The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-28
COSTUMES BRIDGE FINISHED.
FINEST STEEL STRUCTURE IN
THE COUNTY.
So Say Those Who Have Seen It
Engineer Stoddard to
Expert It.

There was quite an animated discus
sion at yesterday mornings session of
the Board of Supervisors over propo-
sition to have Engineer Stoddard-a dis
interested person-examine and report
on the new steel bridge over the Cosum-
nes River just completed by Darby
Layton & Co. of San Francisco. 1t was
at first voted not to employ Mr.. Stod-
dard, but eventually the majority of the
board decided it would be best to do it,
provided that gentleman will accept 500
for exporting two bridges.
When the board had disposed of the
Folsom road matter, Chairman Jenkins
announced that Darby Layton, con-
tractor for the new steel bridge over the
| Costumes RIVER was present. He had
completed the bridge and desired that
the members of the board visit it at the
earliest opportunity, examine it and de-
| termine whether or not it had been built
according to contract.
! 1t was decided that the Supervisors
should visit the bridge on Monday next
| Supervisor brennan moved that the
/ board employ Engineer Stoddard of
| the Southern Pacific Company to &C
company the members and pass on the
work as an expert.
Supervisor Mclaughlin was excused
! from voting, at his request, on the
ground that he was not a member of
the board at the time the contract was
| let, and for the further reason that he
did not know what Mr.. Stoddard's fee
would be.
Supervisor Curtis also opposed the
| motion bp cyrOrd that the Comfy
Surveyor is fully competent, in his opin-
ion, to expert the work. Before he could
vote to employ Mr. Stoddard he wanted
to know what his charges would be.
Supervisor brennan called attention
to the fact that Engineer Stoddard ex-
ported the plans for the bridge, and he
should pass on the work. If not, he
| Dreman} would never vote to pay for
the bridge.
The motion was lost, Chairman Jen-
kins and brennan voting in the affirma-
tive, Curtis voting no, Mclaughlin not
voting, and Morrison being absent.
Surveyor Boyd said that as Mr.. Stod-
dard had exported the plans, he should
be the one, to say whether or not the
contractor had lived up to the contract.
He had gone carefully over the plans
and should examine the work.
Chairman Jenkins remarked that as
| Commissioner from the Fifth District
he had something to say about the mat
ter Engineer Stoddard had exported
and approved the plans under which the
work was done, and if the board as a
body would not employ him to expert
the workh would, as Commissioner from
that district, employ him to do it, as he
had the power to do. He Oenkins) be-
lieved that Mr.. Layton had done a
| splendid job. but before voting to pay
for the work he wanted the man who
approved the plans to examine the
bridge and say whether or not the con-
tractor had done his duty in every par
ticular.
Contractor Layton said ne would pre-
fer TO have Engineer Stoddard go over
the work and expert t. He had no fear
| Of the result.
At this stage of the proceeding Super
visor Curtis said he did not care to hold
out against the proposition. All he cared
about was to know what Mr.. Stoddard's
charge would be. There are really two
bridges to be exported, and he moved
that Engineer Stoddard be employed to
expert both the Costumes and Mormon
Island bridges at a compensation not
to exceed $50.
The motion was carried Supervisor
Mclaughlin voting no.
On motion of Supervisor Mclaughlin.
County Surveyor Boyd was instructed
to report to the board the entire cost of
the macadam road recently constructed
north of the American River, also what
was the separate cost of excavation,
also of the material and other work.
On motion of Supervisor Mclaughlin,
| the District Attorney was requested to
give an opinion as to whether or not a
Justice of the Peace has the right to
draw on the treasury for the per diem
of a stenographer employed in his court.
Not long since a demand of that kind for
so was allowed by the board, and he
wanted to know if such demands must
| be paid
The board then adjourned till Monday,
! September 9th
I