The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-04-02
MUST THE CITY SUE THE
WATER CONTRACTORS
Little Done at Last tuesday Nights
Council Meeting-City is Likely To
Bring Suit

Engineer Barnum on the construction
of the city water system and the ask
ing OF numerous questions, the answers
in most cases not proving very salts
factory, little was done at the special
meeting OF the council on Tuesday
evening, called for the purpose of dis
cussing the report and talking over the
same with the contractors.
Mr.. Seaman of the contracting firm
Of Seaman & Quigg with his attorney,
Sam Sumner of Wenatchee were pres
ent, and said that while it looked as
though there had been loose handling
OF affairs by city officials during the
time of the installation Of the water
system, claimed that they were not
guilty of the wrongs set out in Mr..
Barnum's report and furthermore that
they had not been overpaid for the
work as has been charged. Mr.. Sum-
ner stated that it did not appear that
there had been any system about keep
ing records and other valuable docu-
ments, and it is his contention that
the Missing Final Estimate" the all
important paper in this case would
clear up the whole matter if it could
be found. A thorough search thru the
city files has been made however and
it is not likely that it ever will be
brought to light.
Mr.. Seaman said that regarding ex-
tras to the water system, they were
never bought or put in without first
laying the matter before the council
and getting their permission. 1t de-
veloped here that the contractors should
have had written orders for all extra
work and Mr.. Seaman said that he
had received them, but many Of these
are also missing.
One item from Mr.. Barnum's report
taken from the city records showing
where the contractors were paid 81, 500
for extras, includes a number of things
which were not done and equipment
contracted for which was never bought.
In answer to this charge Mr.. Seaman
said they acted on the advice of the
city engineer when doing all work and
that the final estimate would show that
they had made no charge for work that
was not done.
According to Mr.. Summers own fig
ures there was paid to the contractors
the sum Of $56,534.72 which is ST.
034.72 in excess of the contract price
Of $39,500.
Mr.. Barnum who was present asked
Mr.. Seaman if it was not a fact that
the specifications read thai all fire hy-
drants be set on a rock surrounded by
crushed rock which would allow them
to drain properly2 He replied that he
believed that that was the case and
that they had been put down in. the
manner that he spoke of. Mr.. Barnum
and Water Commissioner Talbot then
both testified that they had had oc-
casion to take up over half Of the hy-
drants in the past year and in no in
stance did they find where they had
been put down properly or according
to specifications.
In the building OF the suspension
bridge over the Wenatchee river, which
was one OF the extras" the contrac-
tors told the council would not cost
over $500 and for which they were
later paid over $2,400, it came out
that heavier cable was used than was
at first figured on in view of making it
a bridge for pedestrians at some future
time, which added 5000 to the cost.
Mr.. Seaman admitted receiving the
money but had little to say on the
subject.
A number OF other matters were dis
cussed, but believing it was useless to
go into the question any further at
that time, motion to adjourn was sec
onded and carried at IL o'clock.
Just what step the council will take
at their next meeting is not known,
but it is quite likely that they will in
struct the attorney to commence a