Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-17

1t Was after IL o'clock last Thursday
before President John Lynn called the
Levy Court to order for an adjourned
session, which was expected to be one
of especial interest The expectation
was realized
About 1870 o'clock Messrs. Lynn.
Armstrong and Megginson entered the
Levy Court room. Messrs. Willis,
Elliott and Chandler came later. John
Turner of the American Bridge Co. had
a conference with Mr.. Lynn. The bridge
company built the superstructure of the
bridge for Fahey.
The presence of Stenographer Charles
u. Guyer. who took detailed account
OF the courts proceedings, added inter.
est to the session, for it wss a mystery
as to who had employed him for that
purpose.
Soon after Clerk Janvier had read
the minutes of Tuesdays session, he
read the following report:
d We, the undersigned, the bridge COM
mittee of the Levy Court, especially directed
TO investigate the plans and specifications
under which Seventh street bridge is being
built, with the view of ascertainins whether
SAID plans and specifications call for The
building of the approaches and wing walls 10
SAID bridge, respectfully report as follows:
First-We submit the plans and specifca-
lions under which the contractor claims to
be building said bridge.
Second-Ths proceedings of the Law
Court in connection with granting the con,
tract for the said bridge.
from the plans and Specifications it an
pears that the approaches and wing walls
are not provided for, as an examination
ciosef
John Lynn,
Charles Megginson,
= Committee.
On motion OF Mr.. Chandler, seconded
by Mr.. Willis, this report was received
and recorded.
Theu there was pause as If that was
to be the end of il, but Mr.. Chandler
broke the silence by suggesting that
the court would like to hear something
further from the bridge committee and
would like to see the plans and speci :
locations.
Contractor Fahey then came forward
and spread out the plans on Mr.. Meal lev q
desk. and on top of them he placed the
typewritten specifications.
The specifications were read by Clerk
Jarvier, SO that the court could hear
whether they called for approaches and
wing walls. The reading showed nat
tner oio not call for the approaches
and wing walls. 1t also showed that a
"a foot wide bridge is provided for.
strong enough to bear a live load of
100 pou nds to the square foot and with
a factor of safety of four. The bridge
was to be subject at all stimes to the
inspection OF the bridge committee,
Messrs. White, Mealey and Gallagher
twho wSre of the old oourt).
while the specifications were being
read, Mr., Chandler was examining the
Plans and Mr.. Willis was perusipg Ia
set Of specifications and noting the
points of difference.
After the reading, Mr.. Willis started
the discussion by asking Mr.. Fahey
when the specifications and contract
we're entered into by the court.
Mr.. Fahey answered, 81 have no
contract direct with the court, but
with the bridge committee appointed
to build the bridge"
:, Asked Mr.. Willis: ~ ask you when
the Levy Court in 1900 entered into
contract with you for specifioations.
which you claim these are the propsr
ones?p
Mr.. Fahey-''The bridge committee
entered into contract with me in No.
vember, 1900 to build BRIDGE
Mr.. Willis" Under what authority
do you build this bridgeY Did the
Levy court authorize a change in tho
contract2''
MIR. Fahey-"I do not know, I do
know that the Levy Court authorized
the bridge committee to contract for
building the bridge''
MIR. Willis" This ia what would
like to know Whether the bridge com
mittee was authorized to change the
contract. -
Mr.. Fshey-"The Levy Court on
May 29th, 1899. authorized the bridge
committee to repair the old bridge to
rebuild ~, or to build new one. 3"
me minutes of the Levy Court for
tne date mentioned were consulted and
clerk Janvier read the proceedings on
the point in question, showing that the
bridge committee had reported that the
Seventh street bridge was in danger
Gus and unsafe condition and needed
immediate attention. The committee
suggested repairing the old, or rebuild
ing ". or the building OF new bridge.
Mr.. Gallagher had offered a resolution
authorizing the bridge committee to
repair, or rebuild or build anew and If
1t deemed advisable to employ an engi-
neer to procure plans and estimates for
the same.
Mr.. Willis then asked Mr.. Fahey !:
Were there not bids asked for? Yes?
and you were competitive bidder at
the time? And received the contract
presumably as the lowest biddsr?',
Mr.. Fahey-"Not at that time. -
when did you receive the contractor
't20th of November. 1900
Through what cbannel?"
Through the bridge committee of
this COURT
And Authorized by this oourt?''
don't know; cannot answer
that
Mr.. Willis went on to say that The
new members of the court desired 10
know how the matter had been handled
by the old body and he held that to be
legal, any act of the bridge committee
should have been approved by the
court. He desired to ask the commit
tee whether its act was approved nv
the court, but was met by the fact that
Mr.. Mealey, the only member Of the
former bridge committee now in the
court, was absent. Then Mr.. Willis
made the point that the present bridge
committee should know what its prede-
cessor had done.
Mr.. Lynn, who is chairman of the
bridge committee, wanted to know how
tne committee was to know, eXcept by
the records and the plans
Mr.. Willis suggested that as mat
ter OF business oil the county, the COM
mlttee ought to have known.
Mr.. Chandler was displaying plans,
IN accordance with the original speci.
locations. calling fpT anproaohaa D., tbo