San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-08

A"S oOiCOI, dlOnk lTdNlS
street, st. Mary's to Navarro, Ma
varro to Houston, etc, was
adopted.
The mayor introduced Engineer
Gray, whom he had asked to come
here and assist Engineer Pancoast
in preparing the specifications for
the sewer system. Mr.. Gray said:
He proposed to assist and advise
the city engineer in all work on the
sewer matter, superintend the in
spection OF all material as it is de-
livered on the ground. He would
also visit the city once in every
two months, or as often as his
presence was needed, and was to
hold himself in readiness at any
time to furnish information and
answer all inquiries propounded
him by the council regarding the
work and all such other work per-
tanning to the duties and office of a
consulting engineer, pay to be as
follows:
After the inspection Of the first
invoices OF materials and before
the beginning of construction the
sum OF $2,66O, payments to be made
thereafter at the rate Of $1,000 per
annum, and said amounts to be
paid in equal successive monthly
payments, first OF said payments
to be made one month after date
of beginning OF construction. The
amounts above named are to cover
costs for all services and travelling
expenses OF said engineer OF what
ever nature and also to cover pay
ment in full for the present trip Of
said engineer.
Alderman Mackey asked II there
were ten contracts given out and
the work did not join properly and
there should be some error, who
would be at fault? Gray: l guar.
antee there will be no error. Twill
take all responsibility.
Daugherty: II any material needs
inspection in your absence who will
inspect it? Gray: The engineer
and refer to me when l arrive, IL
there is any question. Daugherty:
All material should be inspect
ed before it is put under ground.
Gray: You are right. The city
engineer can do it under the spec
itications. When asked how long
it would require to build the sys-
tenn he said it ought not to take
more than l to 2 years; the faster
the better. Under the mayors ad-
vice he had drawn the specifica-
tions so that any party can bid on
any or all Of the whole ten con-
tracts.
Aldermen Newton questioned
Mr.. Gray closely and the mayor
said all larger cities in works Of
this kind had consulting engin-
GERS. They were absolutely neces-
sary.
Alderman A. f. Beckmann was
in favor OF a consulting engineer
and stated clearly the necessity of
his engagement as he could save
all mistakes and much useless eX-
penditure.
Mackey was also in favor OF it.
Hice asked IL the bonds had been
sold yet. No. Then he did not see
the use of all this at this time.
The mayor said Mr.. Gray had
been here over a week now at work
with Mr.. Pancoast and was about
through and would leave Thurs
day or Friday and wanted
this question settled before he
left. IL the bonds were not
sold of course this contract with
Mr.. Gray would be void. On vote
on the question, Aldermen Daugh-
erty, Hice, Newton, McAllister,
Smith and Clifford vote it down,
and the mayor said, "Pd like to
know how you are going to do,
then"
Mackey said the city would have
to pay Mr.. Gray what we owe him
now. Daugherty moved to refer to
the finance committee. Beckmann
moved that the sum necessary be
appropriated. We might have had
a lot of engineers long ago II we
had picked them up promiscu-
ously, but we want to give the
city the best service for the
money. Daugherty: We want to
know what we are to get for the
money. The mayor explained 1t.
Then Daugherty proposed to refer
it to the mayor and finance COM
mittee, to meet with Mr.. Gray this
Thursday morning. McAllister
moved for reconsideration OF the
vote which was done and then
1t was carried that it be referred to
the finance committee and the
mayor for report by next Monday.
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