, 1892-07-14
THE CITY COUNCIL.
SiCkeIS Presents a List of Charges
Against Mr.. Lemon.

Mayor O'Brien Urges a Full and
Fair InVestigatiOn--The EIec-
tiOn of a Successor to MIR. Spring.
eI--MisceIIaneOus Matters.
Councilman Sickels last night presented
to the council alleged charges against City
Engineer Lemon. He said that Mr..
Lemon, at the last meeting, had requested
an investigation and that he had prepared
the charges in order that the request might
be complied with. The charges read as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Mayor and the City
Council of the City of Olympia.
GENTLEMEN: I hereby charge Millard
Lemon, city engineer, as being incompe-
tent and as having wasted the city's
money, and demand a thorough investiga-
tion of all the workings of his office. l cite
the following to support my charges:
Columbia street. at its intersection with
Fifth, is not on grade, one side OF Column
bia and Fifth streets being higher than the
other.
Eighth street was accepted by him and it
will take several hundred dollars to repair
it so the cutters will conform to the grade
Central streets final estimates were
given by him. 1t has cost several hun
dred dollars and will cost more to bring it
to grade.
Union street was accepted and final esti-
mates given by him. The street is not
graded to its full width.
Sherman avenue grade was re-estabhshed
by him and the city was compelled to pay
$305.52 for earth that was never moved.
A change of grade on Fifteenth street, be-
tween Adams and Franklin, cost the city
$57.S9 for earth never moved.
The walk at Union and Franklin street
was relaId at the city's expense.
1t cost 5000 to film Tenth street, between
Washington and Adams streets, and cost
500 to I'LL Franklin street in front of the
Unitarian churcb-all bad engineering.
The street railroad track is above the
grade OF the street and will cost several
hundred dollars to repair.
In giving the grade of Sixth street in
front Of Mr.. MCCausland's he compelled
Mr.. McCausland to grade the street three
feet below the established grade and did
want him to 60 lower.
General CaYanaugh was compelled to re-
move the bulkhead around his property on
account OF change in Instructions from en-
gineer.
Sidewalks and cutters were relaid in nu-
merOuS cases all on account Of bad engi-
neering. Refer to street commissioner.
Befused to make change in the grade of
Union and Columbia streets, where it dam
aged property and when same could have
been done without any extra cost. Refer
ences, Messrs. Convey, Ford and Brown.
On Tenth and Union streets he was COM
PEELED to make a change as the property
owners would not allow their property to
be ruined.
Refused to allow the street committees
to make changes on Union and Columbia
streets that were ordered by the council.
Twelfth street earth has been moved af-
ter the "a "a haan
G. /. SICKELs.
Mr.. Ward favored having the matter
considered by a committee Of the whole.
Mr.. Phipps suggested that an engineer
who was without bias should be employed,
and Mayor O'Brien urged a full and fair
investigation. The charges were laid on
the table to be taken up for consideration
by the committee of the whole.
X. b. McCausland was before the cOun-
ell In relation to the matter of the Sixth
street grade and said that the graded
street was from two to three feet below the
established grade, and that he had waited
some time for the action Of the city cOun-
Gil.
The matter of filling the vacancy oc-
caslOned by the resignation of Councilman
Springer was presented by Mr.. Phipps.
Mr.. Sickels raised the question as to what
ward the councilman should be elected
from, and If he must necessarily be from
the same ward as Mr.. Springer. Under the
new division of the city into wards, each
ward has a councilman except the second.
The city attorney was of the opinion that
the council could use its discretion in
eleCting another member.
The matter of the city securing posses
sion of the tide lands not filed upon, was
brought up by Mayor O'Brien. The mayor
said he had in view a plan by which the
purchase can be accomplished. As briefly
outlined it was to file the applications and
induce the tide land commission to accept
warrants for the first payment of 10 per
cent. and then the legislature could be
asked to donate the lands to the city and
return the warrants. This would be only
fair, as the city has expended much money
on the harbOr, and as the legislature has
already provided for the donation of 75
per cent. Of the proceeds for harbor inn
prOvement, it ought in this city's case to
be willing to add the other 25 per cent. to
the donation.