The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-24
mIsNER UNDER CROSS FIRE.
-,,,, uDGE ADVOCATE EXAMINES
HIM FOUR HOURS.

...r construction OF single Curved
v IT Cumberland SOund-Ex-
mined ON Many Technical Engi-
,...rinr POInts-TOId About Mat
,r-. CONFERENCE.-The Work
,,.,e IN Accordance with His
Ideas.
II t4.. e-oss-examinaticn of the witnesses
Inc defense in The Carter court martial
,,l.ss as long in proportion as has that of
Mr. George Y Wisner, there is chance
cara still further extension of time for the
.4ioe,s of the court in Savannah. Mr..
iyi.rer has already been under cross-ex-
animation by Col. Barr for a time longe,
t5an that occupied by Mr.. Blair in the di.
Tee. summation and the cross-examino-
lion mad not been concluded when the
eour. adjourned yesterday.
The cross-examination of Mr. Wisnet
took wide range yesterday, the judge ad,
yocates at times dealing largely hypothet-
teal engineering propositions, relative 10
stone, mattresses, and jetty construction.
Nit. Wisner did not devlate from his direct
examination upon the engineering points
The court room was crowded, as was
the case the day before many ladies
attending almost throughout the entire
session Many of the tourists at the hotel.
as we'll as Savannahians, seem greatly in
terested in the proceedings, perhaps as
much as anything else, on account of the
fact that it is a court martial
The denomination of Mr.. Wisner,
as expert engineer, put up by the defense,
was continued by Col. Barr. Col. Barr
called his attention to the fact that he lad
testified that fascine WITH the leaves and
twigs denuded would not be in accordance
with the specifications, and then asked
him about the fascine of rods brought from
the Twiggs work near Augusta The
Tviggs fascne, Mr.. Wisner said. could
not be in accordance with specifications
calling for brush fascines, not at least.
in its present condition. He did not know
what the Twiggs fascine might have been
when it was first constructed.
Mr. Wisuer would not say that the fas-
cines used in the Twiggs contract near
Augusta were not in accordance with the
specifications. They were used for a diff
ferent work, however, the construction of
wingdams. They would not be in accord
aace with the specifications for use on
an ocean bar; they were not proper fas-
clnes for the construction of jetty work.
On being question by Col. Barr, Mr.. Wis
ner explained wherein he disagreed with
the project of the board of engineers
which passed on the Cumberland sound
work in 1895 Instead of two jetties. a
north and south jetty, Mr.. Wisner was
satisned that the end in view could have
been better accomplished by the building
OF only one jetty, the north one He
thought the south jetty interfered with
rather than aided in, the work of building
the channel. There followed much discuss
SION Of the sand, movement, not, no wever.
i'll Inc direction of anyDody's eyes, exceot.
perhaps, toward those of some of the spec
tators.
I think, by the proper construction of
curved jetty at Cumberland sound, there
might have been about $1,OOO,OOO saved. -
Mr. Wsner said.
AIR. Wisner said he was consulting on
g'neer on a similar project at Arkansas
tass' Tex. That work, he admitted, had
Deeh pronounced unsuccessful by a board
ol members from the engineer corps.
Out he said, emphatcally, that does
not make it So" The single iettv plan
had never been carried to full complexion
anywhere, he said, sufficiently to give an
example of one that has been fully sue
cessful.
Mr.. Wisner was asked about the cost of
plant for such a contract as Cumberland
sound The minimum cost of a plant nee
essafy to do the work at Cumberland
SOUND ne said, he put at 100000.
1ou would perhaps be surprised to
earh that firm of contractors has I'M
uertaken 100000 contract with a $26, 200
plant?' Col Barr asked.
what work has been done with such a
pant" Mr.. Wisner asked
why all of the work on the harbors in
tilis district" Col Barr said, and repeated
The question.
l should say that was very small
pant was the reply, "but If the contrac-
Tor can do the work with that plant ]
should say 1t was nobody's business"
MT Wlsner assumed that when the work
was PAID for it had been we'll done He
was OF the opinion that the work under
the present project at Cumberland sound
could not be completed within the present
appropriation, particularly on account OF
the amount of dredging that will have tc
be done
You said that sometimes contractors
put IN bids in the names of their en-
pioyes?' Col. Barr asked.
said that had known il to be done in
number of instances" was the reply.
And then you say that the employer
uoes the work?" was asked.
did not say that. would prefer that
you do not testify for me, Col Barr" Mr.
Wisner said
IAe man who takes the contract usually
u0-s the work, Mr.. Wisner said, and the
money must be paid to him AS long as
N' man has sufficient backing to do the
work there is no evasion of the law, and
lAeie is no deceit under such circumstances
's iohS as the work is properly done.
Wen. Wen pass to something else
Col. Barr said.
AIT. Wisner was questioned at length as
70 ms soundings on the jetties at Cumber-
lana sound. Col, Barr wanted the time OF
Jay ana all the details connected with the
survey.
Mt' Wisner considered that the contracts
,ot Aafbor improvements in this district
"lI 1t in the discretion of the engineer
o4eer as to whether fascines might bs
s''sututed for grillage poles in mattress
obstruction. In the Brazos river WORK
yea cents cord on an average was paio
w.. the privilege Of cutting brush. Mr.