The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-22
WATER BOARD PLANS TO
SPEND $4,000 FOR MORE
LAND FOR PARK PURPOSES
Commissioners Wrangle Over
Question and Sidetrack Will
liams' Report on System
POUND OPPOSES PURCHASE
Says Money Should Be Spent In
Improving Plant-Board of
Commerce Grilled
POUND OPPOSES PURCHASE

Instead OF discussing the recon-
mendations OF Prof. Gardner s. VIII
liams for improving the water sys-
tenn, the board OF water commission
els IN special session, Tuesday after
noon. adopted a resolution to have a
special committee negotiate for the
purchase OF land adjoining Gladwin
park on the east and fronting on the
river, the land to be used as a public
park for the east side. The cost OF
the land would be approximately
100000. Commissioner Pound OPP
posed the proposition on the ground
that 1t is the first duty OF the board
10 provide ample water facilities and
also that the board does not require
the land The tract contains 33
acres, 10 of which are under water
and would have to be filled in before
being used.
E. W. Pendleton, former water COM
missioner, foresaw the possibility OF
the city eventually wanting to pur-
chase the land, and several years ago
obtained an option on II for $4,000.
Commissioner Pound opposed the
purchase and the option was allowed
to lapse. Pound investigated and
found that the land was assessed for
only $1,000
The tract which II is proposed to
purchase lies In the rear OF the tract
fronting on JefYerson-ave., which was
purchased more than five years ago
and on which the new pumping STA
tion Is now being erected. This lat
ter tract was originally offered the
city for $4,000 by the owner, but the
former commissioners month later
negotiated with Nall & Hutton, real
estate dealers, who had obtained an
option on II in the meantime, for the
purchase of the tract for $65,000.
Commissioner Pound declares thet
the widow who sold the property re-
ceived about $4,000.
When the time came for building
a new pumping station, Commission.
ers Dodge. Clippert and Pendleton,
none of whom Is now on the board,
made a contract with Smith, Hinch.
man & Gfylls, without any compefi-
lion, to pay them IL per cent as
fees for designing the big, straight,
sided structure and 1-2 per cent for
inspection. The original plans called
for a structure to cost no more than
$4O0, 900 but the final plans agreed
on meant an expenditure of double
that amount and the board has paid
$4,000 to the engineering firm In
fees. The final payment of $4,000
was allowed by the board In its last
meeting after the commissioners did
a great deal OF grumbling about hav-
ing TO pay the bill without their hav-
ing had any part in making the orig
inal contract. Commissioner Pound
voted against paying the money. but
Cor missioner Gillespie considered
1t legal obligation of the city.
Cne of the. interesting features of
the plans Is that II calls for the build
ing of pumping station partly on
land not owned by the city. The
building is to be T-shaped. With the
object of making pretty showing
from Jefferson-ave., the former com.
missioners had the front part of the
building, or. the upper part OF the
"T'' laid out parallel with the old
pumping station in Gladwin park. But
Continued on page 1o).