Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-24
BOARD OF PUPLIC WORKS.

BOARD OF PUPLIC WORKS.
Large Amount of Business Yesterday--City
Engineer Picking q Fuss with Hiram
Rogers--More of this Model Engineers
Trouble with Contractors.
The regular weekly session of the board of
public works was held yesterday morning.
President Rice occupied the chair, all the
members were present, and The GLOBE, as
usual, was the only journal represented in
person.
The reports Of the street inspectors, for
the week ending March %, were submitted;
P. F. Flynn's showing an expenditure of
$171, and N. Schmitz' 1888.
THE THIRD STREET HOLE.
A communication was received from the
city engineer, stating that the Third street
cavity had not been filed by Hiram Rogers
according to instructions. The roof of the
excavation had not been secured, the ends of
the old cellar had not been packed, and while
it might last all right for some years, there
was probability of the filling again sink
ing.
City Attorney Murray said Mr.. Rogers had
been sick during the filling, and
would probably, so Mr.. Murray
understood, attend to the matter when he
got we'll.
The matter was referred to the Third
ward member and the city attorney
J.. e. o'BR1EN HAD FAILED,
so said the city engineer, to fill up the cistern
at the corner of Dayton and Harrington
avenues, although he had been duly notified
Ix-+ ho
terms of his contract The city engineer
was instructed to have the work reformed by
the street force, at the expense Of the con-
tractor.
SOMEBODY'S FINGER IN SOMEBODY ELSE 8 PIE
received illustration in the matter of the
grading of Second street by Michael O'Brien,
under the John Hogan contract. 1t had
been ordered, or understood, under some
ones instructions, that a certain filling
should be executed by dirt from another
contract, but no record of the order existed
upon the books of the board. The filling
being completed, it was found necessary, by
some hocus- pocus, to deduct an amount from
the contractors pile.
On the recommendation of the city attor-
ney, it was ordered to refund $165 to NJ.
" DITCH, Oh COuulGlOu Ol LIS giving W tue
council receipt in full.
ANOTHER, AND WORSE, MIDDLE
was afforded by the Martin Butler contract
for the partial grading of Rice street, which
created considerable discussion. AS narrated
the city attorney, the case was some
what as follows: The contract had been
and an assistant city engineer
had so reported it. Then some other city
engineer discovered it wasn't completed,
whereupon the board Of public works had
ordered the work finished, and the cost to be
deducted from the amount due the contract
or. This was done, and the money held
back was utilated in the payment of the
labor force employed by the city
engineer But Butler, thus shorn
of his expected shin-plasters,
was unable to pay his laborers, who still re-
manned unpaid. It was further added that
Butler was sick at the time and unable to
attend to his contract. The estimate of the
city engineer for the continuance of the
work was some $50, but, by the time it was
completed, the cost had crcpt we'll up into
the hundreds.
This kettle of fish gave rise to muchee-
talkee. City Attorney Murray believed the
action of the board had been premature in
the premises, but thought such a concatena-
ton of circumstances might hardly occur
again. President Rice stated his conviction
that the board had acted hastily, and said he
was absent from the board at the time. Mr..
Timme defended the action of the board.
Mr. Murray submitted report recommend
ing the city council to refund certain
amount to the contractor, Butler, the amount
to be deducted from the ward fund. Mr..
Becker congratulated himself that he conld
wash his hands of the whole business, as he
was not on the board at the time, but
he thought the laborers should
not suffer, and inquired if Buffers bondsmen
could not be made to pay. Mr.. Murray
said they could not. Mr.. Becker said it was
scarcely right to divert ward fund in the
manner proposed.
The matter was finally disposed. of by
Mr.. Murray's recommendation.
The sum to be refunded is $17O, with the
distinct proviso that it is to be expended in
the payment of workmen's wages only, and
that Autler must receipt in full.
LOVE FEAST
wal held over the appointment of street in
spectors. Mr.. Becker moved that James F.
Wilson be appointed for upper town. Mr..
Timme moved that Nick Shm1tz be reap
pointed. Mr.. Becker moved the matter be
and it was carried. Mr.. Becker
then moved that James F. Wilson be ap-
pointed inspector for lower town. Mr..
Timme moved it be laid over, and it was
carried. Mr.. Becker said he didn't want to
dictate between Messrs. Rice and Timme.
Mr.. Timme pertinaciously stuck to the pres
ent incumbents, and it was evident there was
a deadly breach all round.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Jacob Miller's sidewalk contract was laid
over for one week.
The sidewalk on Robert street in front of
Mr.. Roberts lots was similarly deferred.
The new matters from the city council
were suitably referred or acted upon.
r. L. German submitted his bond of
81 900 for the due performance of his du-
ties as clerk of the board, with G. D. O'Brien
and Robert A. Smith, as sureties. Approved
and filed.
The board adjourned after an almost two
hours session.
RIVER MATTERS.
The Keokuk Northern Line packet Gin