The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-08-08
ENGINEER SUBMITS FIGURES
Figures of Contractor and Those of City
so Far at Variance That There is Lit
lie Hope for Agreement Long Con
ference Brings NO Results


extras TO be paid the Clearly White
Newman company for the building Of
the trunk sewer was apparent early
this morning when the conference be-
tween members Of the street assess
ment committee, the sever committee
and the engineers and officials of the
contracting company was completed at
the Office of the mayor in the city hall.
The conference started just after eight
O'Clock Friday night and after four
hours of ceaseless argument nothing
had been done to effect compromise
and the statements of the engineers of
the contractors ~ere so at variance
with the statements of the engineers
Of the city that hope of a settlement
Of the bill by compromise went glim-
mering and parties representing both
sides left with the understanding that
a law suit would be the only way in
which a settlement would be reached.
The conference developed that Con
tractors White and Newman were de-
sirous of avoiding law suit and that
they were willing to make settlement
and take anything that would permit
them to get out without an, actual loss.
This proposition did not appeal to
the city officials and they held repeat
eddy that it was not up to the city to
make good any error in judgment~that
the engineers of the contractors had
shown in figuring the bid for the con-
tractors. Engineer Haley did most of
the talking for the contractors He
had profile which showed the extra
excavation which had been done by
the company and he was prepared to
show that the lumber used in sheeting
and flooring the sewer had been made
necessary on account of the increased
excavation. Mr., Haley made some
marvellous figures as to the cost Of the
excavation both as bid by the company
and as shown by the actual amounts
paid out for it, He startled the Off
cials by declaring that when the bid
was made the contractors had not
counting on using foot of sheeting in
protecting the trenches and that the
100000 feet of various kinds of Ium-
Der used by the company was nearly
all entitled to be considered an extra.
Haley declared in no uncertain words
that he had explained to former Alder
man George Wade and City Engineer
Baltzer the errors of the profile given
by the city but the engineer stoutly
denied that he had known anything of
the extra excavation until the sewer
was practically complete in January
last. William Newman Of the con
tracing firm who was in charge of the
actual work of constructing the sewer
admitted that he himself had known
nothing of the supposed variance of
the profile until the work was complet
ed
Mr.. Newman went farther for he de-
clared that the firm was badly at fault
in that it had not received written
orders for the extra work done. It was
admitted by Mr. Newman and En-
gineer Haley tLat the company had or
ders from the city for only small
amount of the extras claimed Con-
tractor White sought to show that the
contract had been invalidated by the
imperfect profile, but he admitted that
the company had continued to work
under the contract without making any
protest TO the city and that months af-
ter the error in the profile had been
discovered by 5he engineers of the
company the contractors had given the
city a new bond to insure the carrying
out of the contract.
The city has had careful figures
made on the excavation for the sewer
and the report of experts shows that
the bill of the company is exorbitant.
Allowing the company all prices claim
ed for material and labor it would be
impossible for the bill for extras to Be
fairly estimated at more than $4,000.
while the claim of the company il in
excess of $4,000.
The contractors have retained At
torney 7. NJ, Kearney Of Racine, to
represent them in the settlement and
the city will be represented by John
g, Slater, city attorney. 1t was mu.
ually agreed between the parties that
no report will be made on the bill for
extras at the meeting of the council to
be held on next Monday evening and
at that time an indefinite postpone
ment Of the report will be asked for.
In the meantime it is not expected
that the city will make any further
payments on the sewer The figures
made by the city would indicate that
the total amount due the company on
the contract and for extras does not
exceed $4,000, but the figures made by