The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-19
Work Not Constructed Accord
ing to Estimates Allowed.
"CITY STOLEN BLIND"
That Is Verdict of City At
tOrney f. G.. Dreaming.
Sixth Ward Sewer Investigation
Not Yet Completed.
This May Increase the Amount
of Damage to City.

Seven thousand dollars for rock sx-
cavation which was not excavated ana
$1,141-O7 for 31S feet of brick and tile
sewer that was never constructed but
paid for are salient features of fnves-
LEGATIONS which have been carried or
during the It two weeks into the
Fifth ward sewer construction, &C.
co-ding to F. G. Dreaming, city at
torney.
These figures are approximately
correct" said the city attorney, re-
ferring to the above figures and which
are the result of a further investiga-
ton carried on within the last few
days preparatory to filing suit against
Brooks & Gilmore. sewer contractors.
and James McCabe, former city en-
gineer- II have not secured the com
plete figures from the measurements
taken of the Fifth ward sewer to see
if all the sewer paid for was laid" he
continued I'VE haven't been able TO
check over all of these figures so that
say that they are approximately cor
rect as given The force from the
city engineers office got through last
evening measuring the sewer. In the
brick sewer they took the inside
measurements, taking a lantern and
measuring every foot, with a standard
tape. So far from what We have
found Gilmore not only told the truth
when he made his statements to the
council last winter but he did not tell
half Of what was taking place. The
facts which will be brought out dur
ing the hearing Of this suit are going
TO be sensational in the extreme and If
the Sixth ward sewer report proves
anything like what is anticipated
there will be a grand jury investiga-
ton next January.
The city of Topeka has been sim
ply stolen blind The system that
seems tc have been followed in the
construction OF the Fifth ward sewer
was to jump the sewer up as soon as
rock was struck in order to avoid the
excavation but bring in vouchers for
rock excavation. This seems to have
been the plan followed throughout
and about 1000 cubic yards at $3.50
per cubic yard were paid for that
were never excavated. As an instance
of this Gilmore makes a showing here
of 1850 cubic yards of rock excava-
ton between Thirteenth and Fif-
teenth streets east of the Santa Fe
tracks at a depth of 50 feet when in
reality but 500 feet at a depth of three
feet was excavated-
Il haven't secured all of the meas
urements taken of the Fifth ward
sewer. The city engineers force just
completed the work on this last night
1 have some of the figures and these
are approximately correct Here are
some of them
Fifty feet of 5 inch two ring sewer
paid for but not constructed seven
teen feet of three ring sewer; fifty feet
of SO inch two ring sewer; 16 feet OF
80 inch two ring sewer; 1853 feet OF
27 inch tile pipe; 40 feet of 2 inch tile
pipe.
s42O per Iineal foot; the three ring
sewer cost $3.50; the 36 inch two ring
sewer cost $3.50 per ltneal foot; the
80 inch two ring sewer cost S2-15 per
IineaI foot; the 81 inch tile cost 1876
ner .Iineal foot and the "a inch $2-2O-
we compared these figures as We
checked them with the final estimate
made by McCabe on September 1.
1905.
saThe papers in the suit will be filed
lust as soon as we can get the facts
all gathered together that VIII be
necessary. L understand that the spe-
cfal engineer who will be engaged by
the civ to check over this work on the
F7ift, ward sewer will be engaged just
as soon as we find we have use for
him. We could not use him right
now.
= The sewer committee Of the council
is working on the Sixth ward sewer
an5 Investigating the claims Of fraud
made in connection with that con-
sfruction. The committee refuses to
div11Ige anything of what has been
found but will file a detailed report
with the council probably at the hrst
council meeting in October which
comes on October T.