Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A SEWERAGE TANGLE, ENGINEER LUDLOW CLAIMS TO SAVE CONTRACT WITH CITY. :JL Superfluity of Supervising Engi? neers Proves Embarrassing and the Final Outcome May Be Even More Serious-City Threatened With Sait. The Commissioners of Public "Works and the City Council are in an? noying and serious tangle with Mr. J. Xi. Laidlow, of Winst?n-Salem, X. C., over the contract for the supervision .of the construction of the sewerage system. The facts of the case are as fol? lows: In the spring of 1903 i*t was decided ly the City Council then in office to ?ave a sewerage survey of the city made for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of a sewerage system. A committee, consisting of Alderman G. Dick and D. J. Chandler and Dr. . S. C. Baker, of the Board of Health, 'ivas authorized to employ an engineer to make the survey, prepare maps and plans and make an estimate of "the approximate cost of a sewerage system. This committee in the exer? cise of this delegated authority en? gaged Mr. Ludlow, who had recently planned and supervised the construc? tion of the sewerage system in Co? lumbia, and who had a wide experi? ence in that class of work, to make the survey. Mr. Ludlow made the sur? vey, prepared the maps and plans and presented an estimate of the approxi? mate cost of the proposed system. For this work the committee contracted to pay him the sum of $750, which v-tas duly paid on order of council up? on the completion of the survey. It -was further understood that when the system should be constructed, that in the event of the employment of Mr. Laidlow as the supervising engineer, Axis $750 paid him for thn survey should be deducted from the amount to he paid as commission for super visfcm. In. pursuance of this understanding ???cf the matter, the commissioners of public works, thinking that the city ~was under no obligation to employ Mr. Ludlow to supervise the construc? tion of the sewerage system which "he had planned, if they could make a more advantageous contract with some other competent engineer, en gggvd Mr. C. C. Wilson as supervising engineer, he having offered to do the "work for a less commission on the cost than Mr. Ludlow. A few days after the engagement of afr. Wilson was approved by City Council, Mr. Ludlow notified council Oat he had a contract to supervise the construction of the sewerage sys? tem and would insist upon the con? tract being carried out by City Coun? cil. As a result of this correspond- j ?ace Mr. Ludlow came to the ciry ? yesterday and a special meeting of i council, at which the commissioners of public works were present, was held to confer with Mr. Ludlow. Mr. Ludlow produced the contract ^pon which he bases his claim. The contract was signed by the special sewerage committee above, referred to. consisting of Aldermen Dick and Chandler and Dr. S. C. Baker, of the TBeard of Health- It was not signed, however,, by *he mayor and clerk. The contract, \f valid, certainly sus? tains Mr. Ludlow's claims. He pro? poses to stard on the contract, and in the event o fthe commissioners of public works and council declining to admit its legality and binding forcf, j? will, it is said, enter suit 5n the Federal courts against the city. At the meeting Tuesday afternoon no, action was **ken and no decision has been arrived at, but the question raised ii. " serious one and it is re? ceiving the most careful considera ?tion. There are several points in? volved in the matter, "any one of which permits a wide difference of j opinion. It is a qestion as to whether j or not the special committee had au- ' thority to enter into a contract. It is also a question as to whether City Council would have had authority to enter into a co-.tract of the nature of the alleged contract with Mr. L"i low, in view of the provisions of the act of 1902 providing for the election of commissioners of public works and enumerating the powers and duties of the same. Disregarding the legal questions of the case and taking it in a plain mat? ter of fact way, it cannot be denied that the complications that have arisen are to be regretted, both on ac? count of the litigation in which the city may be drawn, and on account of the delay in the construction of the sewerage system that may result. ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS LUDLOW CONTRACT. Engineer J. L. Ludlow Insists That His Contract as Desiiming and Con? struction Engineer is Legal and Binding-Council Defers Action. A special meeting of City Council was held at 8 o'clock Thursday nigh1, for the purpose of further considering the claim of Mr. J. L. Ludlow that he holds a valid contract as "designing and construction engineer" for the sewerage system, said contract having been executed by a committ council, clothed with lull author: make a contract on behalf of the As a matter of information well to state, by way of parent in this connection, that the con tee was appointed at the reques the Board of Health and other zens who appeared before counci urgently requested that some a be taken preliminary to the insi tion of a sewerage system. The ci?e request of these citizens that a survey of \he city be mai ascertain definitely the condition: ist??g aiid the approximate cost sewerage system. The minutes the meeting of council state in plicit terms that the committee authorized to make a contract an engineer to make a sewerage su furnish maps and furnish an mate of the cost of the construe of the sewerage system. On committee Aldermen D. J. Cha: and George Wi Dick were appoi; and Dr. S. C. Baker, of the Boar Health, was requested to serve the third member. This comm was appointed in the early par 1903. When Mayor Boyle called meeting of council to order Thur night he stated that the object the call meeting was to hear the te?tion of Mr. J. L. Ludlow in matter of his claim, based upc contract alleged to have been exe ed by a committee delegated with thority from council to select a signing and construction engineer the matter of the sewerage systen Sumter. Mr. Ludlow rose to a point of der, saying that he did not un stand the purpose of the mee tins be as stated by the mayor, har fully set forth his position in meeting of Tuesday, and he sta also, that he thought that this m ing of council was called for the i pose of arriving at some definite portion of the question, in view the fact that he believed that cou was ready and willing to handle matter in a fair and honorable m ner, saying that their action awarding a recent contract to Mr C. Wilson was purely in error, a consequence of ignorance of the c tract executed with him. Then Mayor Boyle stated that of council was not present at meeting on Tuesday, and reques that Mr. Ludlow go over the grou of his claim. Mr. Ludlow then said that Mr. len Green, of Columbia, who was counsel, would present his claims. : Green briefly outlined Mr. Ludio demands, quoting from the allej contract, which reads in the mi bearing on the contention of 1 Ludlow, that he was employed "designing and construction i gineer;" that he would "assume z take responsibl?. charge of the c< struction pf the works as consult: engineer, to direct, control and mi age the work." And that the fee $750 for preliminary survey was apply in part payment, of the 10 ] cent, commission of the whole cost the construction of the system. The following letters which pass between City Clerk Hurst and 2 Ludlow in January of this year w< read: (Letter from Mr. Hurst to Mr. Lt lo?, Jan. 16, 1907.) "We have not yet reached the sta where we desire to talk to an enj neer. Send me your address, and will write at the proper time. 3 one shall be ahead of you.*' (Mr. Ludlow to Mr. Hurst, Jan. ] 1907.) "Whenever the city is ready to ; ahead I am ready to carry out r contract to look after the constru tion of the works and look after i matters pertaining to letting co: Uii^t?. which would probably consun about a month or. six weeks; so if desires to get the work under way the early spring it would be necessai to begin making preparations ve: soon." Considerable stress seemed to I laid oa the fact that council was U norant of the conditions of the coi tract and that if a duplicate of ti co" ract was made its whereabou were not known. Mr. Ludlow then proposed that th Council hear from Dr. Baker. D Baker said: Some four years ormoi ago this matter came up and after Council meeting which I attended received a letter from the Cler of Council, under seal of th city, announcing that I had been ap pointed on a committee composed c D. J. Chandler, Geo. Dick and mysel for the purpose of consulting engi neers in the matter of the construe tion of a sewerage system and to ob tain a survey in order that the publi at large might be intelligently inform ed as to actual conditions existing ii the matter. We were in correspon dence with a number of engineers through Mr. Reardon, and, notwith standing the fact that others had per sonal friends on this committee, fron the recommendations from the refer ence furnished by Mr. Ludlow, it ap peared to the committee that Mr Ludlow vas the most competent mai and the cheapest. After more corres pondence Mr. Ludlow came to Sumte: and in a meeting to close the dea with him the question of the author^ itv of the committee to act arose Whereupon Mr. Hurst was sent for and my recollection was that th( question of authority was settled anc Mr. Hurst signed the contract as 2 witness. He further stated that ht believed that the payment of thc $750 by the City Council under thc contract was a ratification of the au? thority of the committee to act. As ITO the duplicate of the contract he was under the impression that it was in the hands of the city and so told representatives of other engineers. Dr. Dick's statement coincided with Dr. Baker, differing only in mino-de? tails. He also said that he haa re? peatedly told Mr. A mislead, a repre? sentative of Mr. Wilson, of the existence of contraet w:'. h Mr. Ludlow, which he thought was binding and he too be? lieved that the authority to make a contract was vested in