilman Brown
asked that some attention be given
the matter.
The new section ol North West Sec
ond street. north ol Chestnut street.,
on which street. citizens say they
Ithe-Peepefs. was characterized - tie
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