The Bismarck tribune., 1922-05-05
WATER HEARING
IS ISC0NCLUDED
BY COMMISSION |
City and Water Company. Attor-
neys Are to Submit Briefs
On The Case
\ CLASH IN TESTIMONY EST; I.

The water hearing was concluded
before the state railroad commission
late yesterday afternoon, both tn,
city and the water company present
ing evidence toward the conclusion Of
tho case. "A 81.
The last part of the hearing was
marked by an attack by the water
company attorneys upon the accuracy
OF the figures of S. j. Hunt, employed
by the city in the case, who was re.
ferred to. as the 1895 a -day-and-ex-
|penses- expert" :
Mr.. Hunt held there was consider
able leakage of water which was due
to poor equipment. In estimating this
loss Of water unaccounted for he said
there was 1,S33,900 gallons of water
used at the penitentiary and hospital.
Manager Caulfield of the water
company was called to the stand af-
ter recess, stating that during the
noon hour he examined the books and
that the books showed that there had
been 14,346,O45 gallons of water used
by these two consumers during the
period. He said Mr.. Hunt had made
a mistake Of over 12,O00,000 gallons in
this item and testified Mr.. Hunt had
access to the, company's books.
Mr.. Caulfield testified that there
appeared to be other discrepancies
which he did not have time to look
up. ai5:' ~ 's
Question Of Expenses
The question Of expenses of the
water company were brought up by
the city when it put on the stand
George Doorloy. He testified that he
had been superintendent, did prac-
|tically all the, work now done by the
superint endent and manager, that the
manager received no salary, and that
there was a clerk receiving $50 a
month. Water company officials tes.
fled that the manager received 500
per month and the clerk $50 month
during the period as shown by the
books of the company.
R. F. Jager, fire, chief, was called to
the stand, to testify to the city's con-
tention of inadequate fire pressure.
Regarding Fire Pressure
The Tribune fire of January 2,
1920, was discussed at length. Doorley
testified that the water pressure was
inadequate at this fire.
Thomas H. Poole, for the COM
pany, was put on the stand to an
swer this contention. He exhibited
photographs h, said were taken at the
time of the fire because of criticism.
These photographs showed sprays of
water at couplings of the hose and
Io<b fIJic hot
lack of pressure was in part caused
by the leaks in the hose. He also
testified that there was twice as
much hose used for the seven streams
Of water as is provided in the Board
Of Fire Underwriters regulations He
exhibited photographs showing hose
co:led and interlockedi and said. that
this coiling Of hose reduced the ef-
|fectiveness of the streams of. water
and was responsible in part for lack
of pressure. He also testified that
part Of the hose used was condemned
as ineffective and later discarded.
Mr.. Doorley was called by the city
and shown the photographs. He main
ta'ned bis original contention and tes.
titled that the leaks would not effect
the hydrant stream and in his opir-
ion the leaks in the hose, and at the
cn"rlin"s showed that there was lack
! # fire pressure, that if there was suf-
ficiont pressure the hose would have
burst.
Difference on Valuation.
Th"re also was sharp difference OF
.oninion expressed hv T. r.. Atkinson.
'city engineer, en- his valuation and