The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-18
NEGLECT OF DUTIES
Charged Against "a Couple of ST
Paul Sidewalk Inspectors.

raul SAOeNVAAk inspectors.
The protest of the ST. Paul Sidewalk
company and the affidavit by Andrew ].
HOban alleging that Inspectors Hickey
and Bantz, of the engineering depart
ment, had neglected their duties, was
brought up at the meeting of the board
of public works yesterday.
HobaE contends that the company he
represents is being Disseminated against
in favor Of the Portland Stone company,
which has the contract of laying the ce-
ment sidewalks for the city.
Since June L. he told the board, ST
have had man in my employ whose
business it has been to keep track of
these two companies. While the other
concerns were compelled to comply with
the provisions Of the city contract, as re-
CARDS the excavation and the material,
the Eureka and Portland people appear
to be such faYorites that they can use al
most anything and put it down in any
manner they choose.
''I am prepared to show that July City
Engineer Rundlett was notified by a side
walk inspector that the Eureka people
were using inferior material, and doing
their work in a defective manner. The
engineer replied that Uttley B. Curtis, of
this company, was honest, and that the
class Of work being done by his concern
could be relied upon. This inspector later
notified the Eureka people that they were
violating the specifications. After that he
has not been sent out to do inspecting. Is
not that strange? I claim that in most
cases the work of the Portland and the
Eureka companies Is not inspected until
forty-eight hours to four days after the
jobs have been completed. This is not
idle talk, but I can produce the proof,
dates and locations. On the other hand,
an inspector is placed in each of my
shops and L am compelled to abide by
the exact letter of the specifications. I
claim, i'll effect, that all the city contract
work is being done in inferior style.
Uttley B. Curtis and l.. N. Washington
are able to use thing that was made be-
fore the specifications We're amended
while I am compelled to allow a lot of
equally good material to lie in my yards.
1t is true that for the last six years the
thing made by Curtis has not been in
spected, and during most of that time
he was doing contract work"
The companies attacked say that Ho-
ban is sore because he did not get the
city contract, and each of them deny that
they have or are violating the conditions
OF the specifications. Owing to the alb
sence Of Commissioner Mabon yesterday
afternoon the board did not take up the
charges, but will probably do so today.
The board will view the sidewalks men
tened in the affidavit of Hoban this
morning and will then decide if there is
any necessity of hearing testimony.
Hoban, in course of conversation yes
terday afternoon. said he was not sore
because he did not get the city contract.
He did not care what other contractors
used in making their thing or how they
laid their foundations, but he wanted to
have the same privilege. He declared
that all would have to follow the specifi-
cations if he did, and declared that 1.-THE
engineer would have to call off his dogs
or there would be some fun"