The record-union., 1891-10-10
MUSHROOM BILLS.
How Estimates on County Work Some
times Fall Short.
A Costly Experiment at HfcksvfIle-
Assistance for the District At
torney-An Assigned Claim.

The Board of Supervisors left the city
yesterday morning to inspect the repairs
made by contractor E. E. Barry to the
Hicksville Bridge, across the Costumes.
When these repairs were ordered some
time ago the board was assured that the
cost would not be over S15O at the most.
The county was to furnish the lumber
and Barry the labor. After the repairing
had been in progress some time it was
discovered that the bill would already
amount to several hundred dollars, and
there was prospect of the work continu-
ing all winter. Action was about to be
| taken when Barry reported that the re-
pairs had been finished. 1t is a nice little
bill now.
GOOD AND STRONG.
supervisor Jenkins, on behalf of the
Road Committee. reported to the board,
when the latter convened after it's return
yesterday afternoon, that they found the
bridge in a satisfactory condition-that it
was now strong and durable, even if the
price was high. He also called the atten-
ton of the board to the fact that several
other smaller bridges were found near
Hlcksville which needed repairing, and
he had ordered the Road Overseers to
make the repairs. The report was ac-
cepted.
James B. Devine appeared before the
board and asked that the claim of Rich
ards & Knox for 81, ,S10-the balance due
on the contracts for erecting the new steel
water tower at the County Hospital-be
paid Immediately.
The tank was built by the American
Bridge and Building Company, but be-
fore the contract was finished that COM
pany went into insolvency. A number
of Sacramentans to whom the contractors
had sub-let various portions of the work
this turn Of affairs. But the Supervisors
stepped in
TO SAVE THE LOCAL MEN,
By refusing to pay over the balance of
S1,Sl0 due the contracting company. The
latter then assigned the claim to Richards
& Knox.
Mr.. Devine stated yesterday that all of
the creditors were satisfied TO have the
firm mentioned draw the money and
settle with them. 1t appeared, however,
that the creditors had all put in claims
against the county, and until these were
Withdrawn the board could not pass the
assigned bulk claim. Mr.. Devine said
that this would be done, so that the claim
could be paid at the next session of tho
board.
District Attorney Ryan held consulta-
ton with the Supervisors in which he
informed them that the suits of Road
Overseer Plummer against Mrs. S. w.
Belcher, against a. Null and against w.
G. Sheldon had been appealed to the Su-
preme Court and needed attention. Ho
said that these suits We're tried while Mr..
Bruner was District Attorney, and in
each case Mr.. Plummer, who really
REPRESENTED THE COUNTY
AS litigant, had won through Mr.. Bru-
ner's efforts. Now, the cases had gone to
the Supreme Court on appeal, and Mr.
Ryan said that he was unfamiliar with
them, and could not spare the time to
familiarize himself with them as they
were very complicated. he thought that
the county could well afford to employ
Mr.. Bruner or some other attorney to
take care of the cases.
When the board was in session Mr..
Jenkins offered a resolution employing
Mr.. Bruner to take charge of the cases,
and the resolution was adopted. These
suits involve the title to portion OF the
grant line road, near the lands of the de-
Iendants. Mr.. Plummer, as one of the
County Road Oyerseers, sued for pos
session of it so as 10 open it.
After attending to this matter the board
adjourned until next month.