The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-17

The hearing of the charges against
City Engineer Kelsey was commenced
before the council sitting as a commit
tee of the whole last night. with Coun-
Gilman Diehl in the chair. Farley L..
Williams represented Contractor VIII
kerson and Attorneys Straup and John
NJ. Zane appeared for the city engineer.
The prosecution so far has presented
rather weak case. Mr.. Kelsey, as
charged, may have some animosity to-
ward Mr.. Wilkerson, but as to the
other charges nothing developed ex-
cept to show that the city engineer
had followed out the letter of all con-
tracts in experimenting the work. AS
TO the charge that the city engineer
had used improper influence with the
board of public works in the awarding
of contracts, nothing was brought out
even by Mr.. Wilkerson himself to sub
stantiate.
After considerable debate as to the
manner of procedure motion by Dale
to eliminate portions of the charges
which referred to the letting of con-
tracts, a matter with which the coun-
ell and board of public works only can
be held responsible, was defeated, and
Mr. Wilkersons testimony was taken.
Wilkerson went on to state that his
first bid on the Fifth South street
sewer was $8,195.63. Mr.. Kelsey had
told him the bid was too high and
would recommend to the board that it
be rejected. The city engineer, he said,
showed much feeling in the matter. A
short time afterwards Mr.. Wilkerson
made a second bid for s., 4SO.1s, and was
awarded the contract. The city engi-
neer made no estimate in the first
place, and the whole thing showed the
engineers incompetency.
When the work finally was COM
menced Mr.. Kelsey was instrumental
IN delaying it. The stakes would be
pulled out by the inspectors, who were
acting under the instructions of the
city engineer, and on several occasions
he had to suspend work for several
days. Water was constantly present in
the sewer trench, necessitating delay
of work several days at times and
keeping pumps going day and night.
The greatest amount of water was be-
tween Second and Third East. On one
occasion the water raised almost over
the pipe. The contractor could have
had the water pumped out in a few
hours, but when L was ready to go
on with the work." witness went on,
Il discovered that the man Mr.. KEEL
sey employed as private detective, spy
and inspector, had stolen the stakes
and we were unable to go on with the
work. The delay cost me $780,
Mr.. Wilkerson said that while the
monthly estimates were to be made at
the end of each month, he often had to
wait for two months, and then they
were only rendered for so per cent of
the work done. The estimate for May
was rendered August 20. and those for
June and July were rendered August
"a. Out of the July estimate, Mr.. KEEL
sey deducted sSS92S for pipe, which
was to be paid for out of the final es-
innate. He told Chairman Doremus
about it, and he said it was breach
of contract.
The city engineer compelled him to
lay short pipe and lay it dry. The
proper way was to put in the mortar
first, but the engineer would not per-
nit this, but insisted it should be laid
dry.
AS to the other items he had en-
bodied in the charges, Mr.. Wilkerson
knew nothing of his own knowledge,
but said he would be able to present
sufficient proof.
Concluding. he said he had finished
the Fifth South street sewer strictly
according to specifications. There was
now but one and a half inches of clear
water running through the sewer, and
this was an advantage rather than a
detriment. The water was constantly
receding. and if sewage had been turned