Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-10
FORT SMELLING BRIDGE.

Sewall's Engineering at Fault-The Gov
eminent Engineer Bound to Follow the
Specifications. and Accordingly Appeals
to Washington.
The Fort Smelling bridge commissioners met
yesterday morning in the Office of the county
auditor. In the absence of the president. Hon.
w. Dawson, Commissioners Lindeke was called
to the chair.
Thomas Cochran secretary of the board read
letter from Major Allen to Mr. Sewall, draw
ing attention to the fact that the contractors
are not building according to specifications
On the fort side the specifications,
which were accepted by the authorities at
Washington, require the piers to be built upon
the bed rock and the builders are erecting them
upon a wooden platform sunk six feet below
the surface. MIR. Sewall had explained to Mai.
Allen the circumstances but that gentleman
said he had to stand by the specifications and
all he could do was to await instructions from
Washington.
Mr.. Sewal said that in his haste he had not
perhaps examined the position so thor
oughly as might have been done and when he
inserted the provision that the fort side piers
should be built upon the rock he had idea
they would have to go 80 deep. He was now
convinced thst they would have to go down
from twelve to eighteen feet before they
reached the rock. He found deposit
of rubble and clay, and lower down sand, and
it would be extremely difficult and very eI-
pensive to sink the foundations down through
this. The water, too, would increase the diff
Guilty immensely, and he had took it upon him
self to permit the contractors to put the piers
upon a platform, as described. To this Majo r
Allen objects, and Mr.. Sewall is at loss WHIST
to do about it. He said he was much afraid eff
giving the contractors chance to claim for de-
tention.
Mr. Cochran moved that the matter be re-
ferred to the chairman, Mr.. Dawson, Mr.. Lil,-
deke and Mr.. Sewall as committee of three
Mr.. Lindeke proposed Mr.. Cochran in place
of himself. This was agreed to-.
Mr.. Cochran presented the bill of Messrs.
Davis, O'Brien & Wilson for drawing up coli.
tract-$l50.
Mr.. Sewall said that the engineers nee d
| money. There was some little expenses ir,-
CURED, he said. beside wages, but he had not
| had time during the fair week to make up hi
! accounts
| MIR. Lindeke-All accounts have to go befo1 c
| the county commissioners and they meet t.,
morrow; the matter will have to stand over ftn
another month.
| Mr. Sewall wished to know if the law n,
quired that the commissioners should advertis &
for bids for the superstructure. He did nc
think it necessary if the law did not deman q
it. lie had ,uritten to all parties au1lo toould b.
| 1iksty to put In bids, asting them to do so.
| Thomas Cochran, referring to the law, said il
| was not imperative upon the commissioners tt
advertise for bids.
| MIR. Sewall asked if it was necessary for III
board to adopt the specifications for the sup sr
structure. Mr.. Cochran said it was.
| Mr.. Sewall said he brought plans and SPECIFIC N
| tions week ago but the board failed to me- 81
| He would have them by the next meeting. LA
commissioners then adjourned.