Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-17

Il
cernipr the Cuivert Cut for the New Gas
aiains.
The following IL Mayor Carrington's re-
| ply 10 Colonel Cutshaw
Wy ~ ~ MAYORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, VA, October 10, 1884. :
10 the P,,biic:
The communication Of the City En-
| glneer to the Board OF Aldermen last Mon
| day night. and published in the Dispatch
Of next morning, "a 10 cutting culvert Tor
gas.pipes, &C., demands notice at my
| hands.
| A sense Of propriety and delcacy would
| have made me keep silent on a subject
| after II was referred to committee for in
| vestigation under any ordinary circum-
| stances. but cannot consent for the En-
| pineer, by evasion OF the real issues, mis-
statement of facts, aud distorting what oc-
Cured. TO place me In false position.
| | say in the start that my message 10 the
| Council was not intended as charges against
The Engineer. but only as q statement OF
fact. which I thought should be made
known, and remedies provided for the con-
| flct Of departments and TO prevent dam
age 10 the city. As TO facts stated or IN
formation 4 received, l gave the names OF
my authors (Iion. w. II. Bowie and Colo
| mel j. II. Knowles). who were regarded
worthy Of belief. and 90 far as the City En-
| ginecr disputes that, the question OF ye-
| racity is between them and himself. Both
cannot be correct.
The Engineer refers TO his visit 10 me
three DAYS before the culvcrt was cut. aud
my promise TO prevent IL, and seeks to lay
blame on me. but forgets that he promised
| TO Inform me before il was cut, and that his
neglect to keep that promise allowed the
| culyert 20 be cut. so that | could not pre-
vent il. He knows that the work was done
at the point | stopped 1t six hours before
the Council met that evening, and yet Is
! insincere enough 10 seek TO censure me and
lead The public TO believe neglected a duty
| by not sending message TO prevent thing
that was already done.
He states that on my Oion opinion, before
conference with the presidents OF the
branches OF the Council. | stopped the
work. and thus would lead the public b
| think did not act on the joint advice OF
the officers named, when he knows the
| facts that before and after ! reached the
| place those gentlemen bad agreed with him
! that the work ought not TO proceed. and
that simply stopped the hands working
on the pipt-jOint until zee could complete
! the conference. and not until after the con-
fereuce did speak 10 the oBfesy in charge
| and direct him TO st0D the work until |
could refer the matter 10 the Council. He
seeks 10 make it appear that | SAID in my
message did not know the work was done
until "early next morning" when had the
| second conference with him, whereas sent
| for him the night before to meet me the
| next morning at ! o'clock: when, il he had
been willing TO quote me correctly, notice
| Of the reading OF my message, and the pune
| fu0HOn used by me, would have shown
| that the words "early next morning" re-
| ferred to the conference with him, and not
| TO the time OF my learning the work was
| done. He crlticises my listening TO eI
| Ddrie statements" Of others about the cor
| rectness OF his statements as TO area OF cul-
| vert and damage from cutting il.
The result proves to my satisfaction tha'
| my error was in listening to dis" er pdrte
| statements" had confidence in his state
ments. for he was the officer who ought 10
| have known all the facts-ought to have
| stated them frankly and fully, and with this
| feeling it was natural and proper should
! receive his assurances and act upon them.
without going to others.
Afterwards, heard the other side.
! Messrs. Bowie and Knowles stated to me
the facts which reported to the Council
and they and others who were reliable and
ought TO know assured me OF the error OF
the City Engineer as to insufliciency Oh
area in the culvert. and that no such damage
as he stated TO me would result from cut
ting il. Nv final conclusion then was
reached. not from d" er pdrte statements
| as the Engineer intlmates, for had heard
| both sides.
The statements OF Messrs. Bowie, Knowles
and others had made me doubt the correct
ness Of The Engineers statements; that n,
had sought 10 make me Uioidte his Orn
agreement TO be bound by the action OF
the Joint committees that he had conceal
| ed. or failed TO state, material facts, and
that he was in error az TO his conclu
siOns.
Thi. doubt was largely increased next
morning at our second conference, after
the pipes were laid, joined, and The trench
filed with earth over the points under dis
cussion, by the Engineer saying 10 me
'sIf were you would have those pipes
disconnected and taken up, aud the dirt
taken out lust a. when you ordered the
work 10 stop, to show them my authority
should be regarded or words to that
i effect.
Irepied that such action might crafty
temper. but could not be justified by indS'
ment. and that | would do no such thing
even il ! could.
Here. then, was a city officer (the En-
| cinoer) who seemed 10 me not onlY 10 have
lacked frankneSs and accuracy, but willing
10 undo the work Of another department
damage property, and put the city to cost
all to crafty temper OF vanity and enforce
his authority.
Captain A. NJ. Tomlinson and DR.. Il. &
Cabel! were present at this occurrence ant
heard what | state.
As the City Engineer has asked why
did not approach him again before con
Guiding he was IN error. &C.. give IN!
reason i'm the above facts. and leave II tC
anu reasonable man whether be w0ult
have approached the City Engineer
further in this matter. The EngIneo
NAV sneer at matters OF this .or
as " ridiculous in IFS not0riety," a
"a suprcme farce" aud that "pubhcity
was given to the affair .S an advertise
mcnt.n and as "saddling mistakes on
him.: but it seems to me only man whC
regards himself infallIble, and who think'
no one should dare dispute his authority,
could 80 regard IL. ! do not belong to that
class. and do not regard the matter as 81
JrirOi0uS that il can be laughed out OF al
tention.
In concll. ion, l say feel that ! haV
done my duty promptly and with decision
that have been guilty OF no delay or an.
resulting damage, but have actcd oni.
as felt should act. and shall be satisfied
for the committee TO decide where any iaul
existed and recommend remedies to pre-
vent such conflicts in future.
I would further say that have no FEE
ing against the Engineer or any one IN I'M
matter, and that in my intercourse win IN
Engineers department have found MN
self and assistants prompt, dilisent' an
courteous.
deeply regret that self-deienee from 10
seeming attack Of the Engineer on me con
strains me to reply to his communication
Respectfully,
W. c. CARRISGroN, Mayor.