The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-07
City Engineers Department
Employees Must Report.
Daily Records of Work Done Are
Required.
KEEP HAND ON PULSE.
May Thus Know What Con-
tractors Are Doing.
Inspector Hamilton Calls At
tentiOn to HuckSterS.

The engineering department of the
city has now in full operation its new
system of keeping strict track of all
work being accomplished under the
supervision of the department, includ-
ing the cost of the work. Every one
working under City Engineer Fulton,
which includes the assistant engineer
and all inspectors, is now required to
hand in daily reports of the work &C
complished.
Take for example, an inspector of
street Improvements. His daily report
shows who the contractor is whose
work he is inspecting, the street or
streets on which the work is being
done. the exact amount of work ac-
complished during the day, the num-
Der of hours worked, the number of
men employed, the condition of the
weather. and then there is a space left
for general remarks In this way it
is possible for the engineer to see at
glance whether the contractor is push
ing matters as he should.
Then there is a sewer inspectors
report which goes as fully into detail
and a sidewalk inspectors report.
Even the Office force finds it necessary
to account Cor their time. This in
eludes the draughtsman, and the as
sistant engine who spends the great
er part of the day on the outside sur
veying and doing other work required
by the engineer.
Strict track is being kept likewise
of the dirt which is being disposed of
each day while street work is being
carried on. There is q special report
blank to be filled out by the dirt in
spector.
The contractors are required accord
ing to their contracts to haul dirt to
distance within 1900 feet from the
point at which it is loaded on the
wagon. Beyond this point they are
paid by the city one cent for each
hundred feet the earth is hauled.
The dirt is sold to private individuals
for the consideration of 10 cents
load, provided taht it is off-loaded at
a point within the 1900 foot limit.
otherwise the buyer is required to pay
the additional cost of hauling.
The monthly estimates are now
made out on special blanks and it can
be seen in an instant precisely how the
contractors stand in regard to their
work. The report shows when the
contract was let, when it expires, the
total amount Of money in the fund less
the fund, amount of the estimate for
the particular month for which the
estimate is made out, and just what
the credit or 5ebit may be.
City Engineer Fulton believes that
the new system of keeping strict track
of the work accomplished-or. other
wise-will mean great saving to the
city.
c. B. HaniItons city inspector of
weights and measures, says that he
will put the clamps" on the huck-
sters if they do ont comply with the
law 1.-The law requires them to bring
their scales tc me for Inspection said
Inspector Hamilton today.
'In the spring they came to me, and
told them to come back in November.
The law requires that the scales be in
spected twice year. Only two or
three of them came back.
Every one of them is subject to a
fine of from SIS to 500 for every time
they give short measure or short
weight. 1t is to their interest that they
come here and get right with. the law.
II think the grocerymen are all
right and think that people generally
are inclined to abide by the law. 1t
isn't fair shake for the grocerymen
and dealers that the hucksters can go
out and undersell them.
cit is their business to come to me
and not mine to go to them. The
families in tt different parts of the
town can help themselves if they re-
port anyone they notice is not using
sealed measures. They will find that
they will get about rs per cent more
goods for their money"