The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-23
WILL GIVE UP THE CONTRACT.
THE CITY TO SETTLE WITH HOUSE
DRAINAGE CONTRACTORS.

The Contractors Estimate Their Ex-
penditures at $41 900, the Work Is
Valued at $50, 900, and the Amount
Due According to Contract Is s2s,-
OOO-Mayor MeIdrim willing to Set
tie at the Latter Figure, Less the
Charge for Repaving Streets,
About $2,5OO-The Matter Consid-
cred by Council in Committee of
the Whole But No Agreement
Reached.
A meeting of the committee of the
whole of Council was held last night to
consider the house drainage matter. 1t
was expected that conclusion would be
reached for settlement with the present
| contractors on terms satisfactory both to
the contractors and the city. This was
not done, however, and the meeting ad-
journed after being in session about three
quarters of an hour.
The matter would probably have been
discussed further, but as Mayor Meldrim
wished to leave on the 10 o'clock train for
Atlanta, and as there was not full meet
ing of the board the matter was contin-
ued until a future date. An early settle
ment of the matter, however. may be
looked upon as certain. The drainage
committee, of which Alderman Owens is
chairman, has been at work on the matter
for some time and expects to bring 1t to a
conclusion shortly.
The aldermen have three sets of figures
upon which to base their conclusions as
to the proper amount to pay the contrac-
tors as settlement in full with the city.
The contractors have made up a state
ment showing the cost which they have
been at for labor and material to complete
the amount of work already
done to be $4,000. The su-
pervising engineer has submitted an es-
innate showing the value of the work to
the city to be $1,000. and a statement
showing the amount due the contractors
under their contract with the city for
work done to be SIS 600.
The difference between the estimated
value of the work to the city and the
amount due the contractors under the
contract is accounted for in this way The
contractors took all the work at certain
stipulated rates The greater part of the
most difficult work has been done and at
a cost to the contractors considerably
greater than the work foots up under
the contract. The cost would be equalized
in the further progress of the work as
the easier portions were reached. The
work done having been entirely in. the
northern portion of the city there were
not only paved streets and lanes TO con-
tend with, but deeper excavations were
necessary. Further south there are few
paved streets to contend with and the ex-
caYations are shallower. Hence the work
which has been done represents greater
value to the city than the specified amount
per linear foot which was agreed upon
for the whole work In the making of
any future contract this point win be
brought to bear in the city's favor.
In speaking of the matter yesterday,
Mayor Meldrim said: 81 think 1t will be
settled shortly by the city paying the con-
tractors the contract price for the work.
so, 900, less the cost of repairing the paw
ing damaged by them, which will amount
to about $3.50. This will be done by
means of short time notes. This method
of settlement win require the city to pay
a little more in one year than was con-
templated under the contract, but as there
will be saving in interest the difference
is slight. When this settlement is made
the contract with the present contractors
will be dissolved. The city VIII then be
at liberty to enter into a contract. witt.
any other party on such terms as 1t sees
fiji. There is plenty of time, and the con-
tract need not be entered into immediate
ly. You can rest assured, however, that
the drainage work will be resumed this
fall with the intention of completing it.'i
Some of the aldermen have expressed
themselves to the effect that the city
should not deal flarshly with the drainage
contractors. The contractors, they saw.
have been at much greater expense than
the contract price of the work will return
them, though the value of the work is ac-
knowledged to be greater than the con-
tract price. The city can afford to over
look the attack upon lis credit by the
contractors, they say, on account of the
straights they were in, and to deal with
them in spirit of fairness.