The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-16
THE RIVER INVESTIGATION.
GAIT. GILLETTE SAID TO HAVE
MADE A REQUEST FOR 1T.

The DfSpatchcs say 1t Is Courtcd,
Too. by capt. Carter-The New
Omcer In Charge Reported TO Have
Made an investigation of All the
Former Nork-A Former Engineer
ON the Work Docs Not Believe Any
irregularities VIII BE Found by
the Investigating board.
The reported charges against Capt o.
NJ Carter in connection with the river
and harbor work at Savannah, Cum5er-
land Sound and along the Georgia coast
formed the chief topic Of discussion yes
terday on all hands. ever the yellow fever
situation and the quarantine giving way
to it. Various views ana opinions were
EXPRESSED with regard 60 what has been
said of the matter, but nobody appears
to be able to give an definite idea as to
what the charges are based on.
1t is said that Capt Cassius E. Gillette
who succeeded Capt. Carter at this port
has. since his arrival here, been making
a thorough investigation of the work done
before his arrival. All Of those who are
connected with the river and harbor work.
and those who have been connected with
It it is reported, have been minutely ques-
toned as to much of the work that has
gone before, and according to one of the
engineers formerly connected with il,
some very pointed questions We're asked.
II is known also that Capt Gillette mas
made some few changes in the material
now being used by the Atlantic Contract
ing Company, or Messrs. Green & Gay
nor in the work on the extern
sion Of the Oyster Bed train
ing wall, a work recently authorized at
cost of something more than $SeoVO0.
Among other things Capt. Gillette requir-
ed the contractors to stop using what is
known as FLORIDA rock in building the
lefty. because. it is said, it fell several
pounds per cubic foot short of the specih-
cations. The contractors, it is said, were
REQUIRED to substitute a heavier rock.
Based upon this and other information,
1t is intimated that the coming investiga-
ton may have been asked for
by Capt. Gillette. who, having
taken charge of the work and
having assumed responsibility for it, did
not desire that any loophole should be left
by which it would be possible at any
time in the future to question his work
here. II has been intimated from two or
three sources that Capt Gillette gave
some of the information which has LED 10
the coming investigation by the oepart-
ment, which investigation, II mas peeh
stated in the dispatches, is desired by
Capt Carter
An engineer, who has had something to
do with the work here, and who was ques-
toned closely by Capt. Gillette, ne states,
was asked about certain transactions, ana
was also asked if Capt. Carter was not
interested in the Atlantic Contracting
Company. The gentleman in question re
nlied that he had no knowledge of such
matters. and, on the other hand, was con-
WINGED that such was not the case.
He went on to say he was confident, so
far as he knew, and he was in capt. car
ter's Office for some time, that nothing
would be found wrong with his work. II
there was anything TO which the invesu-
CATION board could take exception, he
said il would possibly be of some cases
such as that stated, in which some OF the
material used in the work fell short OF
what was required by the specifications.
He did not know of any of these cases,
with the exception of the one already
stated. with regard TO which he said it
was understood by all of the bidders for
the contract TO build the oyster Bed
training wall that the Florida rock was
TO be used as a fourth class rock for the
preliminary foundations of the work. But
if such instances should be cited. he said,
it would not be possible to attribute any
dishonest motives TO Capt Carter on ac-
count of them. He is confident that the
investigation will result just as did the
former one, in which the charges were
preferred by Engineer Curtis.
Capt Gillette went to Washington last
Saturday, called there, no doubt, by this
matter. He is expected to return some
time the latter part of this week. The
board, which has been ap-
pointed by Secretary of War
Alger to investigate the matter. compos-
ed OF Col. Gillespie and Majs.
Adams and Raymond, viii reach here
Monday and it is presumed will spend
some time in going over the river and
harbor work that has been done here and
elsewhere in this district. Just what will
he done and how they viii so about il
cannot be learned at present. but it is
said the investigation will be a thorough
one. The interest in the case is increasing
and there are few who do not believe or
hope that Capt Carter will be acquitted
of every charge that has been preferred
against him.