The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-17

time, in the hearing of the matter of the
claim of the contractors on the gravity
sewer for compensation for extra work.
Four members of the committee, Messrs.
Buckle, Mulvey, LeProhon and Morris,
were present. Farley l.. Williams, attor-
ney for the contractors; W. It. Shelton,
their engineer; Messrs Hobson, Wilkerson
and Morris, were also present, while
Chairman Doremus represented the city.
The particular matter under discussion
last evening was the extra plastering,
which was ordered because of alleged de-
fective work. The chairman of the board
contended that the same was the result
of improper handling, in this, that the
plastering was put on while a coat of
mud or dirt was on the race OF the wall,
thus causing it to crack, while the con-
tractors allege that the work was done
in a proper manner and that there was
no need of taking any of the same off
the walls, as was DONE
Under the contract, DoremuS claimed
that the entire work must be done to the
satisfaction of the board and the city en-
gineer before being accepted. Mr.. Will
liamS put few questions, which did not
tend to strengthen the position of the
chairman in this particular, but he man
aged, in the language of Mark Twain, ito
get over or around, and the colloquy, for
that was all it was, went on.
warm as regards statements made by
the contractors and the chairman. Hob
son charged Doremus with having made
specifications for cement which should
material which would stand $50 pounds
net. You held us up said Hobson,
land you know it
At one point in the discussion the chair
man reau the contract, wnlcn .provlded
for inspection of all material which was
used in the work. which reading gave
HobSon another opening.
Did you fail or neglect to inspect any
of the material?'
NO, was the reply.
This gave Mr.. Williams a chance.
why didn't you condemn it then?'
The answer was TO the effect that all
material found faulty was inspected and
condemned.
Doremus branched off into the matter of
the plastering, which he said was ex-
amined by him with a steel bar. He
found several places which sounded hol-
low, indicating that the work was i'm
properly done.
You found a few places where you
said the work might be improperly done,
and that was ALL said Hobson.
Continuing, Doremus declared that
where the sewer was open, the dirt flew
in and formed coat on the wall which
was never cleaned off, and upon that
coat the plastering was placed. OF course
It was not a good job.
You had an inspector there?" queried
Councilman Morris
les, we had an inspector there, but he
was man who was not familiar with
that sort of work He did not understand
the business. He was a cook 1 believe,
before he went on the job
But you hired him., said Mr.. Williams.
We'll, the city did, although ] protested
against his being there at the time"
Still he was a city employee, and there
for the purpose of inspecting the work?''
oh yes.
Mr. Williams stated at this point that
he had examined the work himself. He
walked through the sewer and took pick
and attacked a place where the inspec-
tors had condemned the same. 1t was all
he could do to get any of the plaster
loose, and when he did the concrete came
away with it. 1t did not peel off at the
point of contact at all. but gravel was
even separated in the work. Continuing,
the attorney asked the chairman if there
were not places dug out which were not
defective.
mo, sir" was the answer.
And you say that?" demanded Mr..
Williams sharply.
Yes. sir
Then l say that-you don't know
MIR. Doremus admitted that there were
places torn out which might not have in
jured the work had they been allowed to
remain. Also that the men employed in
tearing out used heavy picks instead of
proper tools.
make statement. He declared that with
Judge Young and ex-Mayor Armstrong he
had visited the place and held a conversa-
ton with the inspector, Spencer Spencer
admitted that the work was good and
that he could not have done the same any
better. Mr.. Morris contended that In
spector Thomas and others took delight in
seeing how much damage they could do
to the contractors. They would mark
places for the men to take out and add
to the burdens when there was no neces-
sity for so doing. mo man, or set of
men, said ,5ishop Morris, could have
done better job than we did. The fault
was not with the plastering; it was with
the concrete, which they would not allow
us to mi& as we desired. They even de-
MED us the amount of water which we
thought we needed-which we knew was
needed. The concrete was imperfect
through no FAULT of ours ana was not
placed in there as it should have been
That is why it sounded hollow
The matter of compensation for lumber.
was taken up and discussed, after which
the committee took the matter .i.:der adj
visement. decision is not expected to-
night at the council meeting. From the
aspect of affairs it appears as though a
compromise would be effected