The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04

giving information and discussing the
drainage work once. He is in error I
did not appear before Council, but / did
appear before a meeting of the aldermen
in caucus in respect to a petition I had
addressed to Council. 1t was never read
in Council, but was acted on In caucus
just In the same old way 1t may be a
coincidence, but at the same time when
Alderman Davis says he was convinced
that l did not understand the proposed
system of house drainage, / also was
laboring under the conviction that he did
not understand the first principles of 1t
and from the way ne acted 1 thought Il
useless to try to inform him.
After Alderman Davis, engineering ex-
pert reports on the condition of the pave
ments on Bull street and on the respective
shell roads, it is evident his testimony
and opinions on engineering matters arc
not altogether unbiased or reliable. l am
perfectly willing to leave the public to
judge of our respective qualifications as
engineering experts, either in paving or
drainage matters
1T is rather unfortunate that two out
Of the three members of the drainage COM
mittee have placed themselves on record
that they are perfectly familiar with the
work done last year and that it Is all right.
If they will carefully study the specihca-
lions 1 think they will find it hard to
reconcile the stringent condition laid down
there TO the work as done.
1T was at the caucus meeting I attend
ed that Col. Warning laid down the propo-
sition that he would not act as consult
ing engineer unless his firm, Warng,
Chapman & Farquahar, were given the
work as inspecting engineers. Caucus In
its wisdom, agreed to this and practically
engaged the same man at two fees in the
dual capacity of consulting and inspect
ing engineer. 1t was hardly to be expect
ed that he would al any time give a de-
cision against himself.
within the last few days have been
! approached by citizens and told of defec-
tive work they had seen. 1t might be well
for all citizens, who know positively, of
defective work, to give Council the beae-
fit of their knowledge.
Are you prepared to file specific charges
as Alderman Owens says he Will ask for?''
| MIR. Sugden was asked.
Il am ready to show Council the specih-
cation was not complied with In many of
its essential features. and l think the duty
of preferring charges will then devolve
upon Council. Council went TO considerable
expense in having a stringent specification
drawn up and employed engineers, TO
whom they pay large commissions, to see
that the work was carried out in accord
ance with the specifications. II they are
not adhered to then some one Is guilty,
and not fit to hold the position OF trust
Are you willing to bear the expense of
unearthing pipe and sewerage construction
which is not found faulty?" he was further
asked
THE charges I have preferred, and the
inspections 1 have made, have all. been
done with a view of conserving the best
interests of the city. l have already paid
out money in connections with my inspec-
tons and have been perfectly willing to
thus pay for the information so obtained.
l am willing TO lay before Council the data
SO obtained and then If they want to do
any digging, l guess IL viii be at their
own expense Alderman Owens PROPOSE
ton IS a very good one from his point of
view but l should want 20 know who was
20 decide as TO what was faulty work
and what was not Aldermen Owens and
Davis engineering education is hardly suf-
hciently advanced for me to accept their
dctum IN this matter"
Supervising Engineer Chapman was seen
with reference 10 the Investigation. That
Mr. Chapman believes the engineers are
actuated from insinccre motives Is ap-
parent. He said there was some reference
20 Jobs IN a paper ne produced, and which
was sent 90 Council by Messrs Craig
Thomas and sugden Last August. The