Wichita eagle., 1889-02-13
SEWER SCRIP.
A COMMITTEE SENT TO TOPEKA TO
ASK FOR LEGISLATION
Permitting the City to Issue City Scrip
With Which to Hurry up the
Sewer Systematic Scrip to
be taken up by Bonds.

For some weeks the city council has
been ''between the devil and the deep sea-"
as to what to do in regard to the work on
the city sewer system, upon which things
were getting along swimingly until the
contractors. announced that they could
not push the work any further
unless some arrangements could
be effected by which they could
be guaranteed their pay between now and
the issuance of the bonds for the sewer.
Although the story has been an oft re-
peated one, its reproduction here will be
opportune. 1t is as follows: When the
city council finally decided On what kind
OF system to adopt for the city they got
IN great hurry to push the work
IN response to strong demands to
hurry it along. Accordingly they let the
contract to Messrs. Sullivan and Steinmetz
OF the city. with the understanding that
they would be able to arrange all matters
OF right of way and many other contin-
gencies which then and later presented
themselves, so that bonds could be issned
by January l, 1889, after having made due
allowance for time to advertise for bids
for the bonds, etc. But in this
calculation, it appears. they were un-
fortunate as unexpected and unavoidable
causes for delays, have arisen which rem
der 1T impossible to have the bonds ready
for delivery before the first of May.
The contractors had, on the strength of
the prospective progress to be made in is
suing the bonds. perfected arrangements
Tor having a certain sum of money ad-
vanced them Oh the work until the city
Shav, ba l. Il.
But it happened, as stated, that the time
for the issuance of the bonds had grown so
that the money thus advanced had all been
expended, and still the bombs were not in
sight and could not by process of law be
issued before the election of a new city
council, who might or might not think as
the present one does about these bonds.
At any rate, the bank which had carried
the contractors that far on the credit of
the latter, do not care to take
any more stock in the enterprise until
some definite arrangement has been con-
summated. The people however, are just
as urgent as ever, in their demands that
the work on the sewer be not stopped for
the dual reason that it will throw a large
number of men out Of employment and
viii delay the completion of the system
year longer, If not pushed with all posi-
BILE haste this year.
In order to settle all of these vexing
questions, and to allay popular clamor, the
city council at special meeting yesterday
afternoon appointed Mayor Allen and
Councilman P. V. Healy COMMITTEES to
go to Topeka Immediately, to urge the leg
islature to pass an enabling act by which
this city can issue interest bearing scrip to
run for a short while, and which is
to be redeemed in the sewer bonds,
as soon as issued. The amount of
scrip which they desire to issue will be
about SS8, 600, or a little less than one third
the cost of the sewer system at present
under way, which Is $3.50, 900. The con-
tractors can get all the money they want
on the scrip and as a matter of expediency
merely, this method is adopted. All per-
sons having the best interests of the city
at heart are thoroughly hopeful that the
legislature will act favora bly, and prompt !
ly upon the legislation asked for in this |
Mayor Allen and Mr.. Healey left last |
night over the Rock Island for Topeka |
and will present the matter to the Sedg- |
wick county delegation today.