The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-06
HE GAVE WARNING
Rotten Brick Bought in Spite
Of ThoInson's Protest.
FACTS IN THE SEWER SCANDAL.
The Too sernpntous City Engineer
Tells the story Of fneompeteney
and Negligence.


ran vas resumed before Mayor Ronald yss-
terday morning Assistant City Engineer
fcott vas sgain called 10 the stand. Tie
most important additional testimony mar
be summed up IN one reply. Assistant
Engineer Scott on saturday testified that
he had heard Dir. Thomson warn Mr..
Cochran with refersace 10 purchasing soft
brick for use on the seweys. and that IN
his presence Mr. Thomson had said 70 Mr.
Cochran.
II tell you rs friend that you must
protest against the use and purchase Of
such brick ~ 10 no. being delivered on
Jackson street, and II you don't object and
tract for such brick. you viii be response
bic and will be liable 70 be irnpcachea.
After Richard Schmidt. formerly super
fntendemt OF sewer-. had been asked q fes
questions. ex-City Engineer Thomson was
called. HIS ta,umony xas a complete
REPUTATION Of the theory OF the defense
that IL was necessary 30 jcopardize the
safety OF the sewers by using rotten brick
in order to give inea employment in ex-
cayafions.
Attorney Thompson cross-examined
Engineer Thomson. and did the best he
coaid sith witness who was almost inn
pregnabie. There wasn't much laughing
while this witness was being cross-cx-
sminei.
Engineer Thomson related that he had
protested to Wolfe sgainst opening West
street for It's whole length. Wolfe replied
that there was plenty Of lumber at the
Western mill aud plenty of logs in the
lake, and he didn't propose 20 let little
expense stand in the way.
Witness went on to say that he had
made visit 10 the West street sewer about
December - He found some 800 feet Of
trench opened and much of il sheeted with
lnmber lie estimated that 90, go feet of
lumber was then III the ditch. lie said
that with proper management not more
than one-fourth as mnch wonld have been
needed at the outside. and gave specific
reasons shy the opening OF su.h an
amount of ditch would entail very consid-
erably increased expense.
When asked II he had ever advised the
purchase of any Pontiac brick for use IN
sewers. witness said he had been invited
TO n conference with the board of public
works one afternoon, when lac had been
shown two brick said to be samples from
the Pontiac yard.
Witness told the board Of works Ii would
be a crime to put such brick in the sewers
IL 10 too soft, too absorbent. aud as IL Is
intended for all time II would not do Van
Brockiin said he thought the city should
refuse IL. even II il were offered as n gift.
Then IL was decided 10 open up the Brook
street sewer. and witness went with +. 3.
Potvin TO show Manager Niedergesaess,
of the Seattle Brick and Tile Company.
where TO put the brick. 1t was then de-
eided to also open the Front street sewer.
Thomson urged upon the board the neces-
slty of having brick and other material on
the street before excavation was begun and
that only one block should be opened at
time. both because IL would thus prevent
delay In travel and save cost. Each mem.
Der promised to keep to that plan
few days aiterward he found the street
ripped open. but with very little material
on hand. Thomson took Cochran and
showed him the mischief that would fol-
low. warning him that the work was not
being we'll done. Cochran promised 10 see
10 il.
Thomson also called attention to the
Brook street sewer. lie told Van Brock
lin that the whole street was opened and
that at the first RAIN there would be col
lapse. Van Brocklin assured him that the
work had been stopped Van Brocklin
afterward told him there was some side
cut brick at South Seattle, and asked if
they would be unit TO use on the outside
rowloek. Witness replied that II would
do If il vas hard burnt, but not otherwise.
Van Brocklin soon after told witness that
Jesse Cochran and Wolfe aad bought a lot
OF Lohse's brick; he seemed very much
worried. and told witness he had done his
best 20 stop IT,
Witness had been shown by Delegate
Cock two samples of brick. one from the
Seattle Brick and Tile Company and one
from lohses. but witness declared then
that neither was fair sample. Tn.
former was poorer than the average. the
latter better. Witness learned aftcryard
that she poor brick was being delivered
lie met Cochran on the morning when
the Brock street trench was in such bad
condition. Cochran was deploriug the
loss, aud said There's n lot of money
gone TO the devil | must take nav share
OF the blame foF not kicking more"
Thomson said he had called the atten-
uon Of White. the foreman brlcklayer. 10
the folly Of putting in brick in the pour.
lng rain. White said the men wantei TO
ia, eli, the time in they could. Thomson
told White be ought to have sense enough
himself not TO attempt 10 lay brick in
such rain. White SAID he would s,on II.
Witness spoke to Cochran about II. bat he
said nc could do nothing.
Thomson ou that occasion told Cochran
"a a friend, thai he would lay hiuse,f
open 20 impeachment II he signed a con.
tract fog the rotten brick il was propo.ed
10 buy. Cochran said he would not SIGN
u; he would not be hplideEsd any more
Later, Cochran returned IN Thomson
docking sheepish and said he had signed
the contract lie said he had asked Matt
Rranuigan, aud Matt had said Wei
they lay euliy." Laughter. Thomson
then told Cochran thai he had oIaeed him.
seit in very sight place
After he noon recess Mr. DON xorth -,
newed she examination of Mr.. Thomson
- 30 lie quality OF The brick. lie testified
that The brick did not nearly fulfil tho
SPECIFICATIONS. Which called Tor a poroxitv
al not meFe thaa per cent. whereas an no
case Vas IT less than les per ceat. The
reasonable price ot the brick used was
So - thousand. ln December he was
asked by the board as 20 the quality Of the
S,ooeg brick Witness advised thAt not
more than two carloads be purchasel and
II they came 40 to the sample y would Ia
easy enough To ges more. Questioned as
- his objection 10 opening up % much
trench at one time. witness repeAtpd the
objections already made, bat Adied that
the great expense for lumber va. occa.
stoned 81 'ae necessity og covering a large
area OF the SIDE 10 prevent eavnS. lie