The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-09-23
CITY COUNCIL NOTES.

The big battle over the mayors
scheme of improving the two utility
plants came to an issue at last and the
mayor was beaten, Il to 2. The dis
cussion centered around two PROPOSE
tions
/. To start combining the water
and utility plants at the pumping sta
ton.
.. To advertise for both steam and
oil power at the pumping plant instead
of steam only.
The mayor and Georgenson led the
affirmative of both questions and
Schuetze, G. Schroeder and Thorisop
starred for the negative.
1t began by Georgenson, chairman
of the utilities committee, reporting IN
an individual resolution calling for
combining the plants. To this the
other who had signed areport for ad-
vertising Immediately for "a steam en-
gine at the pumping station objected
and wanted the majority opinion sub
mitted to the council Schuetze and
w. Schroeder said that the Georgen-
sons proposition had never been before
the committee. This Georgenson de-
MED and it was lucky that Georgenson
and Shuetze sat on opposite sides OF
the room. The mayor sad s hue
TIE had started the personalities. w.
Schroeder accused the mayor of at
tempting to dictate and override the
majority and the mayor replied that he
was merely performing his sworn duty
in making recommendations and that
the city's money would not be squand-
cred if he could prevent it.
Thorison briefly, calmly and persua-
lively explained why he opposes the
mayors plan. He wanted to know
where the condensing water would
come from for big combined plant.
Then the mayor sprung a new one.
1t was a report by the engineer favor
ing using the river intake for condens-
sing water or building new river in
take at cost of SO, ,0G0, If necessary
Bigel objected to pouring vast quart
ty of river sewage from the condensers
onto the lake shore near the wells.
The mayor pleaded earnestly for bids
for both oil and steam and said that
the electricity could be produced for (
OF cent per X w. with oil and for
not less than l. cents vita steam.
Schael1e denied the mayors statement
that all consulting engineers who had
reported had advised consolidation of
the plants and said that the Hunt re-
port was against it if there was water
enough without lake intake, which
there now is. He said the mayors
asking for steam bids is not in good
faith and that the mayor wants only an
oil engine.
Thorison said We have gone in debt
$4,000 for pipe extensions and we
haven't the power to pump water to
them and we are spending $4,000 on
fire department. without pressure for IT
to use. We can't combine without
condensing water and we haven't it.
Georgenson urged the great econo-
ject and had the facts and figures.
Thorlson replied and ended by saying
as if it were a painful duty st is hard
to believe the advocates of com binipg
under these circumstances are sincere
and have no ulterior motive" Schuet-
b TIE took his customary whack at the
Diesel oil engine w. Schroeder call
ed for the majority report but the
mayor forced them to division on the
Georgenson proposal. This was the
question of combining the plants. Nc
Keough said he couldn't vote intelli-
gently without more light on the new
idea of river intake condensing water
supply but the mayor had the roll
called. The mayors plan lost II to 2,
Scherer and Georgenson alone support
ing him ana Mc'Keough not voting.
The mayor took it quite calmly.
The leaders of the opposition then
wanted the majority report read and
the mayor rubbed it in having the
clerk read long report of the eng-
neer favoring Diesel oil BIDS. They
tried to stop him but the mayor grim
4 l. ordered bim to proceed. Every one
was on edge for final action but the
mayor made them sit quietly through
some more long reports. Thorison
beat down the mayors delaying tactics
by having The engineers plans for a
steam pumping plant read while the
mayor was momentarily absent. On
return Thorison moved their adoption
and that bids be advertised for. Only
Scherer and Georgenspn voted "No"
the mayor was finally and definitely de-
feated in his pet project. He made
some remarks about the difficulties
The council would encounter in iinanc-
ing their scheme but said after the
\ meeting that he will not veto the nc.
tion. Nearly all agreed with the may
or on the desiribiity of combining the
plants and the differences arose over
the feasibility of it under present con-
tlitions without resorting to a Diesel
4 oil engine which Learly all distrust as
safe fire protection power.
Not much other work was done