The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-09
MORE LIGHT TURNED ON.
Fulmer-Seibert Company Makes a
Statement of the Sewer Scandal.

FuImer-Seibert Company Makes a
Statement of the Sewer Scandal.
The Fulmer-Seibert Company yesterday
made public the following statement of the
sewer transaction:
80 much guesswork, Misrepresentation
and actual untruth has been published in
relation to the sewer known as the White
river interceptor. that we have decided to
make plain statement of the facts for
publication We think it is due the people
OF Indianapolis, as we'll as ourselves that
the truth be known.
mo unexpected difficulties were encoun-
tered In the prosecution of the work be-
tween Kentucky avenue and point where
the sewer left Butchs Ice pond and turned
east in old Seventh street. From there to
the north end of the sewer strong head of
water was encountered. After working in
the water for six months and making but
little progress, and seeing 1t was practically
impossible to proceed under the conditions
we determined to ask the city engineer to
raise the level of the sewer The plans
showed that this could be done without in
any way lessening the capacity of the sewer
or decreasing its usefulness. In the face of
this fact. which was known to the city en-
gineer. he refused our request and said 1t
was impossible to grant it and preserve
sufficient fall to the sewer After vainly
trying to obtain from him the desired relief,
Mr. Seibert enlisted the services of very
close friend of the administration, and in
the end secured a rise of two feet. but only
after paying the sum of 5000 for his in
fiuence.
'In his letter of Sept "a. 1896. to the
Board of Public Works, recommending that
the change be made, the city engineer said
Such change would make it possible to
build a better sewer Yet before the S. 900
was promised to our friend. Mr.. Holt, this
same engineer insisted that it was a physi-
cal impossibility to do this.
GOT WHAT HOLT PROMISED.
Fright here we want to say that there
was nothing corrupt in our request that a
A.. he 1o fV,
our paying for the influence of one who
could secure the desired and beneficial
change. which could be obtained by us in no
other way. What we asked and finally got
did not permit us to use inferior material or
slight the work because of lax supervision
Of inspectors.
Assistant Engineer Moore examined the
sewer when DONE and pronounced it the
best he had SEEN whether built wet or dry.
'"The plastering of the sewer has not been
finished according to the plans ana speclTi-
cannot be done. He witnessed an attempt
and failure and said, Let 1t alone until l
make tests of the cements. This was four
or five months ago and TO this day he has
never Indicated to us that he had found a
cement which would adhere to the damp
walls covered with sewer fungus. Nor did
he until o'clock yesterday morning, de-
mand that we proceed with the work.
"A flood-gate was left out because In the
in under the plans. The engineer was so
advised but he never changed the plans, or
showed us that it was correct. Yesterday
morning. after the lapse of year or more,
he demands that the hood-gate be put in.
AS To the other things demanded of us yes
terday they are trivial, and VIII be done
if. upon examination, we lind that they
Regarding the claim for extras we are
charged with having tried to get allowed by
threatening to expose certain shady trans
actions--we say that we never made or pre-
scented a bill for extras until yesterday.
We did, when the sewer was offered for &C.
ceptance, submit to the city engineer 9
memorandum of the cost of work done and
the material furnished outside of the skecl-
fications, and he promptly refused TO allow
it, No further request or demand was made
for this allowance, and the engineer was
asked to accept the sewer. This he delayed
doing until we felt compelled TO appeal to
the MAYOR who put us off from time to
time with a smile and the assurance that
we should lose nothing by the delay
ASKED FOR DELAY.
when. a week or more ago, we asked Mr..
Holt to use his influence in securing an
immediate acceptance of the work he said
we ought to wait a little while and get not
only the contract price, but the cost of the
extra work and material in addition. Know
ing the claim to be just one, we had our
attorneys argue it's legality before the
mayor and city attorney during the confer
eQc6 at INC NEdlu IlOlel Oh last 4AOnOdy
night We knew the bringing up of this
question was for the purpose of still further
delaying action. and we knew it was not
the intention to accept the work at this
time, because the mayor had that day de-
clared that he would suffer the loss of his
right arm rather than permit the sewer 10
be accepted before election day; and we also
know that the delay of more than three
months is owing to the mayors fear that
If the estimate was approved and our money
in sight our lips would be unsealed upon
subjects, which, If discussed, would be dan
gerous 10 his political welfare. lie reasoned
that as long as our money was iii jeopardy
we must keep sim.
I'VE are patient and long suffering but
we cannot longer delay action, al cost OF
81 900 month, simply because the mayor
desires reelection.
"FULMER-SEIBERT COMPANY
by Royal Robinson, Vice President"
In his afternoon organ Mayor Taggari
enters a fiat denial of so much of the com
pany's statement as refers TO him. He says
his declaration was that he would not con
sent to the acce ptance of the sewer until
II was complete. and said nothing about the
election.
City Engineer Jeup also enters a denial
declaring that he never said il was inpos-
sibe TO raise the level of the sewer, but
said ii could not be raised four or five feet
~
HOLT'S SUCCESSOR TODAY.
Taggart VIII Not Let MIR. Harding
NnI-