Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-11
WORK ON
SEW Err IS
OYERPAID
Deputy City Engineer
Makes Surprising
Statement
Asserts the Contractors
Received $82,631.25
Excess Payments
Report Made to Board of Public Works
Said to Have Been Based on Fig
ures Used by Harry F.
Stafford

w. S. Kingsbury, chief deputy in the
city engineers department. rendered
a report to the board of public works
yesterday showing that the amount of
work done on the outfall sewer is but
about go per cent instead Of the so
per cent the contractors have been
paid for.
These figures show that of the six
sections of the tunnel, measuring
total of 6497S feet, only 3S,551 have been
completed by sjtansbury & Powell, and
that 25,S37 feet yet remain to be done
before the outfall sewer is finished.
OF the tunnel section No. 8, contain
ing 1884 feet, only 1904 feet have been
forced, leaving 1920 feet to be COM
pleted. This was the section the con-
tractors were working on when they
drew off their workmen and abandoned
the contract. Section 6, measuring 1913
feet, is the only section that has been
entirely finished.
The board was surprised when Mr..
Kingsbury presented these figures, as
they show much more work to be done
tiidAi IilS bodlu iob iIIlSipeiICu'
Surprise for Board
"These figures show that the con-
tractors have misled us in the amount
of work that has been done on the
sewer" said a member of the board of
public works yesterday, "and as con-
sequence they have been paid more
than IS per cent of the cost price they
were entitled to under the contract.
The amount of the sewer completed is
less than three-fifthS, whereas, from
the amount of money that has been
paid the contractors, it should be
three-fourths.
The contract price to be paid STAINS
bury & Powell for the completion of
the outfal sewer was $565.00 The
contract stipulates that at certain
specified times the contractors are to
be paid for rs per cent of the work
they have completed, the city retaining
25 per cent until the work has been
accepted. There is but $22S,11S.75 still
left in the fund for paying contractors.
This amount is supposed to represent
not only the contrac ct cost of the un-
completed work, but 25 per cent of the
contract cost of work that has been
completed.
Only Three-fifths Completed
According to Mr.. Kingsbury's figures
10 the DudTu, Only dOOul IHIee-lllHS VI
the work has so far been done, yet
Stansbury & Powell have already
received 36,SS1.25 which, according to
the contract should represent so per
cent of the entire work completed.
With approximately but three-fifthS
of the work done. according to Kings
burys figures. there should still be
$310,750 left in the fund for paying the
contractors, instead of which there is
but $22S, ,11S75.
With the total cost of constructing
the sewer $565000 three -fifths would be
1896, 900. Of this $339, 900 95 per cent, or
SS4,750. should have been retained by
the city until the entire work is COM
pleted. Simple subtraction shows that
the amount paid the contractors, If Mr..
Kingsburys figures are correct, should
have been only 1854, ,250, whereas 1886,
SS1.25 has been paid.
These figures would show an over
payment to the contractors of $751;
631.25.
Used Stafford's Figures
Mr.. Kingsbury admitted yesterday,
although with some reluctance, that
in making his estimate which he sub
mitted to the board he had used the
same figures on which Harry F. STAFF
ford, the late city engineer, had based
his estimates.
The last order on the outfall in Mr..
Stafford's handwriting is to the effect
that more than 70 per cent of the
work on the sewer has been done.
Apparently there is a mistake, either
by Mr.. Stafford or Mr.. Kingsbury, and
Mr. Kingsbury, while declaring that
his figures are approximate, says that
he has O1a6a mistake