Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-05
ENGINEER DEFENDS HIS WORK
Is Discussed by Member of the Old
Council.


gineers that made a survey of the
districts now being resurveyed by an
engineer of the present council, or
at least a portion of it, today was
seen with reference to his work while
employed by the city in making the
surveys and said:
~ observe that the present council
contends that no monuments were
placed at street crossings, and | want
to say that in this they are mistaken,
In so far as my work Is concerned.
placed throughout my survey monu
ments at the different street crossings
wherever cuts occurred, and filed
copies OF all elevations at the street
crossings, and have copies of the
same and data from which all data
of the last profiles can be reproduced.
| am not in a position to say whether
all this data and profiles are now in
the possession of the present council,
but ] do know that they were six
months ago, as | at that time had oc-
casion to make an examination of
them. 1t Is also said that no calcu-
lations were made on the profiles as
to the ground work. | conferred with
the council relative to this matter at
the time of making the survey, but
1t insisted that 1t would be too expen-
sive and that this matter should be
allowed to rest until the contract for
the grading of the streets Is let. That
explains the fact of this data being
absent. All my work was done in a
good and efficient manner and in ac-
cordance with the directions and in
struetions given me by the council,
and the insinuations and inuendos
that the preceding engineers were in
competent or careless should not be
made until full and complete investt-
cations were made and proved 1t to
be SO, which has not been done, nor
can be done"
Former Councilman Varnum, who
was briefly interviewed yesterday
with regard to the resurvey of the
districts created by the old council
: for that purpose. favored the Press
today with a more complete and full
statement OF his position with regard
to the matter.
II read with considerable interest,
said Mr.. Varnum, "the interviews of
the present council setting forth their
] side of the question, and | want to
take exception to them in instances,
as they are not correct. To begin
with, the old council had this terri
tory all, or the most of 1t, surveyed
by former engineers, Engineer Todd
was the first to take up the work
but after an investigation of it we
concluded that 1t was not altogether
satisfactory, and we secured the serv.
ices of Edwards. About the time Ed.
wards started to take up his work
he was called away. and we made
! arrangements with Engineer Gerrish
to proceed with It, Gerrlsh is man
. of wide experience as an engineer and
Is competent in every respect. The
i claim is made that the survey made
by Gerrish was not In conformity with
the contour of the ground. That Ii
a mistake, as 1t conforms as nearly
with the contour of the ground as II
! is possible for 1t to do, and more
. complete and inexpensive grades thar
y those established by Gerrlsh can moi
be made. The claim is also mad,
> that the field notes are missing, The
field notes accompanying the survey
: are all embodied In the records II
the form of ordinances passed accept
: Ing and establishing the grades sur
veyed. and are so entirely completed
that from the data contained in then
new profiles could be produced. 1t Il
also claimed that some of the pro
files are missing. II they are, the,
; have become lost after they wer,
turned over to the present council
u because they certainly were all de
= AANNRtN " NANAAis hN ANsuANSt VI NAA
4 district. especially of that portion o
d 1t which has been surveyed. Is but |
9 lavish expenditure of the taxpayers
o money, as the old survey is sufIicien
+ for all purposes. The reason that
Is feel SO satisfied Of my position in thi
II respect is due to the fact that W
had some trouble with the first sur
veyor. and when Gerrish complete,
his survey the council met as bod
r and carefully examined the profiles
N ALI the men on the council at tina
4 time were practical and had nue.
4 experience in this line of work an
70 we were fully aware all the time jus
h what we were doing, and we ha