St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-13
Digested by the Committee
on Streets in Prepara-
ton for Council.
Who Should Suffer From In
acuracieS in Estimat-
ing Contracts?
The Schema to Bridge the
Tracks at Eighth and
Grove Streets.
A General Denial Of All Ale
cations in the Miller Di-
vOpee Case.


a regular meeting last evening, and
though no very important matter came
up, yet there were Il number OF aues-
tons which called for the careful con-
sideratiOn of the committee, and which
were discussed with great care and
acumen. Those present were Aldermen
Flandrau, Sullivan, Minea, Bott and
Gehan, members of the committee,
while Aldermen Van Slyke and Ban
hOlZer looked on as interested spectators
of the work of their confrers in the
council. The most important matter
which the board dealt with was the
application Of Contractor Timothy
Sweeney to the council, asking that his
contract tor tillingIn and grading Lang
ford park be modified. Lawyer Il. ID.
O'Brien appeared for Mr.. Sweeney. and
explained that his client had put in an
estimate based on the figures of the city
engineer. Langf0rd park was sink
hole" and the city engineer had esti-
mated that $1,000 yards of earth would
be required to fill it in. and further adj
ded % per cent 10 cover shrinkage; this
brought the amount up To lU9,0UU yards
of earth. The contractor now found
that more than this amount would be
required to complete. the contract. and
the uncertain circumstances of the case,
he be paid for all earth he put in over
1U9,OU0 yards. l his contract was So, 100
less than the estimate made 10y the city
engineer.
Aid. Flandrau was opposed to grant
ing any modification in the CONTRACT,
baSlng his argument on legal grounds
IF the contractor took this contract
knowing the uncertainties of the job,''
said the alderman, land then found out
that he was to lose money over it, |
cannot see why he should ask the city
to increase the amount he was to re
ceive under the contract. This is
purely business matter. and while L am
sorry for the contractor, yet L cannot
Vote for the proposal now before the
cOlnmittee.'
Aid. Gehan hoped that no injustice
would be done to the contractor. who
had put in bid in good faith based
upon the estimate of the city engineer.
line estimate of the city engineer
allowed 25 per cent for shrinkage, and
If he could not make a good estimate.
the contractor could not be expected to
make better one" said Ali. Gehan.
with vehemence. IL think it is only
fair and just to grant the request OF the
contractor"
After number of remarks from the
contractor, who explained that all his
money was sunk in the concern. the
matter was put To the vote, with the re-
suit that Aid. Butt, Minta and Gehan
voted TO recommend the Modification to
the council, while Aid. Fianurau and
Sullivan OppOSed ii.
An ordinance introduced by Aid.
Mlnea to give to LIE Fevre ~ Deslauriers,
c0rmce manufacturers, three lots east
or Dakota avenue on the West side Tor
the purpose of erecting a factory re-
celved the unanimous vote of the COLL
niittee, The general feeling being that
concessions made by the city to NAH
ufacturers would materially benefit st.
Paul. One of the stipulatiohs of The
Old nance is that the firm shall never
employ less than twenty men. The
buildings will be completed May l.
Aid. Minea introduced resolution to
the effect that Tie balance or the 1und
formed some years ago to make levee
on the West side be Used for buying
nine lots 10 cost $l3,450. 10y whicn the
city Will have the right of way from
Stale street to the city limits. The bal
ance Is Sl6.UO0 and is deposited indne
local Improvement fund. rhe commit
tee decided to recommend the res0lu-
ton to the council subject to the rec
ommendatiOn of the CITY attorney.
A petition signed ny the property own
erS OH Robie street asking that the
grade of the street be changed, was LAID
over, in order that the committee may
Inspect the street.
he residents of st. Anthony Park
sent petition asking that the ST. Paul
u Northern Pacific Railroad company
De compelled to remove tneir wooden
bridges over Bayltss and Ray mond ave
nueS and replace them with iron struct
uIes. On the motion of Aid. Flandrau
tile committee decided to Recommend To
the council that a committee be APP
pointed To confer with the railroad COM
pany i'll connection with the matter.
Noah Sinks. late marKet master, peli-
toned that he be refunded uy the city
the sum OF $500 which he had paid Tor
renting the triangular lot on st. Peter
and washington streets, USED for The
accommodation OF farmers attend
ing market. 1t appeared that in
1883 he had been authorized
by the council TO rent the
lot at $50 per month, then renting priv
ileges To the farmers, and payins the
fees into the city treasury. After Sinks
was defeated for office, lie continued to
rent the lot, but the present market
master cut short his scheme by collect
ing the dues from the farmers and
paying rental to the owner of the
lot, in accordance with tbs ordinance of
1888. City Attorney Holman stated
that the checks sent by tile city for
renting the lot had been returned Nv
the owner, VINO said he was receiving
rent from Sinks.
Hon w. p. Murray. who appeared
for Sinks. agreed, Oh The suggestion of
Aid. Flandrau. to produce evidence that
Sinks had paid the rent, and that the
mol "A, Il
mittee decided that when sucn evidence
is brought before it it will recommend
that Sinks be reimbursed the $500.