The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-02-05

Last Tuesday nights council meet
ing was a most interesting session, from
the taxpayers point of view and fur
nished many topics for conversation
among our citizens the last few days.
The most startling thing of the eve
ming occurred when E. K. Barnum
threw the searchlight on Leavenworth'
city water system, when he read his
report authorized by the council at a
previous meeting. Mr.. Barnum's re-
port, while not fully completed, COM
mences at the first, from the time the
council secured plans and specifications,
and later awarded the contract to Sea-
man & Quigg, up to the present day.
At next Tuesday nights meeting his
report will be be complete, but thus
far he has dug up figures which show
that the City OF Leavenworth is out
over $11, 900, for which they received
nothing in return, except probably the
laugh. Just who had their fingers in
this little graft as it is referred to,
will probably be determined later on
and an effort made to return at least
part OF the money to the city treasury.
The resolution introduced by Coun-
Gilman Woldenburg calling for the is
suance Of So, 900 worth of bonds TO be
used 10 take up outstanding warrants,
was discussed from every angle both
by the council and citizens present.
There was much doubt expressed as to
whether the city could dispose of its
6 per cent bonds at par, and for that
reason the majority Of the. council did
not favor Mr.. Woldenburg's resolution,
which would have resulted in an ex-
pense OF 500 or more which the city
would have lost in the event the sale
Of the bonds could not be negotiated.
A motion was made that Councilman
Woldenburg be appointed committee
Of one, with full power to act, in find
ing a buyer for the bonds, providing
they could be sold at par at not more
than s per cent, This appointment he
fatty refused to accept unless his res
olution was passed. He argued that
''the city should go ahead and issue
the bonds" saying that this would
show the bonding firms that the city
meant business" and then take chan
ces on placing them. However he was
sure in his own mind that the bonds
would find buyer. Seeing that there
was no hope Of getting his measure
thru unless he made some concessions
he finally agreed to change his resolu-
ton to read that the city attorney De
instructed to prepare ordinance for the
issuance Of the bonds AFTER it was
settled that they could be satisfactorily
sold. The resolution was then voted
on by the council and carried. The
vote was as follows: For, Wolderburg,
Snyder, Miller and SeeleY. Opposed
Wheeler, Schubert and Featherstone.
Nothing further on this matter will now
be done for a week or two, or until such
time as the clerk can get replys from
bonding houses as to whether there is
any likelihood OF the city being able tc
sell the bonds under the above con-
ditions. The clerk was instructed to
prepare a financial statement OF the
city which will accompany the letters
to the bonding houses.
Robert Coleman had a communica-
ton on file asking for the establishment
OF grade on Cedar street. Ii was de-
cided that it would mean quite an ex-
pense at this time when the ground was
covered with two feet Of snow, also that
it was unnecessary at this time as nc
improvement work was contemplated
for that street. The request was de-
MED.
A communication from Mr.. Barnum
was read regarding the size of service
water pipes to be used in the city, also
the discharge Of different sizes Of pipe.
The letter was placed on file for future
reference.
Councilman Woldenburg introduced
a resolution TO the effect that proceed