The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-24

Council Tonight.
The street committee OF Council, the
engineers in charge of the street work.
and the contractors, are just now pain
fully silent. There is trouble in camp
over somebody's blunder, and the mat
ter is being handled very quietly before
tho public are to be informed in regard
to it,
THE TIMES said Sunday morning that
for lack OF proper information in MAX
ing up tho estimates, too much had
been paid out to the contractors. This
amount is now estimated at 81, 900 or
whereabouts.
And hore lies tho secret of the whole
matter. w. f. Patterson sublet a por-
ton Of his work to Didier, Fuller &
Griffith and to l.. H. Vaughan. These
contractors, as we'll as Mr. Patterson him
self, let tho guttering out to the sub
contractors for so much per yard, or
loot, not including the grading. AS
fast as square, OF certain section, was
completed, the contractors would call
for estimates from tho engineer, so that
the contractors for the guttering could
be paid.
These estimates embrace all the work
and on them was based the calculations
OF the amount to be paid to tho general
contractor. The estimate was supposed
to specify, as nearly as possible, the
amount for guttering, grading and paw
ing in each section.
AS stated above, Didier, Fuller &
Griffith sublet the guttering of their
contract and when the work was com
pleted on Page street called for esti-
Inmates. These wcro furnished by the
city engineer to Mr.. Patterson and by
him to his sub contractors.
Tho man who did the guttering for
Didier, Fuller & Griffith, received over
eleven hundred dollars. This was
based on estimates furnished for the
months of November and December.
When the January estimates were mado
it was found that these were overesti-
mated. This fact was discovered by
debited the difference in favor of the
city. The overestimate aggregated
about $500 alone.
When Didier, Fuller g. Griffith saw
that their January estimates we're so
small, they began to investigate the
matter, and saw that the trouble Law in
the city engineer Office: They de-
manded the maps and plans of the
streets, giving profiles, cross sections,
and tho stalking out notes, from which
alone can an estimate be made.
These, they claimed, were not fur
nlshed them. 1t is true that the pro.
nles and cross-sectiOns could he had,
but tho stalking out notes, showing the
grade on the surface Of the street. could
not DO obtained.
The matter has been kept very quiet
The contractors declined to talk, and
the street committee has been hammer
ing 1T for several days. Not until
Didier, Fuller & Griffith threatened suit
was the trouble brought to a focus.
These contractors employed r. e. Scott
to take the matter in hand. They had
paid the man who did the guttering
over eleven hundred dollars, when he
should have had only about $3.50. The
question of getting the money back has
not come up.
Other contractors are in the same
predicament and want the money to be
PAID In such shape, on such estimates,
that they will not lose. This matter ia
now under the consideration of the
street committee.
AS the matter now stands the citv
responsible for the overestimates. The
contract being made directly with
Mr.. Patterson, and the Council pass
ing resolution to recognize no other
contractor, the sub-contractors must
necessarily look to this gentleman.
Then Mr.. Patterson must look to the
city. 1t is very evident that Didier.
Fuller ~ Griffith do not intend to lose
the amount of the oyerestimate, else
they would not have taken the action
they have in the matter.
Mr.. Patterson himself has come out
loser. He has paid out to tho sub con-
frnn fr.re l.
tlrely too much. Can this be gotten
back? This question has not been
asked. Tho con TRACTORS want corr -ct
estimates, so that they can protect
themselves
The whole thing is in muddle A
prominent city official said yesterday
that there was no system in ANYTHING
tn at was being done. The street diff
Guilty was one which showed gross neg.
ligence and should receive prumpt at
tcntion.
j. Allen Watts, chairman of the street
committee, was asked yesterday in ref
erence to the trouble, but declined to
give any information. He said there
were certain facts to DO embodied in his
report, and which the committee was
now considering, that would be mad.
visable to publish at present.
Iho city eDk lneer VIII give out no in.
formation, and all facts, figures and
data regarding the streets are guarded
with care.
There was some talk of holding q
secret session of Council, but it has not
yet been determined whether or not
this will be done. Thore was no meet
ing last night as was expected, on
account OF the ordinance COMMITTEE
not being able to report Thu street
committee has prepared an exhaustive