The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-03-05

ance with these plans. Report any
work accepted which is defective, un.
cover any that may be necessary to
a thorough investigation, and spare no
person.
Pits were sunk and an exhaustive
examination made. Verbally. the ex.
pert stated that in view of the loca.
tion and the material at hand, both
Of which were good, the structure plan.
ned, us whole, was within the usual
factor Of safety.
There were certain details which the
expert could not approve. He stated
that every engineer would differ on
details, due to his own individuality and
experience; that he was a special ad-
vocate of a particular type of dana
dirt dam with back fill of rock.
He stated that the work was in &C.
cordanee with the plans, and that no
work had been accepted which was
defective. Some had properly been re-
jected.
| He went on, that evidently an en-
gineer was not so much needed as
some one to settle the differences be-
tween the contractor and those in
charge, or to combat the attitude of
the public. That he was not that kind
of an expert, and had he known the
situation, he would not have left his
work in California to respond to the
CALL
On being asked IL the structure could
be made safer, he stated that in his
opinion 1t undoubtedly could be made
| SO without too great additional en-.
pense, and the gain he thought would
| =,
might not agree with him. To Illus,
trate how they differed, he told of ona
in California who had lately designed
and built an earth dam, the slope OF
which was far less than that usually
accepted as safe, yet the structure had
withstood all tests, and the capital.
lists back of the engineer had ordered
a second structure of the some de-
sign, involving a larger outlay. Thus
time and experience may demonstrates
that heretofore engineers have made
earth dams more solid than need be.
The cause of failure of earth dams.
he thought, was more often due ia
lack Of drainage than to any Other
feature, and it was this that made him
an advocate of a dirt dam with bach
fill of rock, for this, in his opinion.
| gave the very DeSL
In regard to the changes that he con-
sidered advisable, his time was too
short to design them or figure accu.
rately on the cost, but he offered to
do both, in writing, after his return to
California. The final report speaks
| for itself.
The Administration determined to
make one more attempt with the con
tractor, and to accept the Suggestions
of the expert, in the hope that it would
restore public confidence. Thus the
| superintendent of Public Works ana
| the contractor was called in confer
ence, and informed that unless all DIFF
| ficulties could be satisfactorily settled
and future progress assured. the COM
| tract would be Cancelled and the ap>
preparation forfeited. That new bids
would be asked for under new con,
| tract using the second loan appro-
priation, and the question as to which
| party had violated the old contract left
| to the decision of the courts. That
not more than ten days would be al,
lowed for the discussions necessary to
reach determination of the difficul-
| ties.
During aJnuary last the contractor
was asked If the Nuuanu dam, with
| the proposed changes, would be hnish'
ed before the end of the calendar year.
He replied that he did not see how IL
| was possible, for he could not afforc
| to put in money getting ready for diff
| ferent kinds of work, until he knew
lust how much of each class of work
was to be done-and this statement the
| officials refused to furnish him.
| Clearly contract calling for
bids on classified kinds of worh
illustrates that the officials In
tended to avoid all responsible.
ty as to the exact amount of each
class, but proposed to pay for the fuh
| amount done. 1t is to be presumed
that those who originally bid on this
work expected to take some risk, other
wise the letting of a contract would be
of no advantage, for any Governments
| official who would attempt to give tina
exact amount of work would place the
| contractor in an advantageous position.
and such an act would be a fragrant
violation of public duty, subjecting tho
| Territory to a demand for higher
price for any work over or under thu
| amount stated.
Thus the difficulties between con,
| tractor and officials do not appear to
be at an end. There has been little
or no difficulty in securing rapid prog
ress on the classes of work that have
the widest margins of profit, or on the
| additional work required by the change
| in plans, where percentage is allow
ed over reasonable cost.
| In the latter case a claim was made
that the purchase of implements was
a proper part of the reasonable COST"
on which percentage should be ai'
lowed, and that such implements
should be considered the property OF
the contractor.
Up to the opening of the session OF
the Legislature, 1t hes not been prac'
ticable to stop the work, pending
decision as to its future. This, how
ever, will be possible as soon as the
work is brought up to the surface OF
the bottom of the gulch. Then storms
and overflow will do practically no
damage and delay will cause little or
no expense. The vital parts of the
dam will be under cover.
1t seems impossible in large public
works NJ any kind for public officialA