The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-03

s. R. Batson, county engineer, yes- terday made public a full statement in reply to the recent county grand jury report, in which the enginer was cen sured.
 Mir. Batson takes up the charges of the jury one by one, and goes into detail in his explanation. Although the Birming- ham chapter of the American Association Of Enginers had already exonerated him from the charges made by the grand jury. Mir. Batson stated that he thought it was due the people of the county that he make detailed answer, since number Of people had apparently been impressed by what the grand jury had to say. His statement is as follows,
 Tn view of the severe criticism of my work and of me personally, conta.ned in the recent report of the Jefferson county grand jury, I desire to make this state ment, concealing nothing and stating every fact within my knowledge bearing upon my work for the county of Jeffer- son with reference to the matters con tained in said report.
 '1. It is charged in said report that the board of revenue received bids for & GOO, 600 of road construction in April for the purpose of assisting in the election 
 revenue. If there was any such pur- post I am not aware of it now and was not at that time The facts are that experience has shown the building or roads during the winter is impracticabie and unsatisfactory to the public 1t was, considered best that the roads which we're in contemplation of building
 ould be constructed during the spring, summer and tall. and to that end l was ct te1 fo pra inc SnrVPVS DfanS and specifications as early in the year as practicable I did so, and had the matter ready to call for bids by April 28. I had already caused to be inserted in the newspapers advertisements of the proposed work, stating that the board or revenue would receive bids on April 2s, 1920.
 DULY ADVERTISED
 "This notice had been duly advertised for thirty days prior to that time in full compliance with the law. Complete in formation for contractors who desired to bid was on file in~ the engineers office, and that information was contained in the Advertisement calling for the bids. Blue prints, specifications, drawings and maps were available to all contractors who desired to bid. We had copies of specifications for the inspection of con- tractors, and which were accessible to all contractors who desired to see them. There were at least five contractors who bid on this work, and who inspected the specifications and plans. and who made nc objections on account of not being fully informed upon the work desired, with the single exception of one cntrac- tor This contractor was furnished with a copy of these specifications at least in ample time to have submitted a bid if he had so desired. Y CHARGE OF RECLASSIFICATION
 ''2 In reference to the charge that the board of revenue and the county engineer had been extravagant in the letting o1' contracts, I wish to say that, in so far as know the board of revenue has never let a grading contract to any contractor other than the lowest bidder. If the board of revenue has let any such con tracts such contracts are not in my or fee, and I have never heard of them and have never given an estimate on any work under any such contracts: and I am sure that none exist except in the imag- ination of those unfriendly to the board of revenue and me. The prices on which contracts have been let are on an average Iewer than prices paid in other places in the country. The successful contractor has always been required to enter into, bond with reputable surety company to an amount equal to the estimated cost of the work which is the rule adopted by the state of Alabama with reference to all work in the highway department of the state.
 ''s. There is something contained in the report with reference to the contractors suhletting portions of their work. If contractor desires at any time to subet portion of his work, that is his affair alone. Neither the board of revenue nor the highway engineer can control con- tractor in that regard. That is entirely and exclusively his business. and is method adopted by all contractors upon all large work. both in railroad. and in road construction. generally to sublet a portion of their work in matters of grading. have never heard this prac- tice called in question before.
 SUBJECT ITO BOARD
 A. It is charged that the county en- gineer had absolute management and