, 1874-11-20

THE TWO JOBS.
There is job before tho Common Council
pressing for action before tho expiration OF tho
present Council for tho purchase Of the small
triangular block at tho junction Of A1ndison
street aud Ashland ayonuo undor the protext Of
adding 1t to Union Park. There ia another job,
Which ia to vote $4,000 additional compensa-
ton to Norris i Co., contractors for building
tie Fullerton avenue sewer. It would naturally
occur to the upinitiated that these two glaring
attempts on tho City Treasury would injure or
weaken eacl other; but the reverse is the casc
tho one Is part and parcel Of tie other.
The prico proposed to bo pail for the Union
Park triangle is 52Gs 00O f; tho bonus to Norris l.
Co. il s160, COO; total, $42s, 900. When the con-
d,tior of tho City Treasury IL remembered, this |
demand Ia no triling Que. Tho scheme WAS to |
unite North Sido job with h West Side ono, |
md puah theu both through by a combination |
of the votcs Of the Aldermen Of the two divia~
ions. But tlore il closor connection than this
The Uniun Park job is urged upon the ground
TINT. by purchasing It, the city will collect $780,
900 Of Mr. Gagoa debt to tho city, aud tie argu-
Walker, who represents stherectaugular triangle on
Ashland ayonue, owes the Secoud National Bank
al30.o00. The Second Natioual Bank owes Dir.
Gage, latc City Treasurer, $4,000 Mr. Walker
can't pay the bank, and the bank can't pay Gage,
and Gage can't pay the city, and the city can't
pay its contractors. Mz. Walker therefore etops
forward like . public benefactor and saya:
Hero is my little rectangular triangle;
nobody wil1 buy 1t for any purpose; 1t has no
commercial value at present; no one will lend
auy money in 1t 1t has been for sale for years,
and no one will giyo $4,000 or any other sum
for it. Now lot tho city pay nc s2Gs, 900 for the
patch, and out OF the proceeds will pay the
Second National Bank, tho bank will pay dngo,
Gago will pay tho CITY, and the city pay its credit
ors. The city will actually collect $50, 900 Of
tho Gage defalcstion by paying ma threo prices
for my triangle
liar. The city ordered tic construction OF an
aqueduct from tho Lnuo to the North Branch of
tho river. and the Board Of Public Works adver-
tiaed for proposals. Norrs 4 Co. uudarhid Ill
competitors; the Board Of Public Works reasonoa
With them, but thoy expressed their satisfaction
| with the price ind demanded the contract. They
| ltad bond aud On TINT bond ia tho namo Of
| Mr., Samuel J. Walker az security for tho faith
| ful performance OF tho work. After executing
! portion Of tho aqueduct, hlr. Walker aud Nor
ris d Go. present themselves to tho Common
| Council and state that it they 60 on and conf
plete the work they will lopo considerable money,
and thereby ald to Mr. Walkers embnrrassmcnta.
But il tho prosaut City Council will only vote an
order before they go out OF Office to pay thcm
s;tGo000 e1tsA compensation, In addition to their
oontract price, they will Baye themselves from
loss and make some profit. aud also onable Mr,
Walker to bridge over hiB difficulties.
It will bo eeon, therefore, that Mr. Sam J,
Walker is tho beneficiary In both cases !; that
both Achemos are In fact one job. which haa
for its soo object to mako the city pay s428, ,o0I
OF blr, Sam Walkers debta. III consideration oj
this sutn Of s42s,o pad out Of tho City Troas
nry. the CITY IL to receive Sam Walkers lttlt
triangle which III 1869 was offered tt
the city for 800 900 that being much moro thar
it vas worth, aud which Ia now asBossod for tax
able purposos at the sum OF $4,000. The cit.
has 10 more use for Tie triangular blooh o
ground than it llss for corner lot in Duluth.
is yalualeas as an addition to Union Park ; II
fact, II added thereto, would dfsasure even III
> ungraceful proportions Of that inclosuro' wou!
involve tila vacation Of vory necessary and con
yoniont street, aud an outlay Of $40 900 for fene
u lug, planting aud improving tho addition.
Thu Board OF Public Works, to whom, by Ia"
!" alt deallugs with public contractors aro commit
tsd, haa reported to tho Common Council thu
there Ia no mert or equity In the demand
" Norris & Co. for additional compensation. The
took tue CONTRACT willingly. To SECURE It The
" underbtd all competitors. Tho Board says:
n Tho increase aAked for by the contractors woi
;" nuke tho conduit cost more than tue price naued
the highest proposal raceiyed for tho work. will
% aeen by the list Of proposals attached herato.
). Several Of tho builders next in prices abo
bIossrn George +. Norris 90. have callod upon Il
Ill uosrl, ana Expressed their willingness 10 accsps
Il Contract for tho unfinished portion of tho work,
nu tue prices natlsa lu their respective proposA
- notwithstanding the fact that tle nlost proatal
IL work " now completed. Ono Ut these aentleme
ar Johu H. CquR msIes tAs offer In writing, In tas