St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-29

tcHueu COuIIdcIS.
Twenty sixth street, from Bryant to
Lake Street, from Nicoiiet to Lake "
Calhoun. ..... 493 60
G1rard avenue, ,,from Lake to Thirty
first street. -. ............... 49,. 46 "a
Grand avenue, from Twenty-sixth
street TO Lake Observation-Disclosures. 49 lO
Harriet avenue, from Twenty-sixth
street 10 Lake. ke....................... " 81
Filteau's contract usury) ............ 435 "a
Total. 81 ,2I6slI
These overcharges relate to work
amounting in the aggregate to less than
$4,000. If the same percentage of er-
ror occurred in all the work done in the
two fiscal years ending Feb. %, 1888. the
amount lost to the city would be nearly
$1,000. Your committee believes that
the actual loss to the ward through un-
bus neSSlike and careless management
of its affairs has been much greater than
this. After careful and thorough inyes-
tlgatlon, we are fully convinced that the
grading Oh account of which certified
bills are now outstanding, might easily
have been done for less than One-half
of the expenditure incurred. Much
grading has been done in the ward with
out any expense to the city. Fourth
avenue south, between Thirty-frst and
Thirty-third streets, and Clinton ave-
nue., between Thirty-secOnd and Thirty
third streets, were graded at an
expense to the city of only 5
cents per cubic yard. The unused or
refuse dirt is many times worth the en-
tire cost of the work. But in every in
stance but one those holding certified
bills disposed of the refuse dirt for their
own benefit, giving no credit to the city,
and the lowest price allowed, with one
exception, for the work was Is cents
per cubic yard. Anderson u Douglass,
in grading Garfield avenue, between
Twenty-fifth and Twenty-ninth streets,
were charged with the unused dirt and
their compensation was in that way re-
duced to II cents per cnbic yard. w.
j. Bowen graded Twenty-sixth street at
its intersection with Garfield avenue,
at the place graded by Anderson Il
Douglass, and was given the refuse
dirt and paid 10 cents per cubic yard.
The earth removed in each case was
similarly situated, and we fail to see
any valid reason for the difference in
price. Both jobs should have been
done at price much less than IL cents
per cubic yard.
Lake street lies adjacent to many low
lots, and the refuse earth was of much
value, but all of it not used i'll the street
was disposed of by Bowen for his own
benefit, and he was also paid 134 cents
for the excavation. The job was large
one. The preliminary estimate of the
engineer makes the amount of eXcava-
tiOn between Stevens avenue and Lake
Calhoun $4,000 cubic yards. The final
estimate tor the street, from Nicollet
avenue to Lake Calhoun, and the
amount charged in Bowen's certified
bills is 39,4S7.79 cubic yards, and the
sum charged the city for the work is
S7,526.10. We are confident that this
sum is at least twice as large as the
reasonable value of the work, coupled
as it is with the privilege of selling the
unused earth.
RETRENCHMENT Is IMPERATIVE
In view of the present state of the
little expense as possible be incurred
during the current year. The street
commissioner should do nothing except
the making of such street repair as is
absolutely essential; but we find from
personal observation that he has done
work not essential for this purpose A
pay roll is on file with the city comp
troller for work done from June to
June "a inclusive, which has been al
lowed and paid, amounting to S431, eX-
elusive of the salary of the street COM
HllSSlO1ltI. u lOIcllldll WAS GfDDiOyGu
at 81. .25 per day, and other men at Sl.75
per day, though laboring men by the
hundred can be employed for S1.50 per
day. Two teams were employed at
$3.50 per day, though this committee
will furnish the best of teams at
s. per day. We think the foreman
is Unnecessary. The commissioner him.
self receives SIS per month for oversee
ing the work. For this sum he is sup
posed to devote his entire time to the
affairs of the ward. But we also find
that he receives f25 per month as in
spector of street sprinkling. We think
he should not be burdened with this ad-
ditional responsibility, and that the tax
payer should be relieved from the un-
necessary expense.
We concede that these matters are not
of themselves of great Importance, ex-
cept for the principle involved, but
these mistakes, errors and irregu-
larities always operate against
the city, never in its favor.
Their constant recurrence leads to the
suspicion that, in matters not so easily
aScertainable, errors and irregularities
more important may have occurred.
Your committee think it especially
important, and we recommend, that
some action be taken by the taxpayers
that will prevent a recurrence of these
acts: and, if necesSeey to that end. we
would advise reputation of obligations
incurred in violation of law and which
can not be legally enforced.
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