The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-08
EXPERTS IN MASONRY
Men in the Pay Of the Board OF
Works Testify.
THEY ARE QUITE SATISFIED.
Contin ustfon Of the Hearing at Charges
Agassst Coehras-Msst Brannigsa
Gives His Views

taking the testimony of the employees OF
the board Of public works who are stai
under pay. They all agreed that the brick
used vas the best that they had ever
known 70 be used for sewers; that the fore
men were the most competent they had
ever known: the mechanics were al skilled
workmen: the brick carriers nearly ali CT
perts. and the sewers are the best JOBS ever
done in the United States.
That il. all except Matt Brannigan. He
expressed the opinion that the Front
street sewer isn't worth adam. White.
the foreman brIckisycr. who gave very
straightforward testimony. admitted that
he told Wolfe there were two piles OF brick
not fiji TO be used.
The proceedings were opened by Attor-
ney Thompson asking that the charges be
dismissed. lie reviewed the testimony
and drew the conclusion that the mem
bers OF the board were not expected 20 be
experts, but only relied on the Judgment
of experts Whenever anything wrong
was brought TO their attention they took
notice OF IL. lie pursued the same theory
IN his examination of the foremen, dras-
Snx from them the admission that they
had 10 rely on the integrity Of the men
they employed. So that the responsible
isy. after all, rests upon tho poor laboFer
at 81 q day. aud not upon the high
priced officials, who are only supposed To
supervise the work. but If anything goes
wrong the subordinate is TO blame. There
was no special point except the claim that
the board used due diligence IN attending
20 their duties, and If any body was to
blame IL was superintendent Ryan.
Mr.. Thompson claimed to have built
considerable sewers himself, and claimed
thss the brick used In the city sewers
wonld last 1000 years. lie reminded
Mayor Ronald that his honor had, at q
meeting in the board rooms. said that
100 mon ought to be at work on the West
street sewers.
lcnged," Mr.. Ronald replied. rather
warmly. He declared that the policy of
the administration had only been to work
every man to advantage. The motion
was overruled.
r. n. Potvin. who is doing his first
sewer work now, was put on the stand
and testified that there was no time lost
by the men; that they we're all at proper
distances; that the reason for not keeping
the pumping engine on Brook street in
front Of the rnasons was to save the ex-
pense Of moving ID frequently. He was
particularly well pleased with the brick
work on Front street While he was on
Brook street he refused three or tour car.
loads Of brick. He rejected the car load
Of 20,ooo. but they were sorted over and
about ]. 200 used In manhoIes.
A. q. Siebsrt. one Of the foremen on the
sewers, testified that the brick used was
superior to any he had ever seen before
used son sewers The cement il also bet
ter than any he had ever seen.
Mr.. seibert was shown some brick and
ssked by Attorney Thompson what differ
ence there was in the quality. lie thought
the only difference Was In the sizs, but
afler applying his measure 10 . few he did
not feel quite sure where they came from
He tapped several and expressed the
opinion that they were all hard, we'll
burned brick.
William Dyer had never seen better brick
A. l.. Haley, described as an architect
who has resided in Seattle Cor three years,
was examined as To the quality of the
brick used In the sewers The barrel of
the sewer consisted of two rings or row
locks. lie had never seen sewer built as
In this city. He saw no use in the outer
rowiock a. that tier of bricks could
not be keyed. lie had seen
the inner rowiock keyed ON these sewers.
but no attempt was made to key up tho
outer rowloek. lie considered the brick
used far superior to ths Eastern brick, on
account OF the iron and silica. lie thought
the brick would last for ages lie did not
think the sewer water would have any ef-
feet on the brick. After n sewer Is used
for some time u becomes coated with
slime so that II is imperyious 10 acids. If
it were not for that the acid would have
an effect upon the brick. lie did not
thins a hundred years would phase the
brick on Front street. lie had read no
books on sewer construction. but he
thought wood was better than brick for
sewers in suburbs. Mr.. Donworth rid
died his testimony. Witness did not
know anything about the poronsnesS of
brick, and without a smile. admitted Mr..
uonworths bland insinustion that some
brick had al absorbent capacity OF iao
Per cent. Mr. Donworth remarked drviv
that such brick must have been made like
. sieve Witness told Wolfe that there
Was some brick 81 Nam street that was
not az TO be used, aud Wolfe said he would
have IL hauled away. Witness tod Wolfe
he would not use II. lie did not know
whether IL was hauled away. Van Brock
lin told witness 90 use some of the Lohs
brick on the outer rowioek. Witness
never saw any harder brick than that OF
Seattle Tile and Brick Company. That
from Lehso's yard was not so hard
Alexander Williamson. q hrlckmason
also now employed on the sewers, was
very complimentary 20 the foreman and
10 his fellow workmen.
Matt RFannigan. who has also Job In
the sewers under White, thought the
Front street sewer Was very poor Job
The layers have no strength aud much OF
II vas no more good than 50 much rub
bish. The men we're good mech snlcs, but
the plan OF the sewer Was wrong
II have often said that the outer course
wasn't worth s. damn. aud say SO new. o.
sald BraHniAan in reply TO question a.
20 whssher he had condemned the br.ck.
Under cEoss-exsminatioa Ryannigan
said he had been laid OF by Waite. hnt
instead of staying laid OIL he vent "a az.
other foreman aud was taken on again.
ibid you ever tell any Official TIA; tie
sewer was nos helnS weii builts"
with such a wise lot Of officials as Yea
have Matt Branaigan's opinion wouidn &
be considered worth much" BrAnnleAn
went on to say that he WOULD not have
built the sewer the way II VAS done. II
might last hundred years, bat he
woulda't like e. take the responsibility.
The hearing will be resumed today.
JACKSON MUST 80.