The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-15
WHY THAT AUTO
Commissioner Miller Comes to
Defense of Superintendent.
Says Buying the Car Was Good
Investment.
SHAW is A NICE MAN
Has Worked Hard in the Ctty's
Interests.
Hasn't Had Vacation So De-
serves an Automobile.

H. p. Miller, city commissioner OF
waterworks and electric lights, has
risen up in defense of the action of
Jesse Shaw, superintendent of the city
waterworks, who has been Joy riding
in the city owned motor car.
Commissioner Miller asks the people
OF Iopeka to refrain from their worry
ing over the pleasures of Jesse Shaw.
he says the WaterWOrkS superintendent
will not abuse his rights. Furthermore
E1r. Miller is positive that his superin-
tendent has earned his joy rides on ac-
count of the energy and loyalty he has
eXerted in favor of the city. The same
might also be said of other employees
but the city doesn't buy them automo
biles.
Concerning Shaw's jaunt to Emporia,
Commissioner Miller said that Mr..
Shaw was very much interested in in
specting new electrical pump in that
town-and on Sunday, too. He said he
spent several hours there. Mr. Shaw
stated after he returned from Emporia
that he was up there just for visit.
Did you make any waterWorks in
spection?'' he was asked.
on, L ran out to their pumping sta
| ton" he said. 1T is only natural for
me t do that in every town I am in
Here is Commissioner Miller's state
ment on the Shaw Joy ride story:
I'm the last four years twenty miles
of extensions have been made to the
CITY Wdl6IW OIkS system. business mas
increased during that time. More than
1000 consumers have been added to
the city lists. Yet in all this time
Superintendent Shaw has had the
| same force of men and has had no
means of conveyance.
Complaints of leaks come in our
| office daily. 1t is impossible for Su-
| per1ntendent Shaw to look after them
properly and promptly without the aid
Of at least two more men and a horse
and buggy.
I've are extending water mains at
the rate of five blocks week. Our
| number of consumers is increasing
daily The purchase of an automobile
Shaw to look after 20 complaints
where before he looked after three or
four. 1t saves the city money. It
saves the city trouble on the part of
the consumers. I consider it the best
investment the city ever made.
mot long ago a, main broke at Four
teenth and Topeka avenue. Shaw lives
at Sixth and Lake streets. This was
at 2 O'Clock in the morning. Shaw
and his foreman were called out and
; they had to walk to this place-it took
them 40 minutes. If he had had this
new machine he could have been there
in ten minutes. These cases happier
often.
TT is cheaper to maintain an auto
mobile than horse and buggy. (This
will be information for owners OF
autos.) All the minor repairs are
made by our own mechanics at {
slight cost to the city.
-Four years Shaw has walked from
the end of the asylum car line to the
waterworks pumping station. He die
this to save the city the cost of a con
| veyance. He has managed the waite
department more economically thar
anyone could do anywhere. He il
known to be an economical, conserva
: tive mamie protects the interests O.
the city to a penny. He has no desir
to use anything at the expense of thu
city.
1T looks to me as though the Stat,
: Journal was hard up for news to pub
lish an article criticising Jesse Shaw
: for taking what it calls Joy rides il
the city automobile.
? 1.-The city of Topeka need not wor
ry that Jesse Shaw will abuse thu
privileges given him. He is homes
and saving and efficient.
} Mr.. Shaw has worked without
2 vacation for years. His salary is wa,
g below what it should be for a man o
2 his knowledge and efficiency. 1t i
f poor business to kick on what he ha
done.
I HE has worked overtime in his of
flee night after night The city SHOULD
allow him a pleasure now and then.
Mr.. Miller's suggestion that tn