Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-03-26

/ private corporations has been lnal
every one in authority is striving 10
save it, and, instead of enlarging and
amplifying completed plans, the ten
dency is the other way. In providing
| for the water tightness OF reservoir,
1t should scarcely be necessary to use,
in liberal quantity, imported puddle
clay, and then paint the surfaces OF
! the concrete lining with hot asphalt.
If the puddle is worth anything, the
asphalt coating will not be requirei;
and if the puddle is not reliable, then
why use II at all. and this especially
where both puddle and asphalt coating
were unusually expensive? Hundreds
of tons of cast iron water pipe were
laid, and many stop valves placed.
which use of the works showed had no
function whatever. solely because one
of the superior officers conceived
plan OF operation which had never be-
fore been adopted. and now 1t is known
will never be adopted. Numerous in
stances like this can be cited but the
most serious objection was found In
building unnecessary structures. solely
because one of the superior officers
urged that even IL they did no good
they could do no harm. and. therefore.
should be built. The harm done was
to the fund provided for the work
which. in a single instance. amounted
to per cent of the cost of all the
works.
A private company could have car
ried out works OF the same magnitude
and efficiency at saving of at least 20
per cent In cost and a gain In time.
However. the losses TO the municipal
corporation were not limited To unnec.
essary features of plan and construc-
ton, but were felt In the employment
OF inefficient. worthless and super.
huous assistants, solely because some
political leader wanted his "heelers'
on the payroll. Craftsmen who could
not draw, and inspectors who could not
inspect, were paid high salaries and
kept on the roll because some political
friend had passed the word that they
should be. Such things may occur In
the conduct of private enterprise. but
! have never known or heard Of It.
Restrictions in Letting Contracts.
One of the worst features of public
construction work is the organization
of band OF political contractors In
every large city. who parcel out the
work among themselves, usually on
their own terms. and who have facili-
ties for preventing or sitting real COM
petition at lettings
The conscientious and untrammelcd
city official could refuse TO award con
tracts when he believes collusion ex-
lists between contractors at a letting
and delay thereby the construction OF
important and necessary public works.
and sometimes when he enjoys the full
support OF his superiors and associates
he may be able to compile bidders to
submit reasonable prices. but, except.
ing government work. the authority
to award or withhold contracts. or
adopt methods which will compel bid.
ders TO submit reasonable prices, is
not usually vested In the engineer for
public work. This discretion and powet
is vested In an elected Board OF Public
Works, or appointed director OF public
works, and while the engineer can Of.
fer recommendations and advice be is
powerless to act. In private work the
engineer usually is authorized to make
the best contracts possible In the IN
terest OF his employers or clients.