The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-10-05
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
HEARD IN NO UNCERTAIN SOUND.
IN REGARD TO MIR. NELLIs' FAILURE TO DE-
LIVER THE NECEssAy GRAVEL.

about Mr.. Chas. Nelis' -fulfilment OF
his contract with the city, and have thereby
incurred the displeasure of the News whose
special pct he is. But, since this is sub
ect OF considerable moment to our people,
who desire to see our improvements pro-
crossing, we take it that we have hardly
yet said sufficient on this subject and that
The BULLETIN would not be doing its duty
to its readers should it fail to give the mat
ter that attention and thorough ventilation
it so richly deserves Mr. Nelis is, in one
sense of the word, one of our
best citizens. lie is peaceful and
law abiding man of excellent social quail
ties, but he is,--we regret that the facts
compel us to say ia man who is entirely
| Indifferent to the best interests of our little
city. BY the contract referred to, he is bound
| to deliver from five to ten thousand cubic
yards of Metropolis gravel on our streetsf for
one dollar and a quarter per yard, but he
has for some cause better known to
him than any one else, failed to full
fill his contract, and thereby disappointed
the council and our citizens generally.
As we said in our last issue, one OF the
reasons why the city gave him the contract
in preference to the Paducah gentlemen,
was because he was "home man." and
because it was generally believe
being such, he would take more interest in
our improvements than an outsider, and
fulfill this contract. He signed the con-
tract, and perfectly legal bond was
placed into his hand for signatures, by the
city clerk, but he kept it in his pocket
without making any effort to secure sigma
lures, and finally the city attorney went to
him and asked for its return and obtained
It. But while tins is so, he
actually landeg two barges full at
our wharf, and the city being
lead to believe thereby that there would be
no trouble about the delivery of the re-
mainder, had Eight street lowered for its
reception But no sooner had this been
done when it became apparent that Mr.
Nellis was rather indifferent whether our
streets went to the show vows for want
of gravel or not, and members of the street
committee requested him to hurry down
the gravel. He promised that he would,
and pretented to be very anxious to get it
here, saying that he had made
quite respectable profit on
the amount SO far delivered.
But although the river was sufficiently
high at the time, and although it was over
six feet over the chain since then and is
even now over four feet over the cham, he
has, until the present day, failed to keep
his verbal promise or written contract. 1t
is true, that Mr.. Nells is property owner
and personally responsible for the fulfill
mcnt of any contract he may enter into
with the city, but to sue him and obtain
Judgment would consume all winter, and
since the Improvements must be made at
once, the city can not afford to waste time
by going to law.
Every since Eighth street has been low
cred the slightest rain transforms it into
an immense mud.puddlc. Yesterday,
as result of the rain of the day be.
fore, il was in its usual condition. The
numerous large holes were filled with water
through which the teams weut-up aud
demonstrating dirty water and mud on
the occupants of the vehicles and all who
did not keep quite distance from them.
As we saw the men steer boldly out Of
their way and the women, who were out
doing their shopping, looking tmidly at
the mud, and then turaing down other
streets to supply their wants, it occurred to
us that this was q state Of affairs that was
hardly relshed by the business men and
concluded to interview few Of them on
the subject, which wc did with the follow
ing result;
MIR. JOHN kEHLER;
Our street is truly in lamentabc condi
ton and its mud is a source Of much an
noy ance to Us. Why, do you know what
have done! Look at that, (pointng TO the
sidewalk on which team was delivering
sawdustl | am having sawdust spread
all along that dirt walk from Washington
avenue to my place of business, atmy own
expense, in order to make it passablc and
am ready to stand my share for planking
this street if Mr.. Ncllis don't deliver the
gravel soon. This mud is :ntolersble and
someone should concern himself about the
remedy before it gets worse.
MIR. II. BLOCK.
We found that Mr.. Block was absent to
st. Louis ON business trip, but the gentle
man in charge OF his store stated that Mr. b.
had repeatedly expressed himself as dissat