The record-union., 1891-09-29
THE GRAVEL WAR.
1t Breaks Out Afresh in the Trustees
Meeting.
The Board Declines to Take any Fur
ther Action in, the Matter
What Comes Nexts

G. IT. Oatman, attorney for the Street
Improvement Company, read a commu-
nication to the City Trustees yesterday,
signed by the stockholders of the COM
pany, reviewing the entire action of the
board in ordering Sixteenth street graded
and grayeled, and arguing the matter as
to whether or not it was in the power of
the board to order Folsom gravel when
the contract did not call for any particu-
lar kind
Mr.. Oatman stated that the attitude of
the board toward his company was some
what discouraging to the latter. He did
not think the board could consistently
oppose his company, for it was we'll
known fact that it had done great good in
the City of Sacramento, and improved
streets at a loss to itself.
S. 5. Holl said he desired to say a few
words in behalf Of the relations that eX-
listed between the board and the Street
improvement Company. The company
desired to deal fairly and squarely, and
always did its business with the board i'll
a respectful manner. The stockholders
wished to preserve the friendly relations
that existed, and they hoped the board
was not going to act arbitrarily.
Trustee Mclaughlin wanted to know
why the acting President of the COM
pany said to the board that the resolution
passed requiring that Folsom gravel be
used would be satisfactory.
Mr.. Holl replied that the company was
not responsible for anything said by any
individual member or stockholder. Con-
tlnulng, he said the resolution of the
board was nothing more or less than a
change in the specifications, which every
body would admit was improper after the
contractors had submitted their bids. The
company was going to fulfill its contract
to the letter, and that contract did not
call for Folsom gravel. He did not wish
any difficulties to arise hereafter, and de-
sired the good will of the board while the
company was carrying out its contract.
He denied the right of the board to
change the specifications of the contract.
If 1t could send his company eighteen
miles to Folsom, it could just as easily
make the company go to Shasta or the
northern boundary of the State for gravel.
All he asked of the board was that it
rescind the resolution ordering Folsom
gravel, and then all difficulties would be
overcome.
Trustee Conkling said he felt that the
matter was entirely in the hands of the
Street Commissioner, and if that official
desired to rescind the resolution he would
vote with him, but if not he would not
antagOniZe him.
The Mayor was sorry that dissensions
had sprung up between the board and the
Improvement Company. The latter or
ganiZation was composed of some of the
best citizens of Sacramento, and had done
a great deal OF good.
The discussion occupied over an hour
and half of the time of the board, and
was then dropped until afternoon.
Later in the day the Trustees left their
n YNr-i.y 70 IN, r,,a
corner of the room. On resuming their
seats they took up the Sixteenth-street
matter again, but decided that there was
nothing further for the board to do about
it, the Improvement Company having
been notified that Folsom gravel must be
used
c. a. Luhrs, President of the company,
said to a RECORD-UNIoN reporter, after
the board had adjourned, that the COM
pany would go ahead with its work, and
would use Sacramento gravel, as that, he
said, was what they had contracted to use