Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-03-08
Tie Nater Question.
LITTER raou D. q. LrSsLET

LITTER Iaou D. e.. LISsLEY
.Wsssrs E9dori
Returning home on sunday morning, | find
OF my table pamphlet entitled Reply of VIM.
}. McA'pinet to the report Of u. c. Liusley,'
&c, Sc. The manuscript Of this pamphlet was
procured from Mr. Nc Alpine by Mr.. o. 4
Dodge Who. as he stated before the Beard Of
Aldermen, visited llr. NcAlVne manly for
that purpose As this pamphlet. dated the
2jth Of October, has been withheld from the
public 30 many months aud then issued Just on
the eve Of an important election, it was evident
ly not expected Il should receive an extended
reply. his txlteiGIitL l must crafty and be
brief
| will notice but the two main points. Mr..
NcAlpine says ny report Is Lot fair and can
did rot such as should '.characterize reports
Of respectable members Of the sprofession Of
Engineers that Il does not deserve considers
ton for fairly and honestly presenting the
questions a, issue, but on the
contrary Is a most unfair and prejuiiced pre-
sentaticn Of the subject, exceeding in this re-
spect anything be has ever seen from any re-
spectacle member Of the profession and that
my plan in comparison Ei.h ''is entirely with
out merit"
In reply to all this have only to say that
in bsndying such cIyilities , With Mr.. Meal
pine So far as his remarks allulc 10 myself
| care little, but So fir as they reflect upon the
distinguished gentlemen who united with me in
the report, exceedingly regret it. Conscious
OF having scted in this matter frcm no motive
but desire 70 promote the best interests Of my
fellow citizens, to most Of whom | am we'll
known, eonfl,utly rely upon their aequitting
me Of the charges made and implied ia the pam
phlet IN qu-stion. The other point made by
Mr. McApine 70 which / have alluicd, is the
cost Of the works aud the cost of operating
;hem. This document from Nr. Nc Alpine Was
read ty Mr. Dodge before the B1sri II Alder
men he 27th Of October. replied 70 it briefly
at the time Ata suhssqueIt meeting Of the
Board about the lst Of December, submitted
a number Of proposals from responsible parties
for the construction Of the entire works, with
the exception Of work estimated less than uine
thousand four hundred dollars. BY these pro-
posals it vas shown that the entire work could
be constructed for l-5,C00 Instead Of u.s.
900, as estimated in my report
Alr. McAlpne says ny es,im1 e Is : !O,l00 too
low and specifies the wooden c5niuii, the
pump well, the bCiiduds AMI the tre,ching
and back filing. as being particularly .rsuffi-
Cient, especially the latter. For she coEstruc-
ton Of the above portions Of the work the fol-
lowing proposals were received by me aud sub
ml,ted TO the Board Of Aldermen -
J. Z. Flanders & Co offered 10 built the
wooden conduit for the sum Of ~5G2.Ju. Ny
estimste was S62j.OO. The same y.rtlrs also
offered to construct the pump well for $1,000.
which was the price | estimated Mr.. Frank
LaClsir, Of NiEoCski. offered TO construct all
the buildings except he wool work, painting
aud glazing, for the sum Of $500, Messrs
HHr q
painting, glazing and excavation for founda ion,
with timber for the same, for the sum of $685.
u making the cost Of the building By those
two offers, S3,7Ss 9l.-My estimate for the
buildings wsI Si,l30.79.-Mr. Chas. LaFoun-
tain offered to do all the trenching aud back
filing of earth for S6,304.00 Ny estimate
was 81, 800. Mr.. -he.4lpins stated that had
not estimated but half enough for this
Offers similar to the above were received from
parties, colfessedly responsible covering all the
remainder Of the work except 50, 400. and Of
| this, 81 400 was for watering trougks and
drinking fountains, and s., 900 for engineering.
These proposals from our best mechanics and
business men and other parties Of confessed res
possibility, thought and still think fully vim
dicsted my estimate from the charge Of being
unfair and altogether insufficient To avoid
any pretence that these offers, made come time
since, are not now yalid-that the plan has been
changed, and to meet any other similar obisc-
ton, make the following proposition | will
at any time within six months whenever the
City Government may desire. execute a contract
with the city for the construction Of the water
works in accordance with the plan recommended
in my report for the sum Of sl22, $40, which is
/ the cost as stated in said report, exclusive Of
cost Of the old works. The work to be done in
the most thorough and workmanlike manner,
and to the acceptance Of board Of engineers,
one half to be selected BY myself and the re.
mainder By the city. Or since the plan adopted
by the city differs from this. and have assured
some Of the members Of the Board Of Aldermen