The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-07-07
STILL UNDECIDED.
The Tenth Street Improvement Yet
in the Balance.
Five Widows and Others Who Oppose
Asphalt = The Matter
Laid Over.

There was special meeting of the City
Trustees last evening, called for the pur-
pose of considering the matter Of having
bltuminous rock pavement laid on
Tenth street, between l. and n.
Besides the Trustees there were present
Messrs. G. l.. Simmons, D. D. Whitbeck,
}. L. Siller, a number of ladies who own
property on the two blocks mentioned,
| and j. FL. Henry, President of the Cen
trail Street Railway Company.
All except the three first named gentle
men were there to demonstrate against
the putting down of the proposed pave
ment, because of its cost. The matter
had, however, reached that stage al
which the consideration of bids to do the
work was in order, but as there had been
some misunderstanding among the prop.
| erty-owners, the Trustees permitted an
open discussion of the whole subject.
! 1t seems that the order for the i'm
provement of the street was made by
| Street Commissioner Green, and not by
the Board Of Trustees, as is usually the
custom, in which latter case property
| owners are always heard on the subject.
The Street Commissioner did not exceed
was that the legal time in which to re-
monstrate passed by, and now the pro-
testants want to be heard.
| This was the shape in which the mat
ter stood last evening-and as it still
stands-there being bid before the
| Trustees from a bituminous rock COM
pany to do the work Messrs. Simmons,
! Whitbeck, Siller and Colonel McNasser
own majority of the property frontage,
! but McNasSer is out of the city and there
| appears to be doubt as to how he now
! stands in regard to the work. since in
formed that the city will not pay for any
| portion Of it. If he were to side with the
protestants (supposing a remonstrance
would now be considered by the Trus-
tees, those favoring the work would be
| in the minority.
| After the subject had been called up
last evening Mr.. Henry asked if the
Trustees had received any opinion from
the City Attorney as to the liability of the
railroad company, as asked for recently.
Mayor Comstock replied that Mr.. Hart
had not rendered the opinion.
Mr.. Henry held that the street having
been once improved, his company could
not be compelled to pay for laying be-
| tween its tracks any new pavement that
| the property-oWnerS might desire. He
objected also because the proposed pave
ment was in the nature of an expert
|
ment laid now in the hope that it might
be extended around the Capitol Park. II
would be time enough to have it done
when the State consents to pay for such
work.
If the pavement be laid at the figure
proposed it will cost the Central Railway
Company $3.50 for the two blocks in
front Of the Capitol grounds. In San
Jose he had had five blocks of the same
pavement laid between his rails at Is
cents per foot, while the lowest figure al
which this work is offered is % cents.
Mr.. Henry further said that Colonel
! Men asser, who is now in the East, had
stated that if the city was not to pay one
| fourth of the expense of the work. he
would have nothing more to do with it.
A lady present said that Colonel Nc
Nasser had so expressed himself to her
| just prior to his absence,
Mr.. Smith, agent for the paving COM
pany, said his company proposed to do
piece of work there that would be a
good advertisement for it. A six-inch
| bed Of concrete would be laid and solid
bed of asphalt above it. There are lots OF
people in the city who want to have
| streets thus improved, but they desire to
first see section OF it laid.
Trustee Conklin said that if the work
should be done Mr.. Smith would have to
take his chances of collecting from the
Is
| from all responsibility in the matter.
Mr.. Henry said that if Mr.. Smith
would lay the pavement between his
| company's tracks and take his chances.
he Henry was willing he should. But
his attorney had advised him that the
company could not be compelled to pay
! for it.
Mr.. Smith said he would do the work
Tor the railway company only on condi-
ton that contract therefor be signed by
| that company.
| The Mayor asked DIR. Simmons if he
| would be in favor of having the asphalt
laid, emitting the nineteen feet embraced
| by the railroad tracks.
DR.. simmons, in replying, recited the
history OF the movement in favor of hav-
ing asphalt laid on Tenth street, from /.
to Nj. He said the property-owners had
agreed to have the best possible pave
ment. His attorney had informed him
| that the railway company would be re-
sponsible for its share of the expense. AS
a matter of fact, the property owners
! there greatly preferred to have the rail
road tracks placed on some other street.
If the Trustees will protect the property
! owners he (Simmons) would take the
| chances of compelling the railway COM
| pany to do its share.
Mrs. Little, widow, made some re-
marks on the subject. She said there
were nve widows present, all owning lit
! tie pieces OF property on Tenth street.
and they were unable to bear the pro
! posed burden. If the rich propertv
owners wanted to improve the street
very well; but she hoped these moor
women would not be put to the proposed
expense, as they were not able to bear it.
Trustee Conklin said he informed
colonel McNasser, just before the latter
went away, that the city could not paw
one-fourth of the expense, whereupon
colonel McNasser said that if such were
! the case he would have nothing to do
with the proposed improvement.
Mr.. Whitbeck said that Colonel Me-
| Nasser told him he would stand in with
nm and Mr.. Siller IN whatever they
might do.
DR.. Simmons wanted to know whether.
If Colonel McNasser had backed out. he
had done so in time.
Trustee Conklin replied: ''Not in law
| he hasn't"
Mr.. Henry said that himself and the
ladies' present would agree to have mac
adam laid there.
DR.. Simmons said the time had passed
| Tor hearing remonstrances. The meeting
had been called for the purpose of award
! Ing contract, not to discuss the question
OF having the street improved.
trustee Green said that, in his opinion.
! the board had now but one duty To nor,
/ AOIHt Tue SOuSIueTallOn OF DlQS to do the
work that had been ordered in the reru-
lar way. The street had been ordered up.
bids had been advertised for, and there
was nothing to do now but to let the con-
| tract.
Trustee Conklin said that, while he be-
lieved everything thus far done had been
regular and legal, it was apparent to him
that less than majority of the property
owners now wanted the pavement laid,
l.. G. Siller said that the city should at
least put Tenth street in its original con-
diion. The railroad tracks had been
raised, and it would not be fair to comnel
the nrnIlaI.t Ihn lad