The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-14
ENGINEER TELLS HOW
MISTAKES OCCURRED
Entire Hearing Consumed in Exhaustive Exam
nation Of Mr.. Boiling Counsel Present for
Family Of jackson Bolton.

Little that was new was brought out
~ yesterdays sitting OF tho committee
Investigating the 4 Burton charges
against the City Engineers Office City
engineer Boiling, on the stand for sew
erai hours. amplihcd and explained in
detail number OF matters only briefly
alluded TO AZ u former meeting, includ-
ing the changes III the printed form of
specifications for sewer bids.
The question Of the supply of dressed
stone for street basins was discussed
IN same detail, and in tho case or five
sewers over which there is contention
Mr.. Boiling was requested to mako q,
personal inspection and report to the
committee later just how many street
basins were actually installed on these
sewers. II was brought out that in
many instances where sewers are laid
IN the annexed territory in advance OF
curbinS and cutters. tho brick stacks
are erected and an iron grating placed
over them, but the stone iittings are
not installed until the curbinc is laid
The plans showed that the sewer which
was the original bone OF contention and
cause OF MI Burton's complaint IS IN
an allc!', and has on It no street basin
anu therefore required no stone nt-
tings.
isnlton's Children Employ Counsel.
Messrs. Otlanerty and Fulton APP
pearcd for Contractor Burton AS before
James W. Gordon appeared and asked
leave TO represent the family Of former
First Assistant City Engineer jackson
i'olton, which WIS granted. There were
u large number Of contractors present
ne committee rose to meet Wcdnes-
day night AT 1880 o'clock wien the
various contractors who have been ac :
customed TO bid on sewers Will give
evidence
Mr., Boiling was examined at len,
hy Assistant City Attorney George
Wayne Anderson as to alleged par
TALLY IN furnishing Specifications and
IN tho supply Of stone to contractors
for sewers. lie explained that until
last Year all bids had been BY the unit
system. the citr furnishing stone. &C.
'nent and pipe, and told Of the action
OF the Committee on Streets in author
i2inS an optional bid per linear foot
| In order 70 caualizN the bids by the
two methods, the linear foot plan being
| on the sewer complete. Mr. Boiling en-
planned that II was necessary 10 insert
a clause in III. printed specifications
/ requiring bidders TO furnish stone. and
| that, therefore, L was necessary 10 ha vc
Two sets OF spcciiica tons, one for either
method Of bidding
intcrlincd by Mr.. Bates.
Mt Rolling said he had discussed the
! necessary changes in tile specification
| forms with Mr. Bolton. the assistant
| engineer in charge of sewer work and
| had directed Mr.. Bates. a clerk in tie
ofhcc. to intcrlnc the forms Mr. BOIL
Hing said that so far as he had examined
them all OF the forms were intcrlned
| IN MI f3atcs's hasdwriting, except some
IN his own hand.
II was not done to meet this nariicu
! lar sewer contract. but the change was
ordered on all specifications used from
thnt time on. lie explained. and added
! mat contractors. after trying H. had
abandoned the method OF bidding per
linear foot. New proposal forms have
/ recently heen printed. the city TO fur
nisi AL stone. as before the duplicate
method was authorized, all bids nov
being on the unit system
Vow Using New Form.
Then II there was any partiality,"
asked Colonel Anderson, 'itarosc from
one contractor getting an interlincd
form and another, plain one, not in
tcrlined?"
Yes" answered Mr.. Boiling '.But
now all specifications have been
changed and a printed form issued so
I nat there is no possibility OF such a
mistake occurring. unless by some ac-
cidcnt an old specification form should
be given out"
1t was brought out by reference TO
mans and profiles that the sewer which
was the basis OF the Burton charges
is in an alley between Park Avenue
and Leonard Street, from West Street
to the Roseneath Road. the route
showing no street basin requiring
stone.
But you asked for bids OH street
basins" said Mr.. Burton.
Yes" rcplied Mr.. Boiling 1T is in
every specification form. but the plan
calls for no stone. and that item formed
no component part Of the tabula ton
10 find the lowest bidder"
But you had the right 10 change
the plan. and could have required me
10 put in street basins at the bid price,
commented Mr.. Burton
E;rrara In Calculations.
Mr.. Boiling then went into detailed
account Of the errors In calculation.
which are admitted to have occurred,
but which the City Engineer claims
were corrected before Mr. Burton com
piained to the Mayor. He told how the
Committee on streets opened tho bids
placed them on the blackboard. and
directed the Engineer 10 award the
contract To the lowest responsible bid
der. the proposals being so much for
rock, Garth and sand excavation. refil)-
Ing, rcpaving and other items. reuuir-
ing a calculation carrying out tic totals
by the calculated amounts to determine
who really was the lowest bidder on The
job as a whole.
Mr. Boiling exhibited the original bid
sheats OF the sewer In question, which
he said had been nrst brought TO him Nv
Mr. Bolton the cnciDccr i'm ,.i,orro ~