The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-13
THEY, HAVE LOCKED 3 HORNS.
The Board OF Public Works and the
Water Works Committee FIghlIng,,

Ane board OF Public WORKS ana the
Water Works Committee Fighting. 4 :
The recently elected Board Of Public Works
and one OF the joint standing committees Of
Council have. already had a collision, aud
the result last night was, that an important
city improvement was at a standstill owing
to the deadlock. The committee In question
Is that on Water Works. and the work that Is
not allowed to 60 on Is the laying OF the
Pinch main from Fifth street TO the Top
mill OH Main street. This work was ordered
done Immediately after tho North Wheeling
GINS house fire, and the Committee on
water Works advertised for proposals for lay.
Ing the same after the pipe had been ordered.
The lowest bidders were Farley & Gal.
lagher, their bid being IS cents per
cubic yard for cxcavating, while tho
next lowest bid was 90 cents. The committee
awarded the contract TO Messrs Farley i
Gallaher. In tho meantime tho Council
passed ind adopted rules md regulations TO
be used by the Board OF Public Works and
that body commenced It's operations. In the
rules II Is stipulated that no person or per-
sons shall dix Into the public streets oralleys
OF the city Tor any purpose without first oh.
tanning permit from the Board 10 do So
cobble, pave or macadamize the place SO dug
as Il WINS In the first place. For failure TO
obtain permit or to properly refill those dig
lging are liable to arrest and fine according 10
the ordinance adopted In connection with
the rules. On these particular points the
inetubers OF tho Board propose to be very
firm md strict as they believe that In a
large degree the bad condition OF our streets
can be ascrbed TO careless digging aud re.
nllins. "a. '..,'. 80 o -
10 return 10 the committee, the contract
had been awarded, the bond aud contract pa.
pers were ordered drawn up, and Monday
evening the contractors appeared before the
Mayor 10 give their acknowledgement. New.
or having read the document, the Mayor
read 1t 10 them. In 1t was clause stating
that In reiilling the earth must be rammed.
To this the contractors objected, saying moth.
inng had been said about RUNNING, and that
they could not afford 10 do 1t ut the price.
The Mayor agreed to call meeting OF tho
committee, which he did, OH Tuesday after.
noon; only four members were present, not
a quorum. But to the members present
Messrs. Farley and Gallagher made propo.
sition TO do the ramnling for 10 cents per Gu.
bic yard, making their total bid 90 cents or
~ cents below the next bid. Strange TO saw,
the members present decided that II WINS moi
necessary to ram and they struck that part
out. In other words they proposed to make
the city the first 10 break the rules passed by
the city-rues that they would insist on a
private individual conforming to. The cx.
cusc was, 1t was unnecessary TO put the city
10 $500 extra expense.
The contractors then again appeared before
the Mayor with this revised contract, but he
refused TO take the acknowledgment for the
reason that the contract did not conform
with the rules adopted for the government OF
the Board OF Public Works In relation to dig.
gine in the streets. Yesterday morning
Chairman Wilson visited the Board rooms
for the purpose OF learning iisomethng could
not be done. In the course OF the converse.
ton President Baird said II the contractors
commenced work Thursday morning without
the permit required by ordinance, lie would
have them arrested ind fined, and would cor.
tinue that operation until the rules were con.
formed with. Mr.. Wilson bridled up at this
and intimated that II that was done II meet.
Ing OF Council might follow on Friday even.
inG, and the rules passed by Council would
be repealed, thereby making the Board a
figure head. President Baird responded that
In case that was done his resignation would
follow Saturday morning.
And so the matter stands The pipe is on
the ground the Board insists on its rights;
he committee says "let her co." the Mayor
refuses to acknowledge the contract till
properly drawn up a<-a.-