St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-26
70 prosecuted and completed at a much

be prosecuted and completed at much
earlier day in the year than work has been
put under contract in past years, under the
present system Of ordering improvements.
In the years 1884 and 1885, more improve
ments were ordered and put under contract
after the middle of July in each year than
were ordered and put under contract prior
to that date. If improvements are ordered
and put under contract as recommended by
the Board, work thereon would be COM
menced and completed in the early and
better part of the season, instead of, as at
present and IN the past, in the later and
most uncertain ION account of the fall rains
and heavy frosts) part of the season.
Second-We should get better work, at
very considerable less cost, from 10 to 25
per cent, two very important considera-
lions for the individual taxpayer and the
public.
1t is an unquestioned fact that every inn
provement, with single exception (St.
Clair street, and we are informed that the
Council is to be asked by the contractors
for that work not to approve the contract
awarded to them by this Board, SO that
even this street may not prove to be an ex-
ceptiOn), for which contracts have been
let since about the middle of July, 1885,
has cost from 10 to 25 per cent. more than
similar Improvements contracted for prior
to that date.
Why is this so? The reasons are plainly
obvious. The weather is generally better
and more certain prior to the middle of
July or the LIST of August than it is later in
the season. Labor and teams are more
plenty and cheaper before than during and
after harvest time, which begins to call for
men and teams about the middle of July,
and then the price Of labor and teams i'm
mediately advances in proportion to the in
creased demand therefor.
There is still another important considera-
ton bearing upon the question of the ex-
pense Of our public i'm. movements, if they
shall be ordered and contracted for as
recommended by this Board, viz: Contractors
could and doubtless would purchase all
necessary material, such as lumber, blocks,
gravel and curbing for paved streets, pipe,
lumber, cement and brick for sewers, stone
and cement and lumber for sidewalks, at
season of the year when such material can
be purchased at minimum price. There
could not be during the winter months any
pressing necessity to unduly hasten the
putting of an improvement under contract
This board, in advertising for bids, could
give much longer notice than has been
the custom in the past. 1t could give
twenty or even thirty days notice. instead
of ten days. This would enable contract
OTIS to take time to look about and make
the most favorable contracts for material to
be used on the improvements.
The same suggestions are equally true
with reference to our ordinary graded
streets surfaced with gravel or the best ma
terial found on the line of the street. and
they are also equally true of our macadam
streets.
There is scarcely street graded in this city
on which there is not shortage or a sur
plus Of material. If some other street, in
reasonable near proximity to a street Or
dered to be graded, cannot be found, which
can. under the provisions of the municipal
code, be ordered to be graded with such
street under one contract, the contractor is
either compelled to buy or waste material
as the case may be. This means very
considerable larger expense to the property
owners on the line of the improvement,
unless the contractor can buy or waste his
material to good advantage.
Now, if the contracts should be let dur
ing the winter, giving twenty or thirty days,
notice, contractors could have and would
take the time necessary to ascertain where
they could best and most cheaply buy or
waste material.
Contractors for macadam streets could
contract for, get out and crush the stone
during the winter, and be ready for the
work as soon as the condition of the ground
would permit in the spring.
Still another reason for these recommen-
datlons:
This Board could have and would take
more time to make, and give more and
probably better consideration to the making
of the assessments for such Improvements.
The assessments could be made and held by
the Board until such time as the contractor
commenced work under his contract and
then be sent down to the Treasurer for col
lection, and by the time the contractor is
entitled under his contract to an estimate,
there would be money enough collected on
the assessment and in the Treasury to pay
the estimate, and by the time the contractor
shall have fully completed his contract, the
entire assessment will have been collected
and be in the Treasury, and the contractor
could and would receive his final estimate,
without the necessary but very annoying
delays which sometimes occur by reason of
a want Of the necessary funds ID the Treas
ury.
These and 7other considerations which
will readily occur to your Honorable Body.
and which for that reason it is unnecessary
to mention, have induced this Board to
make the suggestions and recommendations
herein respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM BARRETT.
President Of the Board of Public Works.
The following bills were examined and
allowed, to-wit:
Bill of William Forristal of S52.75, relay
ing pavement on Cedar, Wacouta and Sibley
streets.
Bill of K. P. Cullen of S14, livery for
Board of Public Works, Dec. 1, 1885.
Adjourned to meet on the Sth inst. at Z
p. m.
WILLIAM BARRETT, President.
r. l.. GERMAN, Clerk Board Public Works.