Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-17
Council Bluffs
WATER PLANT FIGHT STARTS
Expert Will Submit Figures to the
City Council.
MEET THURSDAY
EnEineers say they VIII Make Prop
OsItiOn Later by Wire ~
Unable to ne Present
In Person.

The first efforts Of the city to prepare
for the legal fight that comes up this week
in connection with the condemnation OF the
city water plant will be made at the meet
ing Of the city council tonight A PROPOSE
ton will be presented TO the council bv
the first Of the experts who will be sum
moned to furnish facts for the city's side
OF the case. to be submitted TO the arbi-
tration court composed of Judges Thornell
Hobson and Ellison, who have been ap-
pointed by the supreme court to act as ap-
praisers. They will meet here on Thurs
day and will be ready to begin taking testi-
mony on the following day. A letter was
received yesterday by Alderman Younker-
man from Messrs. Burns and Mcdonnell.
Kansas City hydraulic engineers accepting
his invitation TO appear before the council
and discuss the terms upon which they Will
do the work OF making a physical exsmina-
ton of the plant.
In the letter it is said either Mr. Burns
or Mr.. Mcdonnell will be here. and in
the event OF neither being able to arrange
matters as to make a personal visit pos
sible, that a proposition would be made by
wire. They said they would prefer TO make
an engagement with compensation fixed
upon per diem basis They said in their
letter that they furnished the evidence upon
which the Dos Moines water plant valua-
ton was fixed. and that as their charges
were satisfactory. they believed that a sim
! liar arrangement would be equally ac-
ceptable here.
Council Has Authority.
Mayor Maloney said last evening that he
had personally taken no steps toward Sc
curing expert evidence to be submitted to
the court but would be satisfied with any
thing the council might do in this relation.
All he desired, he said was that the very
! best evidence possible should be submitted
| to the court that would force the valua-
ton of the plant to the lowest reasonable
| figure. He said he believed Engineer
/ KieTsted should be recalled and hoped he
would be able to materially reduce the
valuation fixed two years ago. In Kiersted' 3
| report going value" Of over $4,000 was
included. which would be eliminated from
| the present consideration, bringing the
Kiersted valuation under $500 900.
1t is also said that NJ. H. OBrien. the
st. Louis hydraulic expert who received
| something over 5000 for examining the
Etnyre plans for a new plant, has also
been invited to appear before the court
/ anu may nave n communication lot lue
council at the meeting tonight Mr..
o. Brien favorably impressed the advocates
Of municipal ownership when, after a care
full examination of the Btnyre set Of plans
he declared that the bid of f. A Wick
ham for the construction Of the new plant
amounting to $685., 900, was about $4,000 toe
high Notwithstanding Mr.. Wickham sub
| sequently said he had made estimates
about $4,000 too low, due to an error in
footing up the figures.
COmpany's Evidence Ready.
Manager Hart Of the water company
said last night that his people would be
ready to submit their evidence whenever
the court was ready to receive IT, and
that there would be no obstructive tactics
| to cause delays
"Of course" said MIR. Hart. II dom
believe in municipal ownership now and
never did. but | know when to quit. We
will have competent experts here to tel
the court the value Of our plant to pro.
tect the interests of our bondhoIders
There is nothing to be gained by DELAYS
and we will not resort to anything fol
that purpose"
II is probable, although Manager Hair
did not name the companys witnesses. tina,
John w. Alvord, a Chicago hydraulic engi
neer, will be called, and possibly Benezett,
Williams. The former fixed the value Of
the plant. Immediately after Enginee,
Kierstedt had made his report adding over
| 500, 900 to the valuation, and Mr.. William,
drew set Of plans for the enlargement
OF the plant after making a careful NeS
animation. Both men were employed b,
the water company and both are in nos
session OF intimate personal knowledge o.
the physical condition of the plant Kier
stedt made over 100 excavations in exam
lining the pipes and Mr.. Alvord had hi
assistant, Mr.. Phillips. with him all of tn,
time this work was under way. The wate
works employees were used I'm making al
OF the excavations and Mr. Hart aidet
in every way the work OF Kierstedt.