The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-01
LOCAL Contractors KICK.
They Say Councils Action on Drain
nge Put Them at Disadvantage.


There is considerable dissatisfaction
among the engineers and contractors of
the city at the action Of council in the
house drainage matter.
The local engineers are very sore because
Of the fact that under the contract enter
ed into with Col. Waring, they are entire
ly shut out from any part of the engineer
ing work, not only the preparation of the
plans. but the entire supervision Of the
work having been placed in the hands of
| Col. Waring Their soreness is all the
greater because they regard the compensa-
ton allowed Col. Waring for his work as
somewhat fancy.
The contractors are also very much dis
! satisfied because they too feel that they
are practically shut out from a very de-
sirable work. Council has moved so rap
idly in the matter they say, that the 10
cal Contractors viii not have sufficient
time in which TO familiarize themselves
with the requirements Of the specifications
in order to make intelligent bids which
would stand some show of being accepted.
1t is further pointed out that the work
being one requiring large capital, the
course adopted by council of long term
payments practically shuts out everyone,
who cannot command large capital. The
city's notes being in demand locally, they
hold that it would be much to the advan-
tage of the city to dispose of the notes
to local fnanciers, which can readily be
DONE and pay cash for the work. By this
means they hold that the city would make
a considerable saving in paying cash for
work done, and the local contractors would
be put in position whereby they could bid
without fear of being cramped for capital.
A card on this line from Mr.. c. NJ. Craig,
a civil engineer, who was recently con-
nected with the city engineers office APP
pears in to-day Morning News.
There was a report yesterday that a well
known contractor had stated that an in
junction would be brought against the
city to prevent the carrying out of the
work on this line. What basis the con-
tractor had for his statement. or on what
ground an injunction would be sought was
not stated.
The terms upon which the city entered
the contract with Col. Waring are gener
ally considered extremely liberal AT the
same time, Col Warnings ability and the
fact that the city expects the highest class
of work are considered as weighing large
ly on the other side Of the balance The
criticism is freely made however, that the
supervision of the work could easily have
been done by the city engineer with COM
petent assistants who could have been Sc
cured here at a great saving to the city.
Warning, he has the entire supervision of
the work, and the city will not be repre-
scented in the supervision. From this it
is argued that the city Will have no guar
antee beyond Col. Warnings reputation.
Mr.. Tate, it is said, having previous ex-
perience in this line of work, and being ac
quainted with Col Warnings ideas, besides
being backed by ample capital, will have
all the advantage in bidding, and is gener-
ally looked upon as having a "cinch" upon
the contract.
The members of council, however, are
proceeding upon the idea that the city's
principal need just now is a system of
house drainage, which they intend to give
it. AS it is the only system of the kind
Savannah has ever had, and perhaps the
only one she ever will have, they intend
that it shall be the best obtainable, and
with this end in view they have secured
the best advice and ins9nd to secure the
best construction obtainable even if the
cost be somewhat greater than might have
been the case otherwise. The contract
for the work will doubtless include a guar
antee for a certain length Of time after its
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