The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-30

fact. Of the Mayor and the Chairman OF ths
| Finance and Water Works Committees 0
the City Of Nashville. We stated that gragl
legal difficulties envelopes the whole sub
ject, the ultimate Of which we could NO
anticipate; but that, nevertheless, undel
the recent action Of the City Council, We
were Instructed 70 inquire upon what terms
if any, ths contract, or supposed contract
might be set sside, and the. corporation q
! Nashville released from all claims on the
part OF the said Niles Works.
Amer a reasonable time for confederation
the Secretary Of the Niles Works informed
us that, up 10 the date Of our first interview,
on the 18th inst, the amount Of work
already done for the city Of Nashville
amounts
In Castings, li3 81
In Pattern labor aid Lnmbe to........-... So q
He further reported that the Niles EoYt =
had invested in
Pig Iron intended for the work, least SIS 900 90
And ia an ariicie q bolt wrought iron a
extra quality, especially Tor this work.. $50 o.
so %
The Secretary further sets forth that
a'This job has had It's position in our works,
| TO the exclusion Of at least two sets Of ma
I
Works, according 70 the statement Of the
Secretary thereof, being engaged upon the
work for the city Of Nashville, have, for
that reason, been unable 70 accept contracts
which they otherwise could have obtained
fer building two sets Of marine engines
And the Nilel Works sets up this consider
ati0n as the foundation for claim for dam
age, in case the work intended By them for
the city OF Nashville were discontinued.
In view Of all which, the Score airy and
Agent Of The Niles Works thinks, without
being ready 10 make formal proposition 10
that effect, that the said Niles 0rks would
content 70 annul the contract referred to,
(which be claims 70 be valid and bindiugl
for consideration OF fifteen thousand dol
lars, the Niles Works retaining, as their own
property, the pig and bolt iron above refer
red 60, aud selling for account Of, or buying
from, the city Of Nashville, The castings and
forgings already made, IS old iron, at a rate
which would realize 70 she city sum not
far from one thousand dollars, TO be deduct
ed from the fifteen thousand dollars above |
named. We may not, therefore, expect to |
be relieved Of the contract referred 70, IL /
held to be valid, without clear loss 10 the |
city, Of say fourteen thousand dollars, |
(Sl4, ooO) 50 lar as We have yet been able to |
ascertain.
The Niles Works claims to have entered
into this contract in good faith, and in /
liberal spirit and refer US 10 iron workers /
in general for evidence that the prices chsrg-
ed therein by them are not exorbitant. We |
have not bad opportunity to thoroughly in 1
vestigate this branch Of the case; but are
willing TO say, that 50 far Is our inquiries
have extended, we have ELECTED no evidence
0i disposition, on the part Of the Niles
Works 70 wrong the city Of Nashville, or
that the prices they propose 70 charge are
Il may be, however, that the
form in which the contract is gotten, rem
iers investigation in egard TO the matter Of
prices less easy than usual in such cases.
In order to render it more easy for the
,ity Of Nashville to meet the payments UP
IN the contract, il it should be ratified ard
made unquestionably valid, the Secretary
10 US in writing the following sag
gestious;
''In case the financial condition Of the city
IF Eashvills is such a. 10 preclude the possi-
oility Of promptly complying with the re-
luirements Of The contract Dor building the
v aterworks engine) with the Niles works,
1 is my opinion that the conditions Of such
,ontract can be modified 50 as 20 relieve
both parties, by permitting the Niles Works
% use the bonds Of said city as collsteral for
he purpose Of obtaining mOney-and Che
TILES Works to protect said bonds untd
uch time a. the city Of Nashville has funds
o return thsmi the city Of Nashville to pay
or the extension Of time.
