Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-10
TO ESTIMATE VALUE
Of WATER PLANT
City Authorities and RepreSen-
tativeS of Company Make
Initial Arrangements
TO BEGIN WORK AT ONCE
II Price Proves Satisfactory to Au.
thOritles Matter VIII Be Submit
ted at Special Election.
TO BEGIN WORK AT ONCE

NNu uN a. ppVN"A bhVNbiVhs
An agreement between the city of
Salem and the Salem Water Co., for
the fixing of a price on the water
plant of the latter by arbitration
which was entered into during the last
year of Mayor Lachmunds administra-
ton, and which was dropped upon the
advent of the new administration ow-
ing to failure to bring together the
arbitrating engineers provided for, was
resurrected at meeting in the office
of Mayor Sleeves Saturday night. The
meeting was attended by the mayor
Aldermen Rigdon and Minton, of the
ways and means committee of the city
council, City Attorney Page and Chas.
A. Park and Paul Wallace represent
ing the water company.
Mayor Sleeves prefaced the meeting
by announcing that he had talked with
representatives of the water company
and had found that they were willing
to sell and that an immediate apprais-
al should be made.
The agreement which was re-en-
tered into by the water people and
the city provides that each party shall
procure the services of an expert en-
gineer. The engineer shall make ply
sical examinations Of the plant indie
pendently of each other and attempt
to agree on a valuation. If they are
unable to agree they are to select a
third engineer, who is satisfactory to
both parties. .,....-.-
,asanestiOn COessAasp eOlle--ss.az.az
If the price agreed upon by the en-
gineers is considered reasonable by
the city council the question of the
purchase of the plant at that price
shall be voted upon by the people at
special election. If not the question
shall be dropped entirely
The discussion had only been fairly
started when Rigdon and Minton, who
have been sparrlng for openings at
each other since the coming in of the
new council clinched and wrestled
each other hard for a couple Of min
utes. In the break-away Rigdon got
in ripping uppercut that well nigh
put Minton out of the going for the
remainder Of the session.
Minton, who is a stickler for strict
adherence to the charter, said:
81 claim that this procedure was
never started according to the proyis-
ions of the city charter"
RlgdOn Fights Back.
"Oh, you are entirely mistaken" re.
torted Rigdon. 81 am getting tired Of
this kind of statements from man
who never looks these matters up"
DO you mean to say that this reso-
luton is according to the charter?
roared Minton.
"Yes," answered Rigdon calmly ant
laconically and with much conviction
"and | leave 1t to you to show where
It is not. insist that you show right
here in the presence Of these gentle
men where the resolution is not ac
cording to the charter"
Minton did not accept the challenge
and Rigdon bore the palm the remain
der of the evening.
Mayor Qulets Tumult.
Leaving this discussion" interposet
Mayor Sleeves, "and assuming tina
the agreement is regular, does 1t sui
you, Mr. Minton?"
81 think we must either follow It Of
condemn the plant"
81 consider condemnation out of tn,
question: declared the mayor. "Arl
you in favor of re-instating the agree
ment, Mr.. Minton?'
Yes" Mlnton admitted,
There is doubt in the minds of boil
the committee and the water peopl
whether the same engineers who wer,
engaged on the former occasion cal
against be procured for the eXamlna
tion of the water system, The cit,
formerly engaged r. II. Thompson, o
Seattle, who is reputed to be one o
the four best engineers in the Uniteu
States. He has removed to British Co
lumbla since that time, however an,
may not be able to come to Salem HI
co-worker, Engineer Kyle, Of Seattle
who represented him in Salem at on
time, may be secured. He is saisfac
-. - A.. ,.n,r,anpt attvau ~ tha off u