the committee by Council. Mr. D. J. Chandler the other mem ber of the committee is absent from the city and therefore was n*>t pres? ent ut the meeting to make a state? ment of his recollection of the matter. Health Officer Reardon, who con? ducted a part of the correspondence with Mr. Ludlow and other engine-' rs, for the special committee, also made a statement coinciding in the main with the statements of Drs. Baker and Dick. The question was discussed at length in open meeting in order to bring out all possible information, and council then went into executive session. When the meeting adjourned it was stated that no decision had been reached and no action would be taken until further information was obtain? ed. It was also stated that the meet? ing had adjourned subject to the cali of the mayor. VALUABLE MAIL BAG MISSING. j Pouch Whose Contents arc Worth Four Hundred Thousand Dollars Goes Astray Between New York and Paris. Paris, March 20.-An American mail bag, the contents of which are valed at approximately $400,000, has been stolen. The theft occurred either on board a steamship running be? tween New York and Havre, or be? tween Havre and Paris. The postal authorities have just placed the affair in the hands of de? tectives, although the theft occurred a fortnight ago. A cable inquiry tu the New York Office brought confirm? ations of the fact that the mail bag in question had been embarked at New York. The ?am? of the steamer by which the bag was shipped has not yet been disclosed. x BASEBALL. Organization of a State League Now Under Way. As a result of Mr. C. G. Gunter's trip to the Piedmont section of the State and letters addressed to men interested in baseball in Florence, Camden and Darlington, the pros? pects for a State league this summer appear very auspicious. Spartanburg, Union, Greenville and Anderson have signified their in? tention of coming into the league, and these four cities together with the three first mentioned and Sumter, .will send representatives to Columbia on Tuesday next to try to perfect an organization. So much interest and enthusiasm has been manifested in the project that there is little doubt but that baseball will be in full blast by the beginning of May. Mr. Gunter will manage the Game Cocks, and knowing his splendid work with the Camden team last year, Sumter has every right to figure on being at the lead of the percentage column when the season closes. Sumter will certainly back up the team, and, if she does in the future as has always characterized her con? duct in the past, it will take a pretty fast bunch to trim the Game Cocks' wings. : CHARLOTTE BANK FUNDS SHORT An Assistant Cashier Accused of Taking Sixty-eight Thousand Dol? lars-Left Saturday Night. Charlotte, 1ST. C., March 20.-Frank H. Jones, assistant cashier of the Charlotte National Bank, of this city, is -missing with $68,000 of the bankte funds. News of the defalcation was given out today. Jones left the city Saturday night, stating to a bank offi? ci?t that he had an urgent cali to Richmond. The shortage will not se? riously inconvenience the bank, as it has assets of over a million dollars and the co-operation of all the city banks.. Jones was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and to an ex? tent active in church affairs. He leaves a wife and several children here. The bank has offered a reward of $1,000 for his arrest. LAST CENSUS COTTON REPORT. It Shows That 13,290,677 Bales Have Been Ginned. Washington, March 20.-The final census report on cotton for the year issued today shows that 13,290,677 bales of cotton, counting round bales as half bales, including linters, have been ginned. The number of active ginneries this year is 28,720. The 1906 crop is .compared with 10,725,602 for 1905; and 13,697,310 for 1904. The average gross weight of the bale for 1906 is 510.7 pounds, ant. the crop expressed in 500 pound bales, is 13,576226. The items enter? ing the totals for the crop of 1906 are 13,099,927 square bales; 266,795 round bales; 57,352 sea island bales; and 321,160 linters. The quantity of cotton estimated by ginr.ers and de linters as remaining to be ginned and included in the report of 1906 is 155, 704 bales. GEN. WINT DEAD. He Was in Command of Army in Cuba Until Three Weeks Ago. Philadelphia, Pa., March 21.-Brig? adier General Theo. J. Wint, U. S. A., died today of heart disease. He had been on duty in Cuba comanding the United States troops until three weel;s ago when he was relieved on account of ill health and ordered here for treatment. FIRE AT GAFFNEY. A Portion of the Star Theatre Was Burned on Monday. Gaffney. March li?.-Just aft^r din? ner today fire was discovered in the property room at the Star Theatre, and for some time it seemed that tin town would b*-* wiped out. Fortunate? ly the waler was soon got to play on the fire, which was confined to a part of the building. The wind was very high at the time. NEGRO IX HER ROOM. Young: Woman at Columbia Awaken? ed- by Feeling: a Hand on Her Arm. Columbia, March 23.