The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-28
HOUSE DRAINAGE DISCUSSED.
THE COMMITTEE HAS REACHED NO
DECISION AS YET.

Engineer Chapman Submitted "a Re-
port Showing That 17,6s Miles of
the System Have BeeE Construct
ed, at Cost of About $6O,O0O.
The Questions of Outlets and the
Manner of Continuing the Work
Discussed-MayOr Myers Says the
City May Undertake the Work.
Contractors VIII BE Held Liable
for All LOSSES and Damage Sus-
tanned by the City.
Mayor Myers and the Special Drainage
Committee of Council had quite lengthy
conference yesterday with Mr.. w. II.
Chapman, supervising engineer, in refer
ence to the house drainage work. The con-
ference lasted about an hour and half
and the various features of the situation
in the house drainage work were fully dis
cussed.
The committee did not reach any con-
illusions as to the various matters under
consideration" said Alderman Thomas,
chairman of the committee, after the
meeting. 1--WE will confer further with
Mr.. Chapman and discuss the situation
further in the committee before formulat-
ing a report to submit 10 Council. The
question of the outlets, the portions of the
work which can be best taken up, and the
manner of continuing the work were all
considered. Mr.. Chapman submitted a
statement. showing that somewhere be-
tween one-fourth and one-third of the sys-
TEN has been completed, chiefly in the
northeastern and northwestern sections.
Much of the work is disconnected, separate
sections having been taken up to be in ad-
vance of new paving and for other rea-
sons"
MIR. Thomas said that it was possible
that the committee might recommend that
the eastern outlet be extended along St
Julian street to the Bilbo canal, instead Of
along Bay street to either Lamar creek or
the mouth of Bilbo canal.
Mr. Chapman spent yesterday afternoon
in company with Director Gadsden of the
public works department looking over
the work which has been done by the city
in repairs to paving made necessary by
the work of the contractors, and also the
further work of this kind which stil re-
mains to be done.
Mayor Myers said that the city has all
ready done about $500 worth of work
and has as much more in sight which is
yet to be done. When the repair work
is completed the contractors will be billed
for the amount and in case they decline to
settle the special bond of 5000 given by
them 10 guarantee the city against loss
on this account, will be proceeded against.
Mayor Myers said further that the city
does not concede that the position taken
by the contractors as to the Illegally of
their contract Is correct, and that in case
of any loss to the city as a result of their
action the bond of $4,000, given by the
contractors in accepting the contract, will
be proceeded against. Separate action win
be taken in each case as the conditions
under which the two bonds were given and
their legal status are entirely distinct.
THE action of the contractors in violat-
ing their contract will probably cause a
delay of several weeks" said Mayor Ny
ers. 1T Is not unlikely that the city
may carry on the work Itself Our ex-
perience with contractors has not been a
happy one. AS the contract with Mr.
Chapman's firm for supervising the work
was included in the contract with the
contractors 1t viii probably be necessary
to make a new arrangement with the firm
for the further supervision of the work. D
The figures submitted at the meeting OF
the committee by Engineer Chapman
show that 1893 miles of pipe and brick
work have been laid the greater part be-
ing S-inch pipe. About 100000 has been
paid to the contractors in I'll, including
the predecessors of Miles & Bradt