The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-10
HOUSE DRAINAGE BEGUN.
EARTH BROKEN AT II RANDOLPH AND
BAY STREETS.

Chairman WyIly of the Drainage
Committee Threw the First shovel
of Dirt and Alderman Davis the
Second-ContractOr Delaney Avoid
ed Two HOodoos, Friday and the
18th, by Beginning Yesterday-A
difference Between the COntrac-
tors over the Bond and other Mat
tors Result in Delaney & Zeiph of
Chicago Taking Entire Charge of
The Work.
The first shovelful of earth for the new
house drainage system was thrown yester-
dav at lis o'clock by Alderman Thomas
S Wylly, chairman OF the drainage com
rnittee. The second shovelful was thrown
a few seconds later by Alderman Thomas
J. Davis. chairman Of the street and lane
committee and also a member of the drain
age committee. Then Aldermen Reid and
O'Donnen and a Morning News reporter
threw a shovelful each and that completed
the ceremonies.
Work was begun at Randolph street,
Just north of Bay street, east. The en-
gineer had put out their pegs here. and in
fact ali along Randolph street. space
about twenty feet long by six feet wide
had been roped in and a foreman with
gang of five white men took possession Of
the spot al noon. The cobbles tones, with
which Randolph street is paved were pick
ed out of a small portion of the plat. At
r l o'clock, Contractor Dan Delaney was on
the ground. and shortly afterwards Alder
men Wylly and Davis arrived together.
Aldermen o. Donnell and Reid were already
on the ground. There were a score or
more Of white spectators on hand, most Of
whom looked as if they desired chance
to work. and some Of whom will doubtless
get work.
When the foreman, who evidently knew
his business. had completed his arrange
ments the aldermen were invited to take
a hand. There were five new shovels in
waiting. Alderman Wylly was handed
one Of the shovels and stepping forward he
scooped up a shovelful of earth and said:
Mr.. Delaney, here is wishing you the
greatest success in your work, and that
you VIII give the city of Savannah the
best system of sewerage, il is possible for
her to have"
Another shovel was handed Alderman
Davis. "This inaugurates the best piece
Of work ever begun in Savannah said
mittee, as he threw his shovelful Of earth
into the air.
Alderman Reid was then called upon to
throw out a shovelful which he did and
Alderman O'Donell did the same thing al
the request of Contractor Delaney. 1t
was remarked that Alderman O'Donnen
picked up his shovelful in the most work.
manlike manner. 1t was necessary of
course that the Morning News should have
a hand, and a shovelful was thrown out
by its representative. This concluded the
ceremonies.
The five shovels were each marked with
the names of the ones who had used them,
and set aside by order of MIR. Delaney to
be brOnzed and presented to the users :
souvenirs of the occasion.
The contract requires that work should
begin within two weeks after it was ac-
cepted and signed and the contractors had
until next Tuesday to begin. Mr. Delaney
was asked why he begun work yesterday.
1T was good day TO begin work" he
said. Tomorrow is Friday and 1 never
begin q job on Friday. Saturday is al
ways a poor day to begin anything and
Monday is the 18th. You see that our only
chance to make a good beginning was to-
day"
The suspicious beginning augurs a
bright and successful conclusion to which
the many friends whom Mr.. Delaney has
made since his arrival in the city will aid
by every means at their disposal
Il shall have entire charge of the work"
said Mr.. Delaney to a Morning News re-
porter. THAT has been settled"
There was good deal more in this remark
than appeared at first blush. The fact is
that Mr. Bryan has practically retired
form the contract and that Messrs. Della
ney & Zelpf of Chicago have undertaken
the work Whether Mr.. Bryan has given
up his interest in the contract is not
known, but the fact Is that he has retired
from active participation in the work. He
left yesterday afternoon for his home in
Jacksonville, but is expected in Savannah
again shortly MIR. Delaney and his at
torney Mr.. w. r. Leaken, were not in
cned to discuss the matter, except to say
that Delaney & Zeipf were in charge of
the work
Mr. Bryan is a Jacksonville contractor
While Messrs. Delaney & Zeipf are a Chi
cago contracting firm. They met for the
first time in Savannah about a month ago
when they came here individually and
separately to bid on the contract. They
met, discussed the subject together and
concluded to combine forces. The result
of this combination was that they made
the lowest bid and secured the contract
Both men made friends. Mr. Bryan is
well known in Jacksonville and brought
strong letters of recommendation from
business men there, which established him
at once with business men here. Mr. De-
laney is one of the most whole-souled fell
lows that ever lived, and a shrewd man
withal, and made friends on all sides. Thus
matters stood when the bid was accepted
As stated in yesterdays Morning News,
there was some friction over the bond
Mr.. Delaney was ready to make the bond
In Chicago, but Mr.. Bryan proposed to
make it in Jacksonville. When MIR. De-
laney returned from a flying trip to Chi
cago few days ago he found that Mr.
Bryan had arranged to secure a bond in
Jacksonville A prominent business man
of Jacksonville had agreed to furnish the
necessary bond. the amount being $4,000,
but the conditions were that he was to
have 25 per cent. of the profits for under
taking this risk. Mr. Bryan desired Mr..
Delaney to enter into a contract to perfect
this arrangement, but Mr.. Delaney prompt
ly kicked out of the traces and proceeded
TO secure his own bond.
Here is where the political feature comes
In. Some prominent business men afil-
lated with the Citizens Club were given
an opportunity to go on the bond, but
were disposed to be shy of it, ana wanted
time in which to discuss the matter. in
the meantime the Liberals dropped on to
a tfa