-John Rich? ardson, a young- negro, is in jail here under the charge of attempting crim? inal assault. Richardson was em? ployed in the home of a respectable family in this city, Xo. 6'J9 Taylor street, and was allowed to sleep in" the kitchen. During last night or about 2 o'clock this morning one of the young ladies of the family, Miss Leila X'orton, was awakened by the passage of a hand over her arm and she cried out in alarm. She was sleeping with her sister and they soon had the household awake. The negro escaped through a window, the means of his entrance, as a ladder had been placed against the window. The negro was suspected, . but he was found on his pallet, at least feigning sleep, if not I asleep. The matter was investigated j before a private hearing before Re? corder Stanley this morning and the negro was sent to jail to await trial at the regular term of court on the J charge of attempting criminal as? sault. He is from Sumter and sa3rs he is about 16 years old, but looks to be i older. The affair has caused no ex j citement whatever and was not , known to many persons in the city i today. ! The negro' practically confesses his ? -Intuition ,in entering the room and the situation looks rather dark for ' him. ?You should be very careful of your bowels when you have a cold. Xear ly all other cough syrups are consti? pating, especially those containing opiates. Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup moves the bowels-contains no opiates. Conforms to national pure rood and drugs law. Bears the en? dorsement of mothers everywhere. Children like its pleasant taste. Sold by druggists. NATIONAL INDEBTEDNESS. Census Bureau Makes Public Inter? esting Statistics. Washington, March 23.-The cen? sus bureau announced today that the per capita public indebtedness in the United States is $35.50. The to? tal indebtedness, including that of the national government, State, county, township, precincts and school dis? trict debts is $2,729,990,120. For ev? ery. $2.85 of public indebtedness there is $100 of national wealth. In Great Britain the ratio is $10.50 in? stead of $2.85; in France $14.25; Italy, $17.36 to $100 of national wealth. The percentage of increase in wealth from 1900 to 1904 was unpre? cedented in this country except from 1850 to 1S60. No Case on Record. ?There is no case on record o? a cough or cold resulting in pneumo? nia or consumption after Foley's Hon? ey and Tar has been taken, as it will stop your cough and break up your cold quickly. Refuse any but the gen? uine Foley's Honey ard Tar in a yel? low package. Contains . no opiates nd is safe and sure. Sibert's Drug Store. Auto Crank Breaks Doctor's Arm. Bennettsville, March 22.-Dr. Kin? ney's arm was broken yesterday by an automobile crank which got be? yond control when starting the ma? chine. Tetter, Salt Rheum and Eczema. ?These are diseases for which Chamberlain's Salve is especially val? uable. It quickly allays the itching and smarting and soon ei?ects a cure. Price, 25 cents. For sale by De Lorme's Pharmacy. MORGAN DENIES STORY. Says He Made No Effort to Have Railroad Men Visit President Roosevelt. Liverpool, March 22.-J. Pierpont Morgan, who arrived here today, de? nied that any effort had been made by him to have American railway presidents visit Washington for a personal inspection of the "big stick." ?Kodol digests what you eat and quickly overcomes indigestion, which is a forerunner of dyspepsia. It is made in strict conformity to the na? tional pure food and drugs law and ls sold on a guarantee relief plan. Sold by druggists. TWO KILLED IN EXPLOSION. Prominent Newberry Planter and a Negro Laborer Meet Instant Death. Prosperity, March 19.-A terrific explosion startled this place about 11.45 today. Many ran out of the stores and offices to find out the cause of the noise, but nothing un? usual could be seen. In about 15 minutes a 'phone message came to Mr. A. M. Lester to the effect that a boiler belonging to Mr. X. R. Lester, his brother, who lives near St. Luke's Church, about five miles from Pros? perity, had exploded, and that Mr. Lester and a negro hand had been in? stantly killed and another negro se? riously hurt. Mr. Lester was a well to-do planner and a prominent man in his community and the church. Particulars are meagre, as there are no direct 'phone connections. Worked Like a Charm. ?Mr. D. X. Walker, editor of that spicy journal, the Enterprise. Louisa. Va., says: "I ran a nail in my foot last week and at once applied Bucklen's Arnica Salve. Xo inflammation fol? lowed; the salve sin;ply healed the wound." Heals every sore, torn and skin disease. Guaranteed at ?iberf* Drug Store. SEVES YEARS FOR TOWNSEND. Tlic Negro Prnsion Agent Swindler Plead Guilty and Receives Sen? tence. Charleston, March 21.