Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-19
Is WILLING TO MEET ALvORD
Engineer Ktersted, Employed by City,
ExpIains His Position.


Engineer Kiersted, Employed by City,
Explains His Position.
Despite the assertions made by certain
persons to the contrary, w. Kiersted, the
expert engineer employed by the city to
Mace a valuation on the waterworks plant
is and has been at all times perfectly will
ing to meet with John w. Alvord, the con-
sulting engineer retained by the water
works company and go over their reports
with a view, If possible, Of reconciling the
differences in their figures. That he is per-
fectly willing to meet with Mr.. AlVord'
Mr. Kiersted explains in a letter addressed
to E. w. Hart, manager Of the waterworks
company, and Councilman Wallace, chair
man of the special waterworks committee.
All that MrA Kiersted asks is that such a
conference be properly and duly authorized
by the city council or the special committee
having the waterworks matter In charge.
Mr. Kiersted's letter to Messrs. Hart and
Wallace which Is self-explanatory, follows:
In view of the various rumors and state
ments that appear to have been made with
regard to my position In the matter OF
conference between Mr.. Alvord and myselt
for the purpose Of Teconciliing tne SiH tio
ences in our respective estimates OF the
value of the Council BLUFFS City Water
works property, think a statement from
me may be timely. and VIII not, nope De
considered presumptuous =.
/. Every appraiser is dependent, to a
large extent. upon the work OF others IN IN
appraised. Both Mr.. Alvord and myself
have been dependent upon the work of
preparation of the inventory OF the property
of the Council Bluffs Water company.
Some items of this inventory. based upon
meager data, involves the exercise OF Judg-
ment to considerable degree, and may
would gladly have met Mr.. Alvord
3 or before rpDOrt
was filed with the city for the purpose OF
, discussing the inventory and of agreeing
with him directly upon all questions Of
fact relating to the amount of material
which properly should enter an estimate OF
the cost Of the Council Bluffs Waterworks
company.
| 3. / am willing to meet Mr.. Alvord per-
sonally at any time date can be agreed
upon and discuss with him directly the
questions of fact relating to the amounts
of material which should be considered IN
an estimate of the Council Bluffs Water
company with a view of correcting any
| errors which he or l may have made in
formulating the schedule Of our respective
estimates of the Council Bluffs Water
works property, provided such meeting
be properly authorized.
Il make this offer because | can see no
reason why Mr. Alyord and l should not
agree upon questions of fact relating to
quantities and having so agreed, there is
no reason why we should not correct our
respective estimates accordingly.
4. There is sure to develop a difference in
judgment as to the unit cost of doing work,
depending upon the individuals knowledge
OF an experience in the various classes of
work which arise for consideration in estl-
mating values. Both 81 us having express d
opinions as to what these unit prices should
be- are not likely to agree of ourselves
upon notifications Of these unit prices
where existing discrepancies are large.
( Accordingly | can see no proba bility now
OF our agreeing upon modification Of
costs except insofar costs may be modi-
fed through an agreed modification of the
amounts OF material properly entering the
, estimate. Very respectfully,
w KIERSTFD