The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-08-13
How Elizabeth City Taxpayers Are Being Mulcted
DOCUMENTS 7 0
SHOW HOW THE
GRAFTERS WORK

Much has been said about
certain sensational letters writ
ten by L. B. Culpepper of
Elizabeth City in connection
with the city,s recent deal for
200 to 400 tons of gravel. Here
then are the letters, obtained
by this newspaper with great
difficulty and presented for the
information of its readers.
Photographic fattimiles of the
letters slightly reduced are repro
duced here. They make interest
ing reading. They show how city
contracts may be padded to pro-
vide secret commissions to influen-
tial citizens who represent them
selves as having the inside track
with city officials.
4 history Of the letters is in order.
To begin with. on May II. 1926 w.
II. Freeman, q Norfolk, Va. dealer
in sand and gravel gave City Man
ager Miles W. Ferebee a low bid
of 81. 80 a ton for certain gravel de-
livered at lizabeth City on bay
barges.
This bid was not considered in the
final letting because of the exces-
sive cost of unloading the gravel
from bay barses and putting it on
the streets. Bay barges have
decks and the gravel has to be re-
moved thru matches, requiring much
labor.
1t was OH May II, 1926 that Mr.
Freeman placed his bid in the hands
of the City Manager.
On May -. 1926 Mr. Culpepper
wrote the following astounding let
ter to Mr.. Freeman. a fac-simile OF
which is printed above -
Read This Carefully
May IL, 1925.
Dear Mr.. Freeman:
SupIementilg our telephone
conversation of few minutes
ago with reference to Clay
Gravel for The City Of +. City.
7 Mr.. Ferebee The City Manager
Just came around to see us and
advises that you made him
price of $1.55 per met ton de-
liyered, which seems to be a
very good price but before he
would 90 any further with the
| matter with you for me to get
i'm touch with you and see IL you
wouldn't allow us 15c per ton
commission tO:be divided be-
tween Brother Fertbec and my.
self which would be three ways
and of course Mr.. Ferebee
couldn't be known in the prop
osition and don't let him know
that he is connected atall in the
matter at no time i'm any con-
yer;ati0n or correspondence. L
feel you can do this without
very much sacrifice and i am
sure if you do this the deal will
70 through all o. X. have also
been in touch with the Camden
Highway Comm. today. They
are going to build Is miles OF
clay gravel roads and l feel sure
/ can sell them your material
we could also use barge trans
portation for delivering this ma
teriaI. We can get a better
price on this material think
TO and i'm fact I know we can
so you see you wont be loos-
ing anything by allowing us l5c
on the City material, please
write me at once just what you
will do at once. Keep this under
your hat please.
Yours very truly
L. B. CULPEPPER.
Camden will need about % NJ.
Tons.
On May II. Mr.. Freeman replied
to Mr.. Culpepper as follows:
May 13, 1926.
L. b. Culpepper
Care CuIpepper Hardware Co.
Elizabeth City, n. c.
Dear Sir.
Reference sand clay gravel
for the city Of Elizabeth City.
Your letter of May IL, receiy-
cd and contents duly noted.
While in Elizabeth City the
other day, I gave MIR. Ferebee a
price of S1.55 net ton on sand
clay gravel delivered F. 0. B.
bay barge along side dock, Eliz-
abeth City. After getting back
to Norfolk, and going into the
barge situation I found it I'M
possible to get out of Powells
Creek with sufficient water EN-
abling us to carry 800 to 900
tons due to the fact Of having
to dredge the channel. ] wrote
him a letter yesterday, stating
that situation, withdrawing the
price of $l.55 quoting him
frnrtirwcd ~ nare Ec-~ i,