The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-19

lNa feet of water main at 33c..... 7o6.ss xiso Feet water supply pipe at z t-zc. ......-.............- z0W 30 square yards brick pavement at t .. .... .. ............... eV.vv zs5 feet curb. reset at esc....... s7.u5 ls5.00o brick in retaining walls at sao.vv.. ...s................ 1soz<sVo iS,st0 cubic yards of excavation at Nc.. .................... SSio.oO N -- Total. .. .. :. ...................s .ss, ,s22. Al "Yours truly, | ID. W. Ford, | "City Engineer" The estimate Of Mir. Smith, was as fol- lows:
 Report and estimate for lowering tre
 grade of Adams Street at Bainbridge
 four feet.
 Montgomery. Ala, Feb. 1, 1904. l To Mr. A. Roemer, Chairman Street l Committee, City Council, Montgomery, "In making this report have used the | profiles of the City Engineer, and have l taken my data from close examination of the locality. In making estimate of laying of pipe sewers I deduct the $50 l feet of sewer from Hull to Decatur on | Adams Street. and 400 feet from Alabama l to Adams on Decatur Street. do this | | perative for the sewers to enter the maa- | holes at exactly the same level and can I see no reason for adhering strictly to | this question where a saving of cost can | be obtained for the city. This method IS used and considered entirely satisfacto ory | in most important cities. From all information before me be- | lieve that this estimate of 1,50O feet of six inch connecting sewer is not essential There can be no possible objection 70 breaking the line of grade on house connections between the trap and main sewer. by the use of one-eighth or one-quarter bends, where each bend Is properly inserted and l the break in grade carefully made. believe half of this pipe can be saved ! without damage to the sanitary system "In figuring brick in retaining walls there Is no credit allowed for old brick | cleaned and used. I figure that at least | 5000 brick can be cleaned and used at a cost of $1 per thousand for the cleaning
 and allowing s5 per thousand for these | old brick. would give credit Of $SOO from my figures on patchwork.
 By proper use of terraces on side walks and properties, which will ado
 much to the beauty of the street. the es- timate of 1000 brick can be further re- | duced; high retaining walls are most ua- | slightly and generally unnecessary.
 'The estimate of 13,5O0 cubic yards of l excavation, think, Is high. I figure that 12,0Oc is liberal and by leaving the side walks in terrace even less than this VII l have to be moved.
 "A large part of this dirt should be used by tte city. if used for
 the necessary improvements of other streets, the cost of moving
 should not be charged to this street, but
 should be charged to the improvement
 of the streets to which 1t Is hauled. The ! cost of changing meters should not enter I into this estimate, as 1t will be done by
 the regular city force maintained for 1 this purpose.
 There can be no doubt but that at
 least 90 per cent of the sewer pipe in the
 old sewers can, be saved intact by care l in taking it up This at valuation of
 five cents per foot would make credit of $4175.
 "There are three clauses in the speci- | fcations which I believe would tend to making contractors put up their bids on this work. without tEe city getting l any benefit therefrom. "The clause prohibiting the use Of bats in retaining walls: there Is absolutely no reason why half bats should not be used in hearting these walls, where they are laid in cement mortar; contractors would figure higher where the use of bats Is prohibited.
 '"The clause relating to the entire com- pletion of the new sanitary sewer and house connections before cutting loose from old sewer would unnecessarily in- crease the cost of this work. By start ing at summit of grade, house connec- tions could be taken from all sewers and connected with new sewers without diff ficulty or danger in a sanitary sense, and a saving in cost could be made by allowing this.
 ''The requirement. of finishing grading and sewers to a certain length would also work a hardship and cause unneces- sary increase in cost
 "The clause retaining 10 per cent of the contractors money for the six months would seem unnecessary. as the work is done under constant supervision and inspectors should have work done so that there will be no necessity of repairs in the six months time.
 Tt making public Improvements 1t is always a policy that will be regretted points of present economy and not fu- ture benefit.
 What is done, should be done to the | very best advantage. Had all grade of streets beeN determined upon before sew CTS were laid much expense would have been saved in the future improvements l in the city.
 'This report is made with absolutely no intention of placing strictures on the work of the City Engineer. It is simply difference of opinion of engineers. His idea of making estimates, always safe. Is an admirable one and his adherence to specifications under general conditions Is commendable.
 My figures may be at fault but feel that this much needed improvement can be made at my figures given below. "Very truly,
 Benjamin B. Smith," Curb reset, inch granite,
 2235 lin. it. at.. .. .. .. ..$.05 { Ill 75 Sanitary sewer relaid, 8 inch
 2S64 lin. it. at.. .... ...... 20 718 co Sanitary sewer relaid, inch
 and connections 1500 lin. 1t.
 at. .. .... ...., :. .... .... 2S S5 % Storm sewers relaid, 15 inch
 1070 lin. it. at.. e. ........ 50 535 % Water mains relaid, 2l42 lin. 1t. at.... IF 257 A Water supply pipes reiaid. 2160 lin. it. at.. .. .. ........ 10 216 co Storm water drains relaid, 6 inch. POO lin. it. at.. .. .... 20 40 co Manholes rebuilt, 8 at .. e. ..12,OO 36 % Inlets rebuilt. at. .. e. 1000 70 % Brick in retaining walls,
 1S5,0O0 at. ..12.o0 1,s2O co
 Brick pavement relaid, 80 so. | yards at.. .. .. .. .. .... IT 93 60
 Excavations. 13,5OO cubic
 yards at.... .. .... 1.l6 1920 %