The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-24
FIFTH SOUTH SEWER
Considered by the Board of
Public Works.
REPORT BY CHAIRMAN GOLIATH
AND ENGINEER KELSEY.
They Find the WOrk.DOne By Con-
tractor WilkersOn Defective
Over Thousand Dollars spent on
Repairs

The Fifth South street sewer was up
for consideration at brief meeting
of the board of public works yesterday
afternoon. Since the failure of Con-
tractor Wilkerson to complete the work
the board has been compelled TO finish
it, the matter being under the super
vision of the city engineer and Chair
man Goliath. At the meeting yes
terday these gentlemen submitted an
Interesting and lengthy report of their
inspection and experience while en-
deavoring to stop the leaks
In addition to this the city engineer
exhibited some samples of pipe taken
up, showing that the work had not
been done in proper manner No eff
fort had apparently been made to ce-
ment the joints on the lower side and
the general leakage of the entire sewer
was therefore what might be expected.
The report of Chairman Goliath and
City Engineer Kelsey stated that upon
examining many of the Joints it was
found they were defective on the lower
side; that the Oakum had not been
caulked into the joints and that the
bells had nor been filled with cement,
but were open and allowed the water
TO run into the sever. The pipe where
these leaks were located was of long
joints with extra deep sockets and
was the pipe furnished by Mr.. Wlker-
son.
About 40 feet of the sewer between
Sixth and Seventh East streets was
uncovered and all the cement Joints
were found defective.
'On the evening of Nov g." the re-
port states. that part of the sewer
from the center of the block east
ward had been repaired and was ready
for backnHing. but during the nighr
unknown parties cut and broke 13 of
the cement joints and removed the
cement from three of the US and filed
them with clay. The work was done in
such manner that without careful
inspection it would lOt have been dis
covered, and with the'evident intention
of making it appear that the sewer
could not be made water tight"
The report continues that the work
of repairing has been very difficult. and
on account of the trouble of locating
the leaks it had been decided TO defer
further work for the present. The cost
OF repairing the leaks has so far ag-
gregated S1215.O9
The city engineer presented the final
estimate in favor Of A /. Hobson in
the sum of S927.02. for the construction
of sewer lateral or the north side of
Second South between Second and Fifth
unfinished for two days after the date
fixed in the contract for sts compile
ton. the city engineer had deducted $40
put this was rebated. The estimate
was then approved
The final estimate in favor of Ben
Hager for the work of constructing the
second East street sidewalk. the total
to St1S09. was approved. out
OF the above amount $11O had been de-
dUcted owing TO the work being I'M
for II days after the time
specified in the con-roct, but this was
RENTED and the amount as above all
lowed in full
On motion of Mr.. Midgley the chair
man and city engineer were instructed
TO prepare new set of forms for
specifications, eliminating certain por-
Tons OF the old contracts under which
the city engineer If not Thoroughly
honest, could show favoritisms to Ger
tam contractors if he SO chose.