The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-17
TOOK THE INITlAToRY STEPS.
CAPT. GILLETTE-S CHARGES
BROUGHT THE INVESTIGATION.

BhOLG ttI j khE4 ~ E4S ANFfA AO-N.
He Returned 70 the city Yesterday
But was Not Inclined to Discuss
the Charges Eet--The order Com
vcntne the Board Here Eext Tues
sav-Nsr. NJ 4. Connolly In the City.
Cant. Carter Expected to Arrive
Tomorrow or Next Day-What the
Charges Are.
Cant Cass,us E. Gillette, United States
CORPS Of engineers. in charge Of the river
and Ina -s50r work here, returned yesterday
from Washington. where he has been on a
business trio relating 10 the coming IN
vestigaaion Of certain charges preferred
AGAINST Capt. 0. NJ. Carter, The former IN
cumbent al this rost.
When seen by a representative OF the
Morning News Capt. Gillette was not in
clined 70 discuss the matter saying that
under the circumstances be did not feel al
liberty to do so. Everything in connection
with the matter, he said, would appear at
the proper time.
"u has been reported here that the
charges against Capt. Carter were prefer
Il
.'You may say" he replied, that The in
itiatory steps which led 10 the appoint
uent of The board of investigation were
taken by myself Further than that there
is nothing l can say about the matter at
this time"
The board Of investigation will convene
al the United States eng neer's office in this
city next Tuesday morning at 10 O'clock,
and is empowered 10 go into a fulle and
complete investigation Of all of the river
and barbor work IN this district, as will be
seen from the following order issued from
the war department:
Headquarters, Corps of Engineers,
United States Army, Washington, y. G,
Sent. 10. 1G97.-Special orders No. 32.-By
direction of the Secretary OF War, board
of officers of the corps Of engineers, to
consist Of Col George l.. Gillespie, Mai.
Charles W. Raymond. Maj. Henry VI.
Adams. will convene at Savannah, Ca, at
10 a. n, Tuesday, Sept. q, 1891, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, in connection
with the works of improvement Of the Sa-
vannah river Georgia, and Cumberland
sound, Florida.
The board is authorized to visit the
mouth Of the Savannah river, Georgia,
and Cumberland sound, Florida.
Upon the completion of the duty as
signed the board the officers named will
return to their proper stations.
The travel is necessary for the public
service.
BY command of Brig. Gen. Wilson:
Joseph z. Kuhn,
Captain. Corps OF Engineers.
It is expected the investigation will last
for a week or ten days, and no doubt
many witnesses will be examined by the
III. r1ery lra
personal inspection of portion at least
of the works.
It is understood that the charges against
Capt Carter relate altogether to materials
used by the contractors which IL is
claimed, did not come up to specifications.
One Of these is the matter of the rock
used in sinking the mattresses of the tetty
work, which rock is said TO have been
from twenty to thirty pounds lighter per
cubic foot than that the specifications
called for. II is said to have been charg
ed also that the mattresses used in the
work were Of an inferior quality, and that
they were not put down in accordance
with specifications. Upon so large a work
as that in the Savannah harbor, and al
Cumberland sound, such discrepancies,
should they exist, would make quite
large difference.
Mr.. n A. Connolly, formerly private
secretary TO Capt. Carter. now secretary
rived in the city yesterday afternoon, pre-
sumably TO be here during the coming in
vestigation. Mr.. Connolly was seen by
a representative Of the Morning News. but
had nothing TO say with regard TO the
matter.
capt Carter has been and IS now at
tending the sessions of the Nicaragua ca
nal commission, of which he is a mem
Der. The prefminaries of the survey
have about been completed and it is eX-
pected that that body win make a trip TO
Nicaragua the latter part of October or
the first of November. Capt Carter is
expected 20 arrive In the city tomorrow
or next day. and accompanied by counsel,
will be present al the investigation.
1t is presumed that the investigation
will be conducted entirely behind closed
doris, as such proceedings usually are so
the details of the sessions will be sought
with eager interest as is natural under
the circumstances.