The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-10-06
subscription $500 Per Year.
Council PAID FOR WHISTLE.
Voted TO Allow Claim Of G. =. Webb
for Siren, Amount S425.00.

Considerable criticism was heard
upon the streets last Tuesday morn
ing over the work OF the council in
its action OF paying $425.O0 for the
siren which c. 5. Webb had shipped
here last winter, and which was in
stalled upon the roof OF the city hau.
This talk was heightened from the
fact that It was learned that Mayor
Gaffney refused TO approve the action
of the council and sent in veto, ar.
ter refusing to sign the order.
The history of this purchase goes
back three years OF time when the
alarm system was put in. An agrea-
ment was made with Mr.. Webb at the
time which agreement was 10 the ef-
feet that the city was to purchase
siren from him which was to have
certain qualifications, among them
motor of h. p The purchase was set
aside for the time owing to the fact
that the city went broke building the
city hall. but when there were funds
enough on hand the siren question
was taken up and Mr.. Webb was told
to send along his whistle
The whistle proved disappoint-
ment and there was lot of criticism
at the time from the fact that the
whistle was not loud enough to be of
any great service. What the citizens
wanted was a whistle that had vol
ume enough to wake all within the
limits and this siren isn't powerful
enough to do that
The claim was made that the horse
power of the motor in the siren sub
mitted is but 3 h. p.. whereas the un-
derstanding was a 3 h. p. motor was
to be supplied
Mr. Webb came back with the per-
fectly justifable complaint that the
siren had not been mounted right;
that II should have been elevated 16
feet above the roof instead Of being
set on the roof itself
An unsightly scaffold was then
erected on top Of our beautiful build
ing and the horn placed on top Of II.
Still the noise was not sufficient 20
awaken the Rip vanWinkles. and IN
order to get comparison a whistle
was ordered sent here from another
firm That whistle proved to be OF No
greater noise-making power than the
Webb machine. and II was returned
10 its owners.
The Webb machine was received
about eight months ago and no move
has been made TO return IL. Mr.. Webt-
has been intending to appear before
the council but failed 10 do until last
Monday night when he was present
and insisted upon being paid for his
whistle.
The council voted TO pay the Diil
with the result as stated above.
This question. like all others, has
two sides to H. The Diamond Drill
reporter started out to get both OF
them Alderman Meisler was one OF
the fret he met and In response TO
our query. he said that he eponsered
the motion to pay for the horn for the
reason that he thought II unfair 70 Mr..
Webb to keep a whistle here for SO
long a time and then refuse TO pay
for Il. He stated that he was no,
prevent when the siren was ordered
and was In favor OF sending It back,
but now, after keeping Il six months,
he thought II an injustice to send II
back.
Alderman Nelson was the next man
seen MIR. Nelson said that lie didn't
think Il right to keep piece Of ma
chinery so long and then refuse ~
pay for IT. that II It was his own
(COntlnued on Pare