El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-24

] though he has written NUMBER OF
| communications TO the Times
| Accepted Statements True.
| O. And you acted on them without
| finding whether they were true or not?
A l accepted them as true; he stated
| the wells produced
O. But you don't know whether there
| are any wells there or not yourself, do
| you?
| A No. sir; 1 do not
@ You do know that they viii not
| produce ten million gallons though,
don't you?
! A No. sir; because 1 have his state
ment that they will
@. Do 1 understand that it is your
opinion that it win be just as well to
leave the Mesa and come down here
where they can get water cheaper?
A. If my opinion is worth anything
yes sir.
@. Is that your opinion individually,
| or as the editor of the Ell Paso Morn
| ing Times?
a. Both.
Q. That is the opinion of the Ell Paso
Morning Times. then. is it?
This Editor Can't Express Opinion.
A. You must understand that the
opinion of the editor cannot be ex-
pressed as he pleases-
Q. Yes, we have known that for some
here. What we want to know is,
whether that is your individual opinion,
or the opinion of the paper?-
A 1t is my individual opinion l am
not the Times-I am simply an employee.
Knows Nothing of Facts
O. Then you simply write anything
| you are told to write?
a. l write anything 1 think if right,
subject to the approval of the general
LOT
that l know absolutely nothing of the
essential facts Of this matter of my own
knowledge, and all my information was
entirely hereSay; every expression L
ever used was a matter of opinion and
was not written for the purpose of in
jurfng anyone. and 1 cannot understand
why it is that 1 should be summoned
as witness merely for the purpose Of
being badgered by an attorney.
Q. That is all right. Have you writ
ten all of these editorials?
A Yes sir.
Q. Every one?
A So far as 1 remember, yes, sir.
Q. On data furnished by whom?
A Nobody furnished me the data; 1
got it up myself
Thomas on Stand.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Tipton's
testimony, B. G. Thomas manager OF
ges TO testify.
Mr. Thomas stated that he had not
written any of the editorials appear
ing in the Times for the past two
months; that he did not know of any
blocks of International Water company
stock having been placed to carry in
! fluence, and that he was not in favor
of abandoning the mesa as, source of
water supply for Ell Paso, until better
field was found.
Anderson On Stand Again.
The testimony of superintendent W.
T. Anderson OF the water company. in
reference TO relative water conditions
and the conditions of operating expenses
IN III Paso and other Texas cities was
continued this morning
A comparison between Fort Worth
and FL Paso was first made. during
which it was stated that at Fort Worth
the net earning per year. dating from
Jan. 1, 1905, has been s34S6 per million
gallons In 1909. 1.425 million gallons
OF water was pumpec, making the net
earnings OF the plant S49.305.
The Fort Worth Plant.
The investment at Fort Worth,
which Is municipality owned is valued
at S1,ScO,OOO, and the earnings of s34S6
was stated by Mr.. Anderson 20 De 2.6S
percent, which he estimated to be bout
Sufficient TO care for the sinking fund
and for repairs at the plant AT Fort
Worth, it was also stated. about one
third of the water pumped is accounted
for, and that the meter rate is 80 cents
per 1000 gallons.
The austin Rate.
AT Austin, the water is obtained from
supply tunnel and Mr. Anderson
stated that the pumping of water at FL
Paso involves IA times more work.
During the cross examination con-
Quoted by city attorney Coldwen, Mr.
Anderson reviewed the statements reIa-
tive 10 conditions at Austin and Fort
Worth
Rate Is High Here.
He also testified that the water rate
in 81 Paso was greater, per habitant,
than in any other city in Texas, with
the exception of Fort Worth, and ex-
Guiding Fort Worth, that the price paid
by the average consumer in FL Paso
was s1-21 compared with 81 in other
Texas cities.
On the redirect examination of super
intendent Anderson by attorney Burgess
for the water company stockholders.
he stated that. excluding the service
supplied TO railway companies and large
manufacturing establishments in FL
Paso, the rate per inhabitant would be
less than in other cities in Texas
Water Is Good.
In answer to question by governor
Sayers as TO the quality Of mesa water
compared with water supplied in other
Texas cities. Mr.. Anderson stated that
it was better, excepting Fort Wort.
and San Antonio. where, he said, water
conditions are almost perfect
During his testimony this morning
Mr.. Anderson also. stated that the fuel
cost for pumping water at Austin. as
shown by his figures relative to condi-
tons in Texas cities, was 81 per I,OOO.-
600 gallons, compared with sS9S In Fl
Paso. The actual operating expenses
at Austin were also stated by Mr. An
derson to be SS.46 per 1000. 900 gallons.
as compared with s41.02 in FL Paso. The
net earnings of the water company ct
Austin last year were stated to amount
to s72,4S2, on an investment of $507,7s5,
or return of ii percent
joe PeytOn On Stand.
j. c. Peyton, auditor for the citizens
committee appointed in 1909 by mayor
Sweeney to investigate the value of the
water company plant. and also its ply
steal condition. was called as a witness |