The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-21

The expenses attending the employment oi
parties for extra services in my department,
which Mayor Clark refers to, Unnecessarily,
as he says, were nevertheless authorized by
Colonel Cosswell, the military Mayor, and h'na'
self, and the compensation for their services
agreed upon, as can be proved by their athda'
Wits, by pay rolls, and endorsed papers on file
Similar evidences can be furnished for the au.
thority to carry out certain public works al
that time and since.
Previous to Colonel Cogswell's removal, auo
upon the suspension Of the works OF improve
mc.,. then going on, these assistants were ols'
charged as the pay rolls will show, except such
whose services were continued tHroug55 o4e., 9taI
own applications to Colonel Cogswell, and after
his removal, to Mayor Clark, who authorized
their continued employment, his approval was
giyen them verbally, and when solicited 1t II
writing, he stated that his approval OF the pay
rolls indicated his sanction. l accepted TINS as
authority. and considered 1T sufficient IN oil
cases upon which I acted during the terms ol
the appointed Mayors.
Had Mayor Clark deemed at the time such
expenditures incurred unnecessary, ne mac
it IN his power to disapprove the rolls; but the
reasons for the employment OF the assistants
we're so clear and strong, that he sanctioned II
tor the time the services Of these parties were
absolutely needed. o,,
matters, and how competent ls he to form an
opinion of a. ''good" city engineer.
In his remarks on The shell road the Mayor
attributes the large outlay to some '1l-adVis'
ed plans" by which he means the embank-
ment and grade Of the work. He, doubtless,
would have had the shell covering placed OF
the level and upon the original formation, with
all its undulations as it stood, ana SUBJECT 10
overflow from storm tides aud rain fau, cover
ing the road from one to t,co feet deep, not
withstaudng the influence OF tides and rains
as explained. In the name OF common sense:
what does such an opinion SHOW OF his know-
ledge of works and science? How he can re-
conclle such On absurd idea OF construction
with his recommendations for the adoption OF
the character and mode ofpermanent and dura-
BILE works, it is difficult to understand; to use
his own language, in speaking OF permanent
works. he saws: ''Once done is always done,
is the cheapest policy" Where would be the
road to-day, placed as he would have had it
Before leaving the subject of the embank-
calls ssill advised" I must say, for the infor-
nation of the public, that the drawings show
ing the cross sections, prohes and grades
we're determined in April, 1867, and accompa-
MED nv report to the City Council on the build
ing OF the shell road, and met with the en-
dorsement OF some of the best engineers IN
this country. The grades OF the earth lorna
tlOnS, anu tQ6 eloNdtlOu VI tliO out i"SS SO.SA
ing, had to be determined by the level OF the
storm tide of 1854 and this road formation had 20
absolutely to be placed above the influence OF
such tides, and the overflow Of the large body
Of water which is always collected on the left
of the road, on the occasions OF heavy rams,
and which invariably washed over the original
road bed.
In face of what has been said, do the public
consider, and can they consider, Mayor Clark
competent to judge Of the qualifications OF a
good" City Engineer to serve the city sy in the
It is somewhat difficult to understand Mayor
Clalks concluding remarks, wherein n c%nder d,1,,
purse, " he thinks sit might be advisable to be
sncumbered with good City Engineer; but,
situated as we are, any yearly salary expended
in that way" is in has opaaaon, too much OF
''luxury Of that kind"
Perhaps he can explain how an encumbrance
may prove s'luxury of that kind"
The whole attack upon the City Engineer
indicates. as the public will see, more OF per-
sonal feeling and rialice than anything else.
LOUIS ]. BARBOT,
City Engineer.