Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-02


tbs MAYoR AND rHR CRY ESoISEER.
The publication in Mondays LEDGER Of
the suspension by Mayor Loaand Of the
City Engineer drew card from the lat
ter gentleman in which the public we're
asked to suspend judgment. In his
message to the Board Of Aldermen yes.
terday afternoon, Mr.. Loaand assigned
the following reasons for his action:
/ charge Mr.. Foster with want Of
attention to the details Of the work under
his supervision, and q want of compe-
tency as an engineer to have charge Of
such important public improvements as
are now in progress.
The unfinished condition of the sewers
at the bayou on the streets to be paved
is an evidence of want of skill or judg.
ment that cannot be overlooked. These
sewers should have been finished and
allowed to settle days before the pave
ment is laid on them; but, instead OF
this, they were not commenced until the
pavement was laid so near to them that
the contractors we're obliged to stop the
work until they were finished, causing
great inconvenience to the contractors,
and perhaps damage and loss to the city.
The alterations made in some in
stances in the pavement, after 1t was
laid, and in many instances in the grades
and fills on the streets, during the pro.
gress Of the paving, is another evidence
of the want of attention, or want OF
skill in his profession.
These charges Of lack of duty and a
want of professional skill can be estab-
lished, all of which, together with his
countermanding an order given by me,
to two of his assistant engineers, to
measure and estimate the amount of
paving done on Jefferson and old Madi-
son streets and Charleston avenue, were
the moving causes of his suspension. An
estimate had been returned to me by Mr..
Foster, certified by himself, making the
amount due for work on those streets
Sl7l, $50 SO. A copy of his estimate
accompanies this communication,
marked A.
/ did not believe this return was cor
rect, and determined to have it tested
before settlement was made with the
contractors, who had been promised a
settlement and payment by one o'clock
on Friday. In order to enable me to
comply in time with the promise made
them, directed Messrs. Hood and Stock
ton, assistant engineers, to measure, etc,
estimate the work, and report TO me as
soon as practicable.
They had nearly completed it, when
they were ordered by Mr.. Foster to stop
the measurement, for the reason that all
orders for work in his department should
emanate from him. Mr.. Foster also told
me that he had stopped the measurement
because he was satisfied that the esti-
mate was correct, and, that il it was not,
his bondsm'en were responsible to the
city for his errors
Messrs. Hood and Stockton were di
rected to measure and estimate the work
for the purpose of detecting and correct.
ing the errors and plumbers of Mr. Fos-
ter, and it did not become him to
countermand an order to accomplish
this object. For this unwarrantable
interference with my order, and want of
skill in his professional duties, | sus-
pended him, and directed those gentle
men to proceed with the measurement
and estimate-the result of which fully
sustans my opinion of the incorrectness
of Mr.. Fosters estimate. A copy of
their report, marked B, accompanies
this, and shows a difference in Mr..
Fosters estimate of 1874, 2S9 08 against
the city. Messrs Hood and Stockton
made two careful measurements of the
work, and / am fully satisfied of the
correctness of their report and see no
reason why should recall my order sus-
pending Mr., Foster. The estimate
handed me by Mr.. Foster was intended
for final estimate of the work done on
the streets mentioned, and upon it the
contractors expected payment in full.
In view of the immense amount in
volved, over 81 100000 now under con-
tract, besides the general interest of the
city, leave it for your honorable body
to determine whether it is proper to leave
this vast interest in the hands of an
officer who, either from culpable neglect
of official duty or from want of profess
sional skill, commits such blinders as
are here complained Of
Mr.. Fosters card says the estimate
returned by him was intended as approx.
innate, while the Mayor says it was
designed as final estimate. The whole
matter was referred to committee of
three, consisting of Messrs. Ruffin, Pass
more and Cochrane.