The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-20
.ANNUL HARBOR CONTRACT !.
San Pedro Breakwater Work to Be
DELAYED For Time.

washington, March 2O.-It is under
stood that an order has been issued
by General Wilson, chief of engineers,
anrnlling the contract of Heldmeier and
Neu. Of Chicago, for building the San
Pedro, California, breakwater. Captain
Ny Ter, of the engineer corps, is in
cha ge Of the work. and his reports to
the war department show that the
contractors have not been able to de-
post the $4,000 tons of rock required
monthly, which is given as the cause
for the annulment of the contract
Chicago, March 20-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Cen Wilson, chief of the army engi-
neers, today annulled the contract
awarded Heldmeier & New of Chicago
for the construction of a breaxwater
at San Pedro, Cal, because the firm
tract. About year and half ago the
contract was awarded this firm who
agreed to build the breakwater for ST.
100000, which was less than half the
sum appropriated by congress for COM
pleting the work.
Work has been going on since the
contract was awarded, but according to
the army engineers little progress has
been made.
BY the terms of the contract the Chi
cago men We're required to place $4,000
tons of rock each. month towards the
completion of the breakwater. Reports
neer who supervises the work, show the
average deposit of rock each month to
have been between 900 and 900 tons.
He warned the contractors that I'M
less hey kept the terms of the contract
1t would be annulled. Repeated warn
iugs of this kind were given, but oW-
ing 10 drawbacks over which the con-
Germ had no control, it is said they We're
unable to perform the work as rapidly
as thay had agreed.
Today General Wilson annu1led the
contract and will advertise for new
bids.
cause a cessation of work for about six
months. Heldmier & Neu met with a
great deal of trouble in attempting to
carry out their contract. For instance,
they intended to get their rock from
San Clemente island and did take con-
siderable rock from that island, but it
was not of sufficient gravity. This
necessitated removing their plant to
Santa Catalina, where they purchased
quarrieS and invested about 100000.
This and other unforeseen drawbacks
interfered with progress of the work
which caused the chief of engineers to
annul the contract.
HAD TOO MUCH ON HAND.
Washington. March 2O.-It is said at
the war department that the cancella-
ton of the contract of the Chicago firm
of Heiddlemeier and Neu for the con-
structiOn of the big breakwater at San
PEDRO, Cal, was ordered with great re-
luctance and only after the monthly re-
port of the officer in charge of the work
had made it manifest that the work
was entirely beyond the capacity of the
firm. 1t is said the latter have been I'M
fortunate at every stage of the con-
tract. One of the firm members was
killed by an accident. Then the island
selected as the place from whence the
stone for the breakwater was to be Sc
cured proved to be unsuitable and after
a long time and at great expense an
other supply of stone was found. This
was on the bluff face of a precipice
overhanging the sea and it became nee
essary to blast a platform on which to
work. Most of the stone was blown
overheard by the blasts into deep wa
ter. and altogether, instead of placing
10000 tons of rock each month the sup
ply was often limited to 3, 900 tons and
| never exceeded 10000.
The firm was engaged at this time
with a contract for the construction of
! the Chicago drainage canal, and was
not able to carry out the undertaking it
| had entered into with the war depart
ment, and therefore the cancellation
was ordered
Captain Meyler, the engineer officer
! in charge of the work has been further
/ instructed to Immediately prepare ad-
vertisements asking for bids for it's
! completion.
The original contract for the con-
struction of the breakwater was let
| July 10. 1885, to Heidlemeier and Neu
for 81. 300, 1873.