St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-20
SWEENEY'S SINKHOLE.
The Langford Park Ghost
Again Stalks Before the
Street Committee.
A Heated Discussion Between
City Fathers Leaves It to
Arbitration.
A Site for a New City Bastile
Is About to Be Sc
lected.
Police Officer McCarrick Sue
enmbS After a Hard Stpug-
gle With Death.

The Langford park ''sink hole, (which
has occupied SO much attention in mu
nicipal affairs, once again has made its
| appearance, and last evening the as
Sembly committee on streets had the
question under discussion for over two
two hours. After the transaction of
routine business a resolution introduced
the board CT aldermen by Mr.. Dobner,
| and passed last Tuesday, was taken up.
The resolution instructed the board of
public works. to cause the work Oh
Langford park to be completed accord
ing to contract without further delay.
Hon. John ". Willis appeared on be-
half of Contractor Sweeney, and in a
long speech gave a history of the well
how the contractor had for a certain
sum agreed to fill up the hole. and how
the dirt put in had sunk out of sight.
The bill passed by the legislature au-
thorlZlng the city to pay the contractor
$4,000 as extra compensation was read,
and also the resolutions of the old coun-
ell to pay the sum, and the mayors veto
on the point that there was no money in
the treasury available. Mr.. Willis
asked the committee to treat his client
III just manner. and hoped the resolu-
ton of Aid. Dobner would not pass.
A triangular dispute then took place,
in which Alderman Dobner, Contractor
Sweeney and City Engineer Rundlett
took part. MIR. Dobner said that
Sweeney had done his work in care
less manner, and he did not believe that
he had put in the amount of earth
hp ni a ha hoh In
wanted the work carried out without
further delay, and tie people at ST.
Anthony Park should not be assessed in
order to compensate Mr.. Sweeney, who
bad accepted the contract knowing
what he was doing.
Assemblyman McCafferty acted the
role of the upright judge" and SAID
he was certainly in favor of compen-
sating Mr.. Sweeney, who had acted in
good faith, and III accepting the con-
tract relied upon the estimates made by
the city engineer. He could not under
stand the sudden change made by
Alderman Dobner, who blew hot and
cold, for he understood that he had all
along worked on behalf of Mr.. Sweeney
in the old council. Alderman Dobner
retorted hotly that it was nothing OF the
sort, and said that if the assembly
did not pass his resolution, the alder
men would never pass resolution to
compensate Sweeney at the expense of
the property owners. After a long
argument, which only seemed to
deepen the darkness" Chairman Van
Slyke took up the role of peacemaker,
and suggested that the best and only
way to settle the affair was to refer it
to joint committee of both bodies 10
arbitrate upon, the committee to in
clude three members from each house,
TO be appointed by their presiding Off
GERS. and also to include the mayor, the
city attorney. the city engineer and the
city comptroller. On the motion of Mr..
McCafferty the suggestion of the chair
man was carried. and will be reported
upon TO the assembly.
A petition from residents at Marian
Park, asking that music be supplied in
the pagoda during the summer, did not
meet the approval of the committee,
while resolution that contract be
made with Prof. Seibert to give Satur-
day evening concerts in Rice park dnr-
ing the summer, was reported upon
favorably.
An ordinance to change the name of
Van Dyke street to Van Dyke avenue
also passed.
An ordinance to pay George Doehne
500, paid by him into the treasury for
the vacation of an alley in block Is of
Fairview addition, was referred to the
city attorney.
The following resolutions were also
favorably reported upon: A resolution
that the board of public works be au-
thOriZed to make contracts for livery
used by their officers, until December,
in sum not exceeding $500.
a resolution to place two manholes
on Case street to facilitate sewer clean
ing.
An ordinance governing the storage
and handling Of inflammable liquids. and
fixing the penalty for violation of its
clauses In a sum not exceeding 500.