Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-07-24
COMMISSION NOT At FAULT
Believed that New System May
Yet BE Worked Out TO In
sure Plenty of Water.

Has the city Of Alma put $40
10000 into some holes in the ground
without having achieved the result
that had been hoped for-that Of Sc
curing "a p4re well water supply for
the city, on viii Alma eventually get
her new pumping station In such
shape that it viii furnish enough
well water for The city under amy and
ali conditions
Those seemingly are two questions
which are causing great worry on
the part of the city commission and
William +. Reynolds. city manager,
who have been only agents in this
matter, as they have been carrying
out plans adopted about two years
ago to give this city new. and
pure we'll water supply
Alma contracted for "a supply Of
pure well water, which was 20 come
from the ground at the rate Of 1000
gallons Of water per minute. About
1000 gallons of water is being Sc
cured at the present time, perhaps
enough water 10 supply the very or
dnary demands Of the city, but an
amount insufficient for Alma in case
Of fire breaking out at any time.
The matter has been known by the
city officials for upwards of week
but they have wisely kept mum in
regard to the matter until after hav-
ing had an interview with Mr.. Pur-
cell Of Jackson, the contractor. who
put down the wells, and whose con-
, tract with the city called for a flow
Of 1000 gallons per minute.
For one thing the city officials
wanted to know what, in the mind
Of Mr.. Purcell, constituted a we'll
1t developed in the interview that
well in his opinion, consisted Of
hole in the ground, it is reported.
The commission also desired to
know if Mr.. Purcell believed he had
finished his contract here.
Yesterday morning Mr. Reynolds.
city manager. was interviewed re-
garding the wells, and il seemed 10
be his opinion that if Alma is going
to have sufficient pure we'll water
from it's new wells it must 60 to fur
ther expense and put up a standpipe
in which surplus water may be stored
until used 1t was evident from the
talk that this is the only method, in
MS mind at least, by which Alma may
be certain of having a pure vel
water supply.
Mr.. Reynolds was asked as to the
contract between the city and Mr..
Purcell, and stated that that was a
matter for the city attorney to deal
with. He spoke, however. in no un-
certain terms regarding some of the
work which Mr. Purcell had done.
leaving the impression very clear on
the mind that the contractor mad
slipped one over on the city
Later James c. Kress, city attor-
ney, was asked if the contractor hao
fulfilled the contract that he had en-
tered into with the city. and his re-
ply. short and TO the point, was 20
the effect that it had not been
There seems at the present time tc
be some question as to whether or
not the wells have ever been form
ally accepted by the city Mr.. Pur-
cell. it is understood, claims that
they We're accepted by the former
city engineer. In the face of this
however is a clause in the contract
which provides that the wells shall
in unison, under test, furnish 1000
|, gallons of water per minute. II the
wells were accepted without such a
test by the former engineer, it ther
becomes evident that there was a bic
laxity in his duties to the city.
The city still retains ten per cent
: of the $4,000 which Mr.. Purcell was
n to receive for putting down the well:
Q as a forfeit, and this may possibly
I be forfeited. Just previous to th'
time that the new administrator
: went into office similar sum il
y said to have been paid to Mr.. Pur
] cell which it is understood was I,
= have been withheld until all of tn,
wells were tested in unison to see i
: the required amount of water wal
: forthcoming.
The city commission and Manage
e Reynolds have been doing every
thing possible to carry on this worl
d and give Alma water at the earlies
r possible date and they are now work
n ing to give Alma a good water sup
j ply. and it is believed that they viii
: arrive at something definite very
S shortly, which will then be announc
y ed TO the residents Of the city, whom
i theyare serving.
e MORE COMING
CARD OF THANKS
" We wish 10 THANK nur neic,hhor.