The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-31
MAYOR SMITH is
OUT WITH REPLY
Gadsden Amply Protected by
Sewer Contract
MATERIAL is ALL RIGHT
Eto1.,b ai+taa N.ate ..I 90,
Etowah Committee Meets and Can
vases Election Returns and An
nounces official Results.
Other News.

Gadsden. July Especial -Mayor
Charles P. Smith who has just returned
from Denver, when asked today about the
statements made by Capt j. NJ. Elliott
| tefore the Commercial club, during his
absence, replied by handing the following
terse statement of the consulting engi-
neer. Julian Kendriek, of Birmingham, on
the questions touched by Captain Ell
iott's remarks:
The size of the pipe is ample for any
possible future growth of Gadsden. Best
modern practice is four-inch VS. for ordi-
nary house connections.
"The cement being used is higher
grade than contract calls for. In my opin-
ion. better results are obtained in sewer
construction with slow settling cements.
Three or four weeks should be allowed
for thorough settling.
mo satisfactory test of cement can be
obtained by placing a small quantity of
cement mortar in such a position that tine
moisture will be withdrawn
MIR. Wilson is very capable and is SUI
| pervising the work entirely satisfac-
| torily. I have every reason to believe that
the contract is being executed in thor
| oughly conscientious and workman-like
manner However, the conditions of the
contract abundantly protects the city
against the possibility of any imposition
whatever"
Continuing, the Mayor said with con-
siderable emphasis:
| THE foregoing statement of Mr.. Julian
| Kendrick, whose life work in municipal
| engineering, and whose ability and repu-
tation are of the first and highest order.
should effectually reassure any one who
have been disturbed by Captain Elliott's
sensational attack upon the sewerage
proposition. If the opinion of an expert
is to be taken in preference to that of
| layman. Captain Elliott's sweeping state
ments that the sewerage was rottener
| than the beef, and that any one respon-
sble for the expenditure of the peoples
money in this way was either dishonest
or incompetent was wholly unwarranted
and without foundation as to fact. 1t Is
| hardly to be presumed with the amount
/ of sewerage we are laying, even under
the most careful supervision, that every
piece of pipe and every joint or connec-
/ ton wouldy be perfect. but the contract
is such that the city is absolutely safe
| guarded against results of incompetency,
earelessness material or workmanship.
The work is guaranteed and covered by
| 5000 bond for one year after the compile
| ton of the contract There is also cash to
the amount of $500 left in the hands of the
| city to be used in making good whatever
| small defect may appear within that limit.
| Most certainly any fault in material on
construction sufficiently serious TO impair
the system, would develop within a year.
| 1t is our purpose to open the bitches at
many places before the completion of the
contract and Investigate conditions. This
should again be done before the expira-
| ton of the guarantee.
I'VE will be glad to furnish the commit
tee named by the Commercial club copy
of the contract and hope they will nves-
tigate, under its provisions. to their en-
tire satisfaction. We heartily approve the
action of the club in naming the commit
tee and hope they will act promptly for
If conditions even approximate as bad as
stated by the captain, 1t is important
that it be speedily ascertained and RENE
died. | don't think, however that Cap
tain Elliott should be a member of that
committee his drastic deunciation
of everything and everybody, showing
that his mind is made up would disqual-
fly him from acting unpartially. He
stands in the attitude of a prosecutor,
judge and jury which is hardly a consis-
tent proposition.
~ don't know that / would have dig
nified this matter with reply, l don't
think that either the officials, engineers,
or contractors stand in need of any de-
Tense whatever. but for the reason that
some may suffer alarm. which might be
relieved. by calling attention to the very
competent authority by whom the work
is planned and being directed, and the
rigid conditions of the contract under
which 1t is being executed.
when the citizens voted on an appro-
priation for the purpose of building sew
ers it carried with 1t confidence on their
part in the administration that the money
would be judiciously used. This RESPONSE
bilty we are entirely willing to assume
and we have proceeded. we think, in the
most practical and economical way to get
the best results. That is by employing
people who know their business
Etowah Election Results.
The Etowah county democratic exeeu-
tive committee met at noon today and
canvassed the returns of Saturdays pri-
mary all of the precincts being reported
Following is the vote received by the sue
cessful candidates:
Judge of the city court of Gadsden. J.
H. Disque, no opposition. 12oJ. Alto V
Lee, Jr., for the legislature, 1922; III. z.
Smith, for the Legislature, 93l. Two can
didates are nominated for this office. The
three highest votes for sheriff were r. NJ.
Pike, 239; j. r. Cambron, I'll; John p.
Lister, 1888. Pike and Cambron will re-
run the race in the August primary. Both
are popular men and the next contest Will
be lively one. The election was one of
the most orderly ever held in the county.
There was not a single disturbance of any
description reported. Fifteen candidates
made the race for sheriff
Tax Assessor Investigates.
Tax Assessor Hurst has returned from a
trip to Montgomery and Birmingham,
where he has been studying the methods
OF assessments and tax collecting in use
in those places and he has decided to
adopt some Of the innovations now in
use in those counties, which will result
In great convenience to the tax payers
of this county Assessor Hurst expects
10 make the best showing ever made In
this county in his report which will be
made next month TO the county commits
sioners.
DO YOU REALIZE
tho great risk Won are taking in al