The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-05-30
MR.. BARCLAY MAKES CHARGES
AGAINST WATER Commissioner
Big Surprise Sprung at Tuesdays
Council Meeting Municipal Light
ing Plant Being Considered

evening for the first time in month,
with all members present. The usual
number of bills were allowed after
which a considerable amount of ac-
cumulated business was disposed of.
Councilman Barclay furnished the
sensation of the evening when he
charged that the city's car was being
used for pleasure and private business
by the water commissioner and that
the bills brought in for gas, oil, tires
and other repairs were out of all rea-
son. He also stated that the Water
Commissioner had been transferring
oil and gas from the city's machine
to his own car, all of which was not
denied. There was little discussion fol-
lowing the charge, but upon motion
of Mr.. Barclay it was decided that in
the future the car must remain in
the city's garage when not being
used on city business. Following this
action Mr.. Barclay moved that the
water commissioner be instructed to
hand in his resignation to take effect
June 1st for the reasons afore stated
and for the further reason that he was
not giving satisfactory service. Not
a member of the council had a word
to say when the Mayor called for re-
marks and the motion was lost for
want of second. Mr.. Barclay stated
after the meeting that it was gener-
ally understood that a change in
water commissioners was desired and
that he had been promised support.
Councilman Eickmeier handed in his
resignation and N. A. Nelson was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy.
It was decided to purchase the
street sprinkler from the county at a
price of 5000. Arrangements will be
made whereby Commercial street will
bee sprinkled daily from the Echo
building to the Wenatchee river
bridge and other residence streets nee
essary.
The matter of building vault which
has been under consideration for sew
eral months, was discussed at some
length. The committee appointed to
look into this matter was instructed
to get figures on the cost of such a
structure. The approximate cost is
$500. Councilman Barclay urged
that in the interests of economy the
unused room in the Jail be used to
store the citys records. In the event
of the building of new city hall,
which is under consideration, the $500
would be wasted.
The matter of another railroad
crossing was discussed at some length.
It was pointed out that the grade
crossing at the west end of the city
has become very dangerous and un-
less something is done a serious ac-
cident might occur any day. Attor-
ney Nelson was instructed to take the
matter up with the railroad officials.
The following report of the under
signed committee was read and placed
on file.
REPORT
Whereas the undersigned have here
tofore been appointed Committee by
the City Council of the city of Leav-
enworth to investigate and make re-
port on the possibility of installing an
electric light plant for the purpose of
furnishing the City of Leavenworth
with electric power and electric light,
and your committee has made said
investigation, your committee makes
the following report;
Investigation has been made as to
the total cost of installing an electric
light plant and distributing system,
and from all data that can be gath
cred, it will cost the City of Leaven-
worth approximately seventy thou
sand dollars (s70,000) to install a
suitable plant with sufficient power.
The City of Leavenworth requires
for its water system the construction
of a concrete dam. By the construc-
tion of this dam sufficient water
power to operate an electric light
plant could be furnished. Your com
mittee believes that the city water
system should stand the expense of
the construction of a proper dam, and
by so doing we would reduce the ex-
pense of installing the light plant
by some twenty thousand dollars.
From certain inquiries and certain IN
vestigations that have been made,
i. would appear to this committee
that it would be possible to contract
with a company to install the electric
light plant and distribution system on
a contract that would give the City
of Leavenworth an opportunity TO
purchase the same on reasonable