The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-03
REFUSE TO PAY FOR
THE WILDWOOD
WELL
County Commissioners In
struct County Treasurer to
Withhold Payment of War
rant Drawn in Favor of
Contractor Mccarthy -
Sheriff Is Criticised by
Commissioner Powers.

BY a vote of five to one the county
commissioners yesterday adopted res
olution instructing County Treasurer
Metzdorf to withhold payment of the
warrant issued to Contractor Mccarthy
last summer for work performed by him
in connection with the county's artes-
ian well at Wildwood, a recent inves-
LEGATION OF which disclosed the fact
that the work had not been done ac-
Cording to contract. Commissioner
Wright alone opposed the resolution,
Ccntending that the county should pay
the contractor for the work which had
been done by him, even though it had
been done without regard to the plans
and specified tons under which the con-
tract was awarded.
The attitude assumed by Commits
sioner Wright was a surprise TO the
other members of the county board and
both Commissioner Powers and Com
missioner Nash were free in express
ing their opinions of Mr.. Wright's posi-
ton in the matter.
Contract Not Complied With
The resolution adopted by the board
yesterday was a lengthy one and told
in detail of how the contract for the
boring and piping of the well had been
awarded to Mr.. Mccarthy, Of Mime
apolfs. who had been given the work
upon his assurance that he would put
in well and pipe it with ten-inch
piping all the way down. The recent
investigation of the we'll developed the
fact that the ten-inch piping had ex-
tended to depth of but 142 feet. after
which eight-inch piping was used for
short distance. and then no piping
at all.
When the well was completed the
contractor had put in a bill for a ten
inch well, supposed to be $40 feet deep,
and without any investigation at all
the commissioners had ordered the au-
ditor TO draw a warrant in favor of
Contractor Mccarthy for $3.50. This
warrant was held up by County Treas
urer MetZdOrf, who said the money
should not be paid until it had been
shown that the we'll was all right.
AS result of the investigation and
exposure of the methods employed by
the contractor in boring the well. the
commissioners declared the work was
nothing more than an attempt to de-
fraud the county, and it was decided
10 refuse the payment of any amount
Whatever to the contractor.
Matter Finally Settled.
Commissioner Wright, who was pres
ent during the time much of the work
on the well was done, expressed sur
prise at the manner in which Mccarthy
had carried out his contract, and II
was not expected he would insist upon
the payment Of the contractors claim.
After Commissioner Wright had
spoken in favor of allowing the con-
tractor pay for the work really done
by him, Commissioner Nash declared
himself in strong language
That man will never be paid a dol
lar by any vote of mine" said Mr..
Nash. He can do as he pleases with
the we'll; under the circumstances the
county is not bound to pay him q
cent"
The sentiments expressed by Com
missioner Nash We're seconded bv Mr..
Powers, and Treasurer Metzdorf de-
clared that he would never paw nSe
warrant unless compelled to do so bv
the courts.
The action of the board in instruct
ing the treasurer to not pay the war;
rant disposes of the Wildwood well
matter so far as the county is con-
cerned, unless the contractor shouI6
commence an action to enforce the
payment of the warrant. Contractor
Mccarthy has not been heard from
since the exposure of the manner in
which his contract was carried out.
Jail Bonds Are Awarded.
After the we'll question had been
disposed of the commissioners became
involved in an argument over the sale
OF the $4,000 Jail bonds, bids for which
were opened yesterday But two bids
We're received, and Commissioner Pow
ers held that both should be rejected
ana new bids advertised for.
mere is something wrong when but
Two fidS are received for bonds of this
KIND, said Commissioner Powers. "and
think. if more time were allowed we
would receive more and better bids"
Inc bids received yesterday We're
from Harris & Co, of Chicago who Of
Tered a premium of $3.50 and from
wilson X Co, another Chicago firm.
VINO offered premium of $167.5O, and
In addition agreed to furnish the blank