The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-08-24

At this point the council took a recess
to open the bids for the grading and
curbing of Fourth emu north. On
reassembling they reported that they
had received but two bids, n from
George A. Chichester for $3.50, and one
from A. Holden for S2,849.45. They con
sidered both OF them far too high. The
city engineers estimate.of the cost OF the
work amounted to 800 a lot. Under
these bids it would cost S3l per lot.
They recommended that both bids be
rejected and their report was adopted.
Aid. Roberts suggested that the work be
done by the city engineer, one block at
a time by day labor. The matter was
finally left over to the next meeting.
The ways and meant committee re-
ported against the petition for a special
pound master for the b. Il M. addition
and the report was adopted.
The fire committee recommended the
purchase OF a new hose wagon, but the
matter was deferred for the present.
A resolution was passed to the effect
that all petitions hereafter must be
made on special blanks furnished by the
clerk.
An estimate OF s126O23 in favor of n.
Il. Lease, sidewalk contractor was al
lowed. The amount represents 5l4.23 a
lot to be collected by special assessment
against the property.
Two ordinances, one relating to the
regulation OF hack driving and the other
concerning bill posting were placed on
their first reading. .
The city engineer presented an esti-
mate for repairing the Third street
main sewer between Third and Fourth
avenues north, showing that it could be
done with wood for S425 or with thirty
inch vitrified ripe for $500. He was
ordered to make the repairs with the
latter material as he recommended.
The question Of paving Central av-
enue with cedar blocks then came up
| Alderman Roberts asked the city attor-
ney il they could legally let the contract
under the old assessed valuation, which
would still leave the increased indebted
ness incurred by the contract within the
constitutional limit OF 3 per cent.
City Attorney Largent replied in the
affirmative. stating that the new assess
ment was not in force until after the
final adjournment Of the state board OF
equalization.
Aldermen Williams and Young spoke
against the proposed improvement or
the ground that the majority OF the
property owners did not want it, and the
| city was not in a condition to afford it
Aldermen Joscelyn and Sullivan ia
vored the paving. The former took
occasion to said that the valuation OF
| Central avenue property was altogether
too low and that the board Of appraisers
should be censured for their valuations
He asserted it to be a fact that rich mer
and corporations had been favored In
valuations at the expense Of the poorer
taxpayers.
On vote, Aldermen Joscelyn, Fitzger
aid, Mcdonald, Sullivan and Roberts
voted for the paving and Aldermen Will
liams