Arizona republican., 1894-11-14

action of the council was the letting of 8 contract for street grading without any provision for supervision of the work. The following communication informed the council of his resignation and contained beside an expression of his private views upon the subject of street grading:
 Nov 18th. To the Mayor and Common Council, Phoenix, Arizona.
 In view of the action of this council last Fri day evening in letting a contract for street grading and prosecuting the work without any specifications as to detail aud with no superin- tendence either by the city marshal, commis- in order to protect myself, to bring the matter before the board and the taxpayers of the city. The work of grading four of the principal streets of the city, being almost four miles in the aggregate, is being done without any speci- hcations as to detail and with no reference to any grade, in fact without plan or system.
 The proposition of grading streets parallel to each other and without any reference to their relative elevations, or as to the grade of inter secting streets, is simply folly, and the expen- ditnre of public monies Tn that way is far from right.
 Under the last co o1ncil re-survey of the city was made, the results of W nich are iron monu ments placed at each street intersection-in the work now being done in grading the
 
 monuments from being piowed up or twisted out of place, and the results of engineering which cost the city some s1,500 or g ,000 will almost be wiped out and rendered entirely val uelesS
 The condition of affairs as above stated was called to the attention of the chairman of the street committee by me after the meeting Fri day evening, but without avail.
 AS think the action of the board in allow ing grading to be done on the public streets in this manner is extremely poor policy, and the money spent is almost if not entirely wasted, take this opportunity to place myself on record. herewith tender my resignation.
 H. s. DUNN, City Engineer.
 The matter of opening the alleys was taken up. The city attorney reported that he had received com plaints from the city marshal against fifty persons and that he would proceed against them next week. The council mani fested disposition to retire from it's stand on the question and the attorney sad that by so doing it would be neither better nor worse than it's half dozen pre- decessors. A discussion of the subject took place and the question as to whether peaceful or adverse possession of public property during long period of years entitled the unlawful holders to eternal possession of it was con. sidered.
 It was shown that in sone of the alleys buildings had been erected the removal of which would inf1ict hard ship upon the owners. In one case a man built "lean to- to an adobe structure. The "lean to" occupied the alley. 1t was evidently of some use to the owner and to tear it down would bring financial loss upon him. Where as, since the ''lean to" had been there about fifteen years, it could not reason ably be expected to stand more than five years longer. It would fall down of itself in that time and whatever loss the owner suffered from it's collapse he would suffer without the councils con- nivance. Time alone would be respon- sible and without an accessory.
 The result of the discussion was that it was decided to let the order stand for ninety days during which time ob. structors of the alleys are cordially re- quested to vacate and avoid trou ble.