The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-01
TODD'S
W|..0|.R 4 A|S|SAI|L.E.D||' } 5 II.
g ross G arel els SIS
Charged by Council
man Richards.
SECRET SESSION
TO SIF I THINGS

7a NC1dlli!S " VVAOAA6 s5.AASa01e'75g
urement-Tod odd Accuses
Richards Of Spite
Work.
Charges of gross carelessness against:
Fourth Assistant city Engineer Chas
L Todd were brought by Councilman!
Charles Z. Richards. OF Marshall Ward,
at hurriedly arranged and secret
meeting OF the Council Committee on
Streets yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Todd ig charged with careless
ness or inaccuracy in making an estt-
maj te. with having authorized payment
to contractor on the basis of cubic
yards estimated far in excess OF the
work actually done and with having
refused information on the subject to
a member OF the Council.
City Engineer Boiling admits the in
accuracy OF the measurement, AMI ha s
compelled the contractor to con tinue
excavations In orderith he may earn
the money already paid him on Mr..
Todd's vouchers. Mr. Todd's. license is
that there Is spite on the part OF the
Marshall Ward Councilman; that Mr..
Richards was the author OF charges
brought against him last year OF hav-'
ing made mistakes in grade In Fair
mount. The records do4not show any.
motion for the committee to Sit In
executive session, but Chairman Adams
admits having lnstructed the Sergean.
alarms to keep to himself the fact
that It had been called. The COM
mtttee sat in another than It's usual.
meeting room and behind closed doors.
fn0 I'M ytv1It tad fx,.
informed that 1t was an executive
meeting. At the end the Richards
charges were raferred. to the Lynch.
lnvestigating committee for inquiry,
along with other matters affecting the
Engineers Department now under In
srestigation.
Outline of Charges.
From sources outside of the CONF
mittee It is learned that briefly Mr.
5Richardss statement sof charges was
- -, ioalogs
Streeyl Committee, and with Alderman
Nels1n had the expenditure OF the
MnEJhall Ward appropriation. He ask
ed engineer Todd for. an estimate e Tor
grading the sidewalks on both sides OF
kQ Street between Thirty-third and
Thirty-fourth. and between Thirty
fourth and Oakwood Avenue. The
original estimate furnished by Mr..
Todd was 5000 for the whole work
Later Mr.. Todd said it might cost $3.50
or $500. Bids were invited by the
street Committee and the contract
awarded to Contractor Kellam at 30
cents per cubic yard on June 2S-time
thirty days and bond SIS.
month elapsed and Mr.. Richards
returned from a vacation trip to find
fho 4 ia -yr,.1 m hao Sc
the sidewalks had been graded for 267;
feet on one side, less than one-fourtnj
of the entire Work. On application to
the Engineers Office he was informed
that two vouchers had been paid the
contractor. one for 5000 and one Tor
$50. making payment Of $3.50, which
at the contract rate should be payment
for removal OF tapproximately S97&cubic
yards Of earth. Mr.. Richards measured
the work with a tapeline and found the
average cut four feet, the depth fifteen
feet and the length 267 feet, but his
estimates failed to come within 500 sof
AIR .Todd's figures. He sent for Mr.
Todd, and after some delay had the AS
.sistant Engineer meet him on the
ground, when MIR. 4 odd Is reported to-
have informed the Councilman that
iho had already measured the work In
cross sections, and that II Mr.. Richards
were not satisfied he could take It ups
with the Office. 5s & S.5 81
Il Having given Mr.. Todd an opportunity,
to- explain, Mr.sR1chards then saw hlr.
Boiling, and had the 4 City Engineer
meet him on the ground. Mr.. Boiling
himself took cross tons, the rust on
poles being an evident guide to the
depth Of the cut, the City Engineers
figures owing that the ontractor4 had
removed 421.2-9 cubic yards. or RI less
than half OF Mr.. Todd's al allowance, for
which the city had paid, 81 Mr.. Boiling;
admitted the certainty OF a mistake,
saying that on his figures the work:
should have cost $16S.49, and that the
contractor had been overpaid# 81 $1Sl.5l
Mr.. Ric-ards s more liberal esti1ma te
had showed tina { the contractor was
soverpaid Is $l13.67 Mr.. Boiling is said to-
have instructed the cont tractor to 60
back and do sutricien work to 4 keep
5theRcity from being q loser. swhi ich tits
understood he has "a greed 4 toS a ., work
having already beg un. S5 &
81 NJ II. Todd was then on his turlough,:
but on his return told t he City, Ems
glneer that he had mo- t measured the
work by cross sect tions and according
to Mr.. Boiling. 10 could no I explain
his figures at i sg is
a Estimatea fAway q ii. II 81 "
Mr.. Richards says that at \ the rate.
that was ing paid by Mr.. Todd for
less than one-fo ourth Of the work OF "
;dered, u and which 4 or 4 Il at amount r
3exceede led D his estlma to- for The entire
work, the Il oh would I've sxcee ed ed the
available funds OF the Marshall Ward
delegation. Mr. r ohard ss n IL no Longer
on the Street Coy mittee, having been
app ointed In the m eWs Council Z 3 q the
COMMITTED on Finance. NJ He felt that.
the matter should be GA lied to the at
.tenti Of the G omnitte tee Ston straets.,
and asked Chairman II Ad ans u % cali I "a
meeting vest sterday morning. 2sss .ss
j City I'm gineer olllng said la st night
that he had nc sit Al tement to M a ke a 81
3thel5matt ter was In ha Il an d sS OF an In,
Vestig ting commit tee odd. also,
declined TO discuss the charges es \ pend-
Ing a hearin s, beyond saYing that Mr.
Richard h had II a lyyays s. b ean opp osed ITO
him. y He stated to q the committee yes
.terday5 q fterno on 4 \ ~ ~ as Iii 8 heliet
that the oh arg esg We're he OH tgroWth
OF spite NO Ri. n s VI
ha ii II I.yineh III YES I gat ing committee
1Nil hp la III ts III first Inp tEhu rsda "a