C. ". SIXTH,
Secretary Of Niles Works"
The undersigned have nothing further 10
eport, strictly pertinent to the business Of
,ur mission to Cincinnati, except TO remark
hat the work is still going on; the Niles
Works claiming that while the contract is q
rood and valid one, they have not yet been
lotifed by any conf etent authority to dis
continue the work; and that, should they
discontinue the work until sufficient and
notice, they would lay them
elves liable in damages 70 the city Of
Nashville under contract. II therefore, it
hould seem best % your wisdom, 10 con- I
inue negotiations looking 10 compromise,
,ronpt aotion should be had 10 fully author
20 the Niles Works 70 stop the work, a.
While il shall continue the amount Of dam
Ices, which must be borne by one or the
iher or both parties, must continue % in
rsase.
lit shall be deemed best, and, after full
your right and duty. ss The
Of the people Of Nashville,
o repudiate entirely e. null and void the
ontiact referred 70, then the sooner the
Iotiee We have already given shall be con
rned by the action OF the entire City Coun-
-
The undersigned still adhere 10 the Opin- (
on heretofore expressed 70 the City Council,
hat entire new waterworks, are not q ne
cssits, for our city, for number OF years
0 coms-ihat by first providing sufficient
eservoir capacity, snd repairing Of The I
,umps Of the new engine--so that, whether
he supply Of water which could be held in
cservoir, and the constant running Of the
ther engine, time might be had 20 thor
ughly oyerhauie, and repair the principal {
works, the large engine could be made re-
liable, end would have capacity TO supply
he city With water, eveL in the event 81
increase Of population, and We
ielieve ell this ought 70 be done, whether
lew works shall Be built or not; and We also
.dhere to the opinion heretofore expressed
M as, and our colleagues upon the two
ommittees, shat if the means were pro-
-i&ed to pay for the improvement without
.ppiessing cur people. with heavy taxation,
nd without exhausting the revenue which
hculd be used Tor other Necessary purposes,
he building Of fhe new waterworks ctn-
emplated, would be desirable, and might
wisely be done.
In view, then, Of the premises, we regard
4 As perteneut 10 the subject Of the report.
Q recommend thar The following suggested
Ian be taken into careful consideration BY
rour finance COMMITTEES, and the City Ccucil.
let. That sleps be taken 70 pay, 90 the
.arllsst possible day, all the interest on the
unced debt Of the city, being due snd I'M
mid As well ss an the outstanding ehccks
Il the corporation.
"a That bonds Of the city be Issued IN
uficisnt amount 70 provide, If possible, by
heir sale in the market, fund sufficient 10
,sy for the construction Of All the works Of
,sfrnanent improvement, which may b
iceded BY the city.
N That .he taxes be % reduced, as 70
,roduee only sufficient revenue 70 deiEsy
he prouer current expenses Of she city, The
atefest on the funded debt, both cid AID
Jew. and % provide sinking fond for The
Ultimate PAYMENT Of the principal.
The perInanent improvements 10 Wnicn
We refer, are these whose benefits aad ad-
-antsges may be expected 70 extend INTO
allure years and i il reasonable that tbs
.eVeuucs Of future wears should be relied
lpou e pay for them. TIE iunGed debt Of 4
he city Is but small, as compared with its
present revenue and Il the interest which
aas been accumalstinE through four yearf
y war, were nov promptly paid 20 soon
iiter its close, IL rs reasonable % expect thai
ne credit OF the city Will stand high.
In conclusion We viii say, that il slter
,onaiGerauon, i shall be deemed best %
proved with the erection Of new waierworks
ne contract with the Niles Works, afer
proper rcvisure and amendment. ought 10
81 made valid, By proper authorltalire cen
{ ru1atiQnl and tnis We canpot recommend
to be done, without tome other pI1p than
that Of oppressive taxation may BE devised
10 n-ovide the means TO conpleie and nav
Tor the improvements contemplated.
Respectfully submitted,
JNo. LELIYFz1,
Chm Naterworks Committee.
Rom. IuQarsoN,
CHM Finance Committee.
noanD on coANoS coCxcil-
me Basrd net at so'clock prsciselyi in /
aeeorisnce WITH s call from the Mayer /
-. - =. -. --..lr E.n..lt- II |