San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-21
THE PETERS INVESTIGATION.
FIRST MEETING BY THE COMMIT
TEE YESTERDAY.
Inspector Peters Testimony is Particularly
Hard on Monterey Dry Pressed
Brick For Wet Places.


= The special committee of the
city council, Aldermen Oge, Beck
mann and Devine, appointed to in
vestigate w. G. Peters charges
against Consulting Engineer S. NJ.
Gray, published recently, met in
the council chamber yesterday,
with Mr.. Peters, Mr.. J. S. Lock
wood, Capt. II. Karber and En-
glneer PancOast in attendance; al
so members of the press.
Mr.. Lockwood was examined
first, but little information rela-
tive to the subject was elected.
Mr.. Peters underwent long ex-
animation, and his replies were re-
duced to writing by Alderman
Devine.
Mr.. Peters first said his charges
were brought because Mr.. Gray
had held him up to scorn and de-
risiou before the citizens and coun-
cil's committees to the effect that
he had inferred thatPeters, who was
inspector on the work at the
Fourth street bridge, intended
using brick condemned by MIR.
Gray. Peters had called on Mr..
Lockwood, Of the citizens, commit
tee, to set himself right but was
told to put his statement in writ
ing. This he did not do, but got
promise from Alderman Hoefling
to have a hearing before the coun.
Gil. He had waited four hours at
one council meeting but the mat
ter had not been called up; then
he sought a hearing through the
public press. o..
Mr.. Peters, in his investigation,
maintained. that the Objectionable
brick had only been sent to him
at the work few minutes before
Mr.. Gray and Mr.. Pancoast came
up and selected several specimens,
and saying they would suit the
purpose, took them away.
He was asked how he liked
the dry pressed brick and he said
they would not make a water
tight job; that Mr.. Gray said then
better cement was needed; they
condemned the Gonzales brick; he
said Mr.. Severance, material man
for the contractors, had got Mr..
Trueheart to consent to the use of
the Gonzales, on account of their
short haul from Degener's yard,
instead Of the other brick, that
had to be hauled far across the
city from the depots; Monterey
dry pressed brick had been COM
planned Of by him to the engineers
but they continued arriving at the
work where he was for several
days after and when he finally
showed one that was falling to
pieces, to Mr.. Hoefling, delivery
was then stopped.
Regarding the actual use OF
Monterey dry-pressed brick In the
manhole at the Arkansas street
siphon, Mr.. Peters said that one
day they were out of brick, and
he asked for some to be sent imme-
diately, as the work was in danger
of caving, being directly exposed
to the water. The dry-pressed
brick were sent him from Garden
street, and the manhole. construct.
ed Of them, afterward leaked badly,
and would have to be cemented, to
make it tight. He maintained
that manhole built of the Ramp
mann brick, was water-tight.
Mr.. Peters spoke of the advanced
estimate Of $4,000 for work done in
February, which Mr.. Pancoast had
recommended, and which was
paid. He asked if that money was
not given the contractors to pay
for those brick.
Mr.. Pancoast said he had recon-
mended the So, 200 estimate be paid
them, as there was a good deal
more than that due them for the
months work.
Mr.. Peters believed the money
was used to pay for the Monterey
brick. He also reiterated the charge
that Mr.. Gray had not condemned
worthless Monterey dry-pressed
brick.
The above is the material evil
dence elected yesterday though
the investigation brought out a
good deal more on the same lines
and to the same effect, in the form
Of repetitions. Several more wit
nesses will be examined this after
noon.