The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-26

amounts to the same thing. 1t was
necessary to take the new motor
that was to run the new pump and
attach so that ii could run the old
pump, and so keep up the water
supply. Many of our citizens
self with others-had. been led to
suppose from reports that were
that the City had dupli-
cate pumping system, and safety so
far as water supply is concerned,
was thereby insured to us, Contrary
to this I found that the old pump
was the only reliance we had. and at
any moment the motor running it
might be ''burnt out" as the old
one had been, and then the only re-
course would be 'baek to the old
steam pumps" that have been abused
in so many statements in the last
two. years. Of course the two new
boilers that were purchased by
former council were not installed.
but were "disposed Of" Hence the
City must have steam piped from the
electric light plant, so that our old
steam pumps could be used in eases
Of emergency. Turning to these
two old pumps, found that on one
of them was card hung, informing
anyone who might be concerned,
that the valve connecting it with the
water pipes was out of order When
/ spoke of the condition of the other
pump l was informed that neither
one of them was worth more than
ofd junk, and no dependence could
be put on them. He further told me
that they were not "turned over"
every day, or every week, or every
month, even. OF course I could
plainly see that little reliance could
be put In case of an emergency, on
machinery that was given no care
whatever. These pumps on which
the City might have to depend at
any moment for safetx. were being
utterly neglected, and left to rust
and rot down.
Going outside TO where the water
tank stands, found that one of the
brace rods from the center pipe to
the corner of the tower structure.
was broken and hanging down. and
had been SO for some time. When
the tower was built Inc center pipe
was protected from frost by casing
IF wood. Instead of having a solid
foundation for this to rest on. some
pieces of timber were laid down on
the soft ground. and of course set
tied by the weight of the lumber of
the easing, thereby breaking this
rod, and endangering other parts of
the structure.
About the grounds, half buried in
dirt. were pieces of iron pipe and
other materials, rusting and being
rendered unit for use.
In the room where tools and small
articles are kept | found that the
city was owner of variety of
articles too numerous to mention, y
that have cost much money, but are
of no practical value. There are a
number of tools that there seems to
be no use for whatever, unless it be
to lend TO mechanics about the
city. / would not be understood as
wishing to make rule "not to
lend = for often we need to borrow,
and it is proper to accommodate
another who may need the temporary
use. of a4toOl. But | learned that
some of these tools have been taken
and hays been away for months, and
|, are still away There might be a
.;wu to such state of things.
- hat the Superintendent of
all the materlals that nave come to
his hands since he took the position
He has record Of where each articl
used is, and of each days work done
by himself and others in the con.
duet of the system. To be sure
these records are kept in books thai
are not well adapted for the keeping
of. valuable records, but he has kept
them AL right.
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