Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-18
ENGINEER sAUGHMAN's REPORT
Finds Defects in Many of the Walks
and Calls Councils Attention to
Same in His Responsiveness Walk
Condemned - Wasem Gets Lumber
Contract = New City Dump.

years 10000, which were brought up
two weeks ago. While the entire coun-
ell believes in living up to spesifica-
tions in sidewalk building all but one
Mr.. Sieg, voted to accept the walks
under the present circumstances, aud
rely on Mr.. Wahlberg's bond to make
good any defects that might later arise.
The property owners have made 40
complaints about the walks, even tho
City Engineer Baughman, in his report,
declares that certain portions OF the
specifications were not lived up to by
the contractor. Mr.. Mcbride was the
only absentee.
Chairman Arnold, Of the stratts and
alleys committee, made a supplement
tary report on the walks. and econ
mended that the certificates be issued.
even tho 1t Is shown by the engineer
that specifications were not carried out
to the letter.
The committees report considered
that the bond was sufficient to- make
good any, defects, should they appear
after the walks had been down SUI
ficient length Of time
Engineer Baughman's report was
again read, and showed that while The
engineer had not been present when all
of the work was done, he made differ
zent visits while the work was In prog
ress ana found that the walks were
being put In contrary to specifications.
He outlined; the more serious defects,
which are lack Of sufficient 'oundn-
ton, and lack of proper proper tons Of
cement in mixing. Attention was CALI
ed to one walk that had been laid five
feet instead OF six; and at the outside
line, thus giving the property owners
an additional foot Of land.
The motion to adopt the committees
report met with considerable discus
sion. Mr.. Webster said that the walks
had all been inspected by the commit
tee, and had been found to be without
blemish, as far as all outward APP
pearances are concerned. Tie con-
tractor denied the statements of the
engineer, and would produce witne sses
to show that the walks were lai1 ac-
cording to specification. Innocent par
ties had advanced money to the con-
tractor, to pay for cement and material
entering into the contracts, ard would
have to do without their money il the
certificates were held up. A suit would
likely be forthcoming, and Mr.. Webster
thought that as long as there had been
no complaint on the part Of proper
ty. owners, and the walks were now APP
parently all right, the better thing to
do, under the circumstances, would be
to issue the certificates and rely on the
contractors bond to make everything
good.
Mr.. Sieg was opposed to any con-
cessions whatever, and as lorlg as the
engineer had declared that the walks
were not, laid according to specifica-
lions he thought that the contractor
should be compelled to make them in
strict accordance with the specifica-
TONS
Mr.. Mcdonald, who, as member OF
the committee, inspected the walks
said that all of the walks appeared tc
be good, He had gone over them and
not a crack was to be found anywhere
While he did not claim to be / judge OF
cement walks. he did think that the
walks were standing a stuff lcfent test
SO far, and that certificates might as
well be issued as not so long as the
bond was good Mr.. Mcdonald said
that he believed the specifications
should be lived up to, and If they were
not the walks should be put in at a
lesser cost
Mr.. Clark thought that. the council
should take the engineers report as its
guide in making assessments hereaf-
ter, and stand by him implicitly. II
the council has sidewalk ordinance
and specifications to go by, live up to
the ordinance and specifications at all
times.
Mayor, Ingledue also spoke on tie
subject, saying that the council had
always had more@ or less difficulty
with sidewalk contractors ever since
he had been member. The mayor
emphatically announced that from this
time on he would absolutely refuse to
sign any warrants or certificates for
in exact accordance with the speci-
fications.
On the question of adopting the COM
mittee's report all voted aye with the
exception Of Mr.. Sieg, and the walks
stand accepted. The bond Of the con-
tractor, however, is guaranty that
any defects that should arise be made
good. A later resolution by Mr. Arm
old authorized the clerk to ISSUE the
certificates against the abutting prop
erty. In this the vote was the same
as on the adoption Of the report.
Sewer Walk Condemned.
Mr.. Webster presented "A resolution
in which walk constructed by George
Sower, in front of property belonging
to NJ. F. Gard, be declared defective
and condemned. The walk is ordered
reconstructed to the satisfaction OF
the committee within ten days time,
otherwise it will be laid by the COM
mittee and the cost taxed to Mr.. Sewer.
Wasem Gets Lumber Contract.
Chairman Clark, of the committee on
ways and means, reported on the exc
animation Of bids on lunt er and rec
commended that the contract be let to
Frederick Wasem. A resolution to this
effect was adopted.
New City DUNG.
Chairman Sieg, of the health and
sanitation committee, reported this
dumping ground Of the city, on North
Third avenue to be a. nuisance, ana
recommended that steps be taken 20