-'George Townsend, who is regarded by pen? sion officials as one of the shrewdest men with which the department has ever had to deal, entered a plea of guilty in the United States circuit court yesterday to the seven indict? ments brought against him, and was sentenced by Judge Brawley to seven years in the federal prison in Atlanta. Do Not Crowd the Season. ?The first- warm days of spring bring with them a desire to get out and enjoy the exhilirating air and sunshine. Children that have been housed up all winter are brought out and you wonder where they all came from. The heavy winter cloth? ing is thrown asiae and many shed cheir flannels. Then a cold wave comes and people say that grip is epidemic. Colds at this season are even more dangerous than in mid? winter, as there is much more dan? ger of pneumonia. Take Chamber? lain'^ Cough Remedy, however, and you will have nothing to fear. It al? ways cures, and we have never known \ a cold to result in pneumonia when it was used. It is pleasant and safe to take. Children like it. For sale by DeLorme's Pharmacy. Mr. M. M. Hamelreth, a northern visitor in Columbia was assaluted and robbed of $37, his shoes and coat on Green street, that city, Tuesday night. How to Remain Young, *To continue young in health and strength, do as Mrs. N. F. Rowan, Mc Donough, Ga., ?id. She ays: "Three bottles of Electric Bitters cured me of chronic liver and stomach trouble, complicated with such an unhealthy condition of the blood that my skin turned red as flannel. I -am now practically 20 years younger ihan be? fore I took Electric Bitters. I can now do all my work with ease and as sist in my husband's store." Guaran? teed at Sibert's Drug Store. ROOSEVELT TO SPEAK. The Address at the Opening of James? town Exposition Will be Import? ant. Washington, March 20.-April 2S President Roosevelt will make a speech at the opening of the James? town Exposition. It is his present plan to make a few remarks pertinent to the railroad situation saying either nev.- things or old things in a new way. It is pretty certain that Wall stree will again become "jumpy." The railroad investigation is over,, but still none of them know why a car window will never go up nor a shade down.-Baltimore Sun. FOR SALE-At Hagood, S. C., 10O acres of land that brings ove** a bale of cotton to the acre. Address, Miss Emmie Saunders, Hagood, S. C. 10-17-tf FOR SALE. A LARGE QUANTITY OF DRAWN SHINGLES AND BRICK, DELTVED ED AT DALZELL, S. C. FOR PRICES, ADDRESS OR AP? PLY TO DALZELL MERCANTILE CO., .. 1-23-tf Dalzell, S. C. 60 YEARS* EXPERIENCE TRADE MARKS DESIGNS , COPYRIGHTS &C Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain oar opinion free whether art invention is probably patentable. Commnnica tionfl strictly confidential. HANDBOOK on Patents sent free. Oldest agency for securtngj?atents. Patents taken thrown Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, ia the / Scientific Bnerican. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Lanrest cir? culation of any scientific journal. Terms, 53 a year ; four months, |L Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN & CG.3610"?*^-New York Branca Offloe, SK F St, Washington, D. C._ PURE LIQUORS. If you want pure LIQUORS why not order from J. D. HILLS, Wadesboro, N. C. The following are a few braids from iny large and carefully selected stock : Old Harvest Com Whiskey. ... W. W. Cooper's Laurel Valley Corn Whiskey, Old Dixie Corn Whiskey, - - 100 proof, Pride of N. C. Corn Whiskey, ( 100 Mills Lilly White Corn Whiskey, - - - ' New North Carolina Corn whiskey, 125140 and 90 proof, Pride of Davie Corn Whiskey, Rose Valley Rye Whiskey, (5 years old) J. W. Harper s Rye Whiskey (5 years old) - Jefferson Club Rye Whiskey,' - - Pimlico Clo b Rye Whiskey, - Old Heniy Rye Whiskey. - Rock Bridge Rye Whiskey, - Apple and Peach Brandy (3 years old) Apple and Peach Brandy (5 years old) - - Holland and other gins from $1.50 to Also a large stock of fine case goods, Wines and charges from Wadesboro to Sumter are less than from other North Carolina point. The above goods are guaranteed under the National Act of Jone 30, 1906, $3 00 per gallon 2 50 per gallon 2 00 per gallon 2 00 per gallon 2 00 per gallon 1 50 per gallon 1 50 per gallon 3 50 per gallon 4 00 per gallon 4 00 per gallon 4 00 per gallon 3 00 per gallon 1 50 per gallon 2 50 per gallon 3 50 per gallon 3 50 per gallon Export Beers. Express Georgia pointe or any Pure Food and Drug I I) j. u. Feb 25-tf GEO. P. McKAGEN. Traveling Representative, SUMTER, S. C. Attention, Farmers We make a specialty of insuring COTTON GINS, (system and old style,) COTTON at gins and COT? TON ON PLANTATIONS. See us for rates, before insuring. 116 Sumter Insurance Agency, Agents. No. 10 N. Main Street, Sumter, S. C. The weight per rod and size of wire must be taken into consideration ; also the CONSTRTJC tion of the FENCE. Heavy wires and the best galvanizing are always used on the AMERICAN, and the quan? tity already in service on farms is good evi? dence of its merit. The HINGE JOINT on the American allows for CONTRACTION and EXPANSION, to with? stand sudden and severe pressure from contact with animals, without bendings stays, the fence springing back to place the instant pressure is removed. The most secure, lasting fence is the AMER? ICAN. Sold by CAROLINA HARDWARE CO.