Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-04-17

McNally & Knighton. ...... 100 0l
=. ii. Burgraff. aff..........,.,,,, rs OF
Hutchins & Southwick. . 1927 q
Saruher q parr............... IL Il
; Salem Improvement Co... q
To-a ...,.......,.....,..... .$2S. $50 "a
Tho contractors, Messrs. Hutchins q
Southwick have q claim which they
state Is now due them for about
$4,000 for labor and material furnished
since Jan. 1st which was presented 70
the council at its last session.
We are Informed that two sunerin-
tendents are engaged on this work Mr.
w. F. Boothby being employed In nd
dition to Mr.. Pugh
| We deprecate this as a needless ex-
'pense. One competent and reliable
superintendent should be employed by
the city and the expense and services
| OF the other dispensed with
This enterprise we believe to be bv
TAR the most unfortunate one ever un-
dertaken by the city. 1t has now
reached a point where it is difficult to
stop and would be very expensive and
wasteful to do so, and yet it is almost
per1lous to proceed with It.. II the
present contract is completed during
The year as is provided for in the con
tract, the city will by that time have
to pay about $1,000 per month interest
on its bonded and floating debt which
VIII absorb very nearly tax levy of
five mills
If dt should happen that the pro-
posed sale OF 100000 bonds is not com
pleted the cfty's paper will fall so low
That the contractors could hardly pro-
ceed with the work, in our opinion.
TO completes the present contract
will require the expenditure of about
$4,000 in round numbers. To cancel
:he' contract now would require the
payment of claims due the contractors
and the remaining. twenty per cent due
them for labor and material furnished
by them and they would doubtless also
claim damages for cancellation of con-
tract. All this might amount TO any
where from 1900 to 5000 dollars, and |
there would be further loss to the
e1ty by wastage of material and dam
age TO the work already done II left
unprotected. The foundation mighr
perhaps be protected by a covering OF
boards and the bricks now on the
ground be sold when a demand for
brick crises but such methods would
be very wasteful and should be avoid
ed II possible. and we think II will be
best, all things considered, to carry
the present contract with Hutchins &
Southwick to completion.
Taking up the matter of the various
street improvements that have been
carried on by the cityi
There koS ham I
The city on account OF the improve
ments on Chemel1eta, Commercial and
South Commercial streets. The i'm
1royements ON these streets were car
led forward by the city and warrants
n paymsnt for same duly issued T.
nc contractors In each case which Inn
nediately on pres entation tc the treas
lrer commenced to draw interest al
he usual rate of per cent per annum. c
The Chemel<eta end South Commercial 7
treet divisions Of the work became In l
'olved in litigation and that on South C
commercial street or u part OF t Is Y
till In litigation. o
~Ihe city was at an expense of 1880 r
or legal services In connection with o
he Chemeketa street case, and we Il
resume there viii be a further ex- Z
ense for came service on the South 0
commercial street case.
Pending the decision OF the courts
be warrants were drawing interest as
lated and when the Chemeketa street,
ase was finally decided IN favor OF
he city the assessments for improve
Ient OF Commercial street were paid
} the city without any interest The
suit is that a deficiency occurs ON ~
count OF that Improvement which q
ie city must make up from the gen. c'
v1 fund. we presume. as we see no &
her source from which TO obtain II n
The warrants outstanding on account HI
Commercial street improvements "
'e; o.
o. 500 presented Dec. 20. 1892. "a, ,720 % III
o. 1877 presented Jan. o. 1894. IS 90 az
0. 1873 presented Jan. II, 1894 10 30 ,
s475l II
t. oa same to April /. lssi.. 40 % al
5.zsl So lie
IS amount assessable to the to
aity ..,.....-..... las AZ th
s.Oss % W
iers Is cash on hand in this m
'und ....,......,....-....... 1850 50 sa
ID assessments remaining due 80
10 the city and unpaid.
lmounting to....,.......-... 7sl 81
--
ares a.
.hciency a. be made up...... I,s0z 10
gsi services IN chemeieta
'treef case. ae.,.-s.--+.ts-,....... 1900 %
tai los 70 the city on these
~o strssss .,..,' ,.,...........'a 'a.so2 70 o,