The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-10-11
WHOLE NO. 494
The Water Works Question.

The public in OwOsso were not little
surprised to find in The Press of this week
letter from w. Ii. Myers q Son purport-
ing to be statement of the facts concern
ing the matter of difference between the
city of OwOsso and said Myers q Son, con-
tractors for putting in the water works, ad-
dressed to the Common Council and the
water works committee, but The
Press would have found upon an examina-
ton of the documents in the possession of
the city that most of the statements are
untrue and very few indeed of them faith
fully represent the facts in this case. We
are surprised that The Press should pose as
the defender Of the men who seek to de-
fraud the people of Owosso in so important
matter as the water works are and ought
to be for all time to come.
The facts in the case are that to complete
the pump house, stack and crib, instead of
costing $157 and weeks work as stated by
Myers & Son, will cost from 5000 to 81, 900
the lowest estimate by competent author-
Myers d Son are not entitled to one dol
lar for extra work done or changes on the
building or stack-in fact, the only change
on the stack was made by Myers & Son in
placing it two and quarter feet out of
place to the great detriment of the beauty
and utility of the premises This chang e
being made without the consent or know
ledge of the committee.
No men were idle ON the stack by reason
of any fault of the engineer, but for the rea-
son, If any men were at any time idle, that
the contractors were not doing the work ac-
cording tothe conditions of the contract.
In pipe laying but very little if any work
has been done not provided for in the con-
tract, while from the best evidence before
us we are of the opinion that very little
pipe has been laid in accordance with the
provisions of the contract as shown with a
test of fifty pounds some thirteen leaks were
found in the pipe in the space of two blocks
on Lansing street and water disappeared at
the rate of 67 gallons per minute, proving
conclusively that the cauking was not
properly done. What would have been
the result If the pressure of two hundred
pounds as provided for in the contract had
been applied we leave our readers to i'm
agine.
BY the conditions of the contract the con-
tractors, whether capitalists" or bankrupts.
were not entitled to one cent of pay until
after $1,000 worth of work had been done.
and then only in excess of said 81, 800
that sum to be a guarantee fund for the
completion of the work.
The city is not to blame because Myers &
Son were unable to provide funds for car
rying on their work, nor could the city be
expected to provide them with one dollar
not their due under the provisions of what
Mr.. Myers calls ''the iron clad contract"
the terms of which he must have known be-
fore he entered into it.
We submit that the people of Owosso owe
the water works committee debt of graft
tude for their unyielding determination to
P'O'SNo 'hOh iioiii tlic lIdlltlS tO WHICH some
of our sister cities have been subjected by
water works contractors.
We regret that any of our business men
are likely to lose on account of accommo-
dations extended to Myers & Son, but for
these contracts the city is not in any man
ner responsible, but did for their protection
secure from these contractors what is be-
lieved to be good bond and on which they
must depend.
That the working men should be paid
first does not admit of doubt. They were
employed by Myers 81 Son and should look
to them for their pay.
The city of Owosso pays promptly every
dollar it owes any living man, and to this
rule Myers & Son are no exception.
Probably Myers & Son will be found in
debt to Owosso when their poor work shall
be made good by the city.
We believe the city should sue the con-
tractors and their bondsmen for damages.
Let the people insist that the rights
Of the city be respected no COM
promise.
HepHeraoYo