The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-12
BIDS CALLED FOR ON GRAVEL.
COMMISSIONER KlEHOES POINT
CARRIED IN CAUCUS.

hehOe scores
agement of the County ARairs-He
Says 1t Is sIipshod, and Intimates
There Has Been Extravaganza.
Complaint About the Springfield
Plantation Drainage.
The county commissioners will hence
forth advertise for bids on gravel for road
paving purposes. This was decided in a
caucus yesterday afternoon, which lasted
an hour and a half, after which the regu-
lar meeting was held.
The order passed on the subject provides
that an advertisement for bids for fur
nishing to the county about 800 cars, more
or less, of cement gravel for the purpose
of paving Dale avenue, shall be publish
ed once a week for eight weeks, and
notices otherwise posted, as required by
law.
There was some little discussion pro-
voked by the order, but the details of it
as stated were soon decided on. This is
the result of the point made sometime ago
by Commissioner William Kehoe, to the
effect that where large sums of money
were being expended for road paving pur-
poses it was the duty of the commission
ers to advertise for bids and get the ma
teriai as cheaply as possible.
AT the conclusion Of the meeting, Com
missioner Kehoe announced that he had
something to say. 1t will be remembered
that Commissioner Kehoe wanted to talk
about the gravel question at the former
meeting. but did not do so on account
of the lateness of the hour.
las l have mentioned BEFORE" Commits
Eioner Kehoe said, Il have something to
say on this gravel question. Some of Mr..
Chaplin's friends say my complaint has
been made on account of prejudice against
him or politics. l admit that 1 voted
against MT Chaplin, but 1 did so be-
cause was satisfied he was not qualified
for the position of superintendent of pub
lie works which he now holds.
I'm the first place by the appointment of
Mr. Chaplin, the board increased the
amount paid in salaries to S. 100, whereas
before the new office was created, the
amount paid for salaries was only 81 300.
! did not think Mr.. Chaplin would make
as good a man as we had in that place
and results have shown that 1 was not
mistaken. We have had the most slip
shod management of county affairs under
him, and everything has been done in a
bad manner. The culverts are all going
70 pieces, some OF them having been
washed out by the first rain.
Just prior to Mr.. Chaplin's election to
the Office he had one man on the pay roll
IN two places, and if that is not unbusi-
ness like do not know what it is Every
body is familiar with the burning of the
county dredge, and the washing away of
the bank at Buckhalter
with regard to the matter of Augusta
gravel, 1t was first stated it was to cost
the county $l.10 per cubic yard 1t cost
us at first $l.20. and after a while we be-
gan paying $l.30 for it, and we still paw
lnat amount. What arrangement Mr.
Chaplin made so as to give the gravel
people the extra 10 cents, l am unable to
ind out. There has been no Weighing of
the gravel to ascertain if We got the GUAM
tity paid for, and in going over the roads
II Is apparent that we have not received
the amount we are supposed to have
bought and paid for When l went 10
try and get information with regard 10
the matter from the clerk, he told me he
could not give it except on a note adj
dressed through Mr.. Chaplin. The people
OF Augusta are getting this gravel at 6s
cents per cubic yard, and the difference
IN the freight between Augusta and Sa-
Vannah is not sufficient to make the
great dlfference that appears IN the cost
10 US. L can show that we have paid 20
cents per cubic yard too much for the
gravel We have received. Now, if Mr.
NAoPtAh Can SHOW lnat we received the
proper amount of gravel from those peo-
pie, 1 should be glad to have him do it,
commissioner Guckenheimer here enter
ca the discussion, and with regard to the
matter of salaries, said he understood the
BOARD was paying less now than was the
case peIore he came into it, by about $500.
Ar. henoe said such was the case with
regard to the few months preceding the
election or the new board, but before that
time the salaries aggregated only $3.50
Commissioner Guckenheimer also stated
that he had asked Mr.. Kehoe IL he knew
where he could get gravel for road paving
any cheaper than Chatham county is get
ting Ii, and Mr.. Kehoe replied he was not
IN the gravel business. Commissioner
Guckenheimer stated he did not know
where it could be bought any cheaper.
letter from Judge William F. Eve of Au-
gusta, Offering the Augusta gravel at H.2O
per cubic yard, was read in caucus
The conversation became desultory at
this point, Commissioner Kehoe repeating
many of his propositions with much spirit.
until Commissioner Lathrop said that the
most serious fault TO be found with the
superintendent of public works was the
TACT that he let the county's steam roller
turn bottom side up in one of the canals.
An adjournment of the meeting ended the
discussion, but Mr.. Kehoe made no effort
to have appointed committee for investi-
eating the matters with regard to which
he made complaint.
Maj. G. NJ. Ryals appeared before the
board and made some complaints with
regard to the bad drainage in the neigh
borhood of Springfield plantation, about
which considerable has been said and writ
ten. Maj. Ryals explained where the
trouble was, showing that new bitches
were needed, and that several Of the old
bitches were stopped up. He said he was
perfectly willing to drain his own lands
provided the county would furnish him
something TO drain them into, but this
he said, ne did not have. The matter was
referred to the committee on drainage
with power to act.
The bill from the city against the coun-
~ for its portion of the cost of paving
President and York streets with asphalt
on either side of the court house. amount
ing to $945.36, was referred to the commit
tee on court house for some corrections.
Tie petition of Mary f. Morrison for
Ine drainage of lands lying along the
Ihunderbolt road, was referred to the
committee on drainage
Messrs. Edward J. Thomas. Percy Sug-
deh and Aloha Vivarttns submitted a
proposition to the commissioners to CON