The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-20
COUNCIL HAD A LONG
AND ANIMATED CONFAB
DETAILS OF ELECTRIC PLANT BUILDING AND MA
CH|hERY CAUSED A LIVELY DISCUSSION

out the unsatisfactory brick work at
the new light and water plant, friction
has developed between the contractor
and the engineer in charge, and be-
tween the contractor and council, and
this friction gave rise to heated de-
baet in council last night. Mr.. Ben
jamin Thompson, contractor, appear
ed before the city's governing body,
with Col. r. A. Burford, as attorney,
ard had read letters to Mr.. David
Henney, engineer, and letters to coun-
ell, insisting that the condemned brick
work was in materials and workman
ship substantially what is required by
the plans and specifications; saying
that the work was torn out under pro-
test, and that payment and damages
would be asked for; calling attention
to a change in the plans for the De La
Vergne oil engine, and asking for ap-
proval of the same; saying that Mr..
Henney had ordered the construction
Of the piers for the water tower, not
called for in Mr.. Thompson's contract,
and requesting that the engineer
make itemized estimates of the work
done, instead of summarized esti-
mates. The request for payment and
damages for the brick work Destroy
ed, it appears, is what Mr.. Thompson
had reference to when he told coun-
ell, at its last meeting, that he would
be heard from later. Mr.. Thompson,
also, charged last night that Mr..
Henney had on several occasions made
"misstatements" to council with re-
gard to the work on the plant, and
charged that, as contractor, he had
received no cooperation from council.
Qualifying his charge as to the en-
gineer's making misstatements, the
contractor said that he wished to be
nothing but entirely fair in the whole
matter, but did not propose to be run
over.
Mr.. Thompson's letters gave coun-
ell some information it had not pos
sessed, and this information served to
increase the feeling in the controversy
which arose. Engineer Henney was
not present. He is in New York for
"a week or 10 days. The matters of
the controversy were referred to him
by council, and special session will
be held, as soon as the engineer re-
turns. At the request of Mr.. Thomp-
son, council ordered telegram sent
to Mr.. Henney to ask that he return
at once, or as soon as possible.
The point was made again last
night with regard to the engineers
not remaining constantly on the work
here. Mr.. Thompson said that it
greatly inconvenienced him not to
have the engineer here. Councilman
McIver thought that the engineer
should be here constantly. Council
man Weathers thought that Mr.. Hen
ney's position should be made plain
once and for all, and, questioning Mr..
Elmer, representing the engineer, Mr..
Weathers brought out that Mr.. Hen
ney had been waiting here for the
contractor to continue work, but Mr..
Thompson had gone on a trip to New
York and Canada, and Mr.. Henney,
tired of waiting, left for New York.
1t was pointed out, too, that there is
nothing to require the engineer to re-
main here constantly. He can have a
representative if he wishes, and this
representative he has in Mr.. Robert
Elmer.
Mr.. Elmer, representing the engi-
neers, told council that Mr.. Henney
would have detailed report to make,
on his return, with regard to the
change of De La Vergne engines; and
would be ready to answer any other
question council might wish to have
answered. In the meantime, Mr.. Eb-
ner said that the contractor had work
enough at the new plant to keep him
busy.
Mr.. Thompson and Col. Burford ex-
planned that the contractor had given
a bond, and had contracted to COM
plete the work on the plant in speci-
| fed time, and that they would like to
have the work proceed as expeditions
/ ~ as possible. Council agreed that
It was time to settle down to the
work, and for this reason ordered the
| telegram sent to Mr.. Henney. Excep-
tion was taken to Mr.. Thompson's
charge that council had not co-operat-
ed with him. Councilman Gerig said
that he thought council had given the
contractor cooperation, and that the
relationship had been cordial.
Council had nothing to say last
might with regard to contractors In
i sisting on payment and damages fol
i the brick work torn out.
Councilman Meffert requested Mr.
Thompson to tell council what changt
had been made in the De La VeEgn,