The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-01


The specifications required stakes of not
less than five feet, but he was not allow
ed TO put in stakes of less than six feet
in length he said, and Mr.. COnant reject
ed many that were a few inches shorter.
My delay" he said, was due largely
to the weather, but principally on ac-
count of the manner in which Mr.. Conant
acted. L did not expect that the contract
would be held down closely to the time
specified. / was not allowed to do any
work unless Mr. Conant was present.
Sometimes he would get down late in the
morning, and other times he would take
an afternoon off, all of which greatly de-
layed me. This happened on several oc-
casions.'
"In order to get straight poles 1 had to
go sometimes twenty-five miles. but Mr..
I Conant would accept none but very
straight ones. Capt. Carter, Mr. Conant
said to me, had seen plenty of them be-
tween Augusta and Millen, and he told
me might go out on the road and get
them"
did you have any conversation with
Capt. Carter about the hardships you
were experiencing?Y Col Barr asked.
Eyes, asked Capt. Carter IL the monthly
payments could not be made. He asked
me if understood the terms of the con-
tract and l said yes. He told me if
would write to the Secretary of War or get
my congressman to do it, he would APP
PROVE or advise that my request be
granted"
Capt. Twggs' letter to Congressman
Black. making the request, was read. In
the letter he said to Congressman Black
that he had been doing better work for
less money than had ever been done be-
fore, that Capt. Carter refused to pay him,
that he needed money to carry on the
work The matter was referred to the
war department by Congressman Black.
When this letter passed through the de-
partment and came to Capt. Carter re-
ply was written. Capt. Carriers letter was
read by Col. Barr. 1t stated that he had
not suggested any such course to Capt.
Twlggs; that Capt Twiggs was ineXperl-
enced in the work, had an incompetent
foreman, had done less work in two
months than should have been done in
fifteen days, and that the contract re-
quired so much work to be done before
any payments would be made. Capt Car
ter said in the letter that he had told Mr..
Twiggs that the work was unsatisfactory
and could not recommend that any pay
ment be made.
No payments were made at the time,
the witness said He was then questioned
as to the supplemental contract under
which the government took hold Of part
of the work with Mr. Conant in charge.
Mr. Conant, the witness said, had en-
ployed any and everybody who wanted
work some of the men having been dis
charged by him. Mr. Conant paid the men
81 and 81 25 a day, where he had been pay
ing them 70 cents. Mr. Conant used
horse and buggy whenever he wanted it,
and these expenses, including Mr.. Co
nants room rent in the hotel, office ex-
penses i'm Savannah, repairs to horse
and buggy, cost of a lighter, salaries to
extra INSPECTORS, were all charged TO him,
he said.
"What was the lighter charged at?" was
asked.
at was put at $500" was the reply.
"What could you build one like it for?"
Col. Barr asked
"About $780," the witness replied.
GLOW much was charged TO you under
that supplemental contract" was the next
question.
"About $1,000" was the answer.
eAnd how much did you receive for that
work % Col. Barr asked.
LESS than $1,000" was Capt. Twiggs re-
ply. ~
Twiggs was introduced IN eV4uehce' II
amount was $1S.17O.
AR Conant pad $3.50 a cubic yard for
stone for the government at the quarry
The quarry he got it from was within 5W
wards of a quarry owned by him. lie could
have furnished the stone at less than 70
cents. and asked Mr.. Conant and Capt.
Carter TO let him do it. but they would not
Had he been permitted he could have put
the stone in the works for 81 cubic yard
instead of $1.74, which Mr.. Conant charged
for 81. Capt Carter told him, he would look
INTO the matter, he said. and let him know
later. but never heard anything more from
him on the subject and did not therefore,
furnish the stone.
Cant. Twiggs identified a photograph OF
a shore protection which he said was built
bv Mr. Gaynor under the contract of 1891
II was covered with brickbats, he said
He saw them hauled there. 1t had no evil
dances of having been affected by any OF
the freshets. He identified other photo-
granhs Of ietties and shore projections
built bv himself and by the Gaynors lie
said he had repaired all but two OF the JET
Ties built by the Gaynors
He said he had TO sue the Gaynors TO
qet what was due him what he had done
toU,ard fulfilling his share of the contract
- 1901 MIR. Wheeler their foreman, had
refused to let him supply the stone. he
wrote 10 John Gaynor, but got no reply
re then brought a suit, which was com
nronnised. He said he had to build ms tas-
Zines az poles and wire, while the Gaynors
bad always built theirs with brush and
strings. .....4 Co.. .bo
WORK YOU did in 1893 cause you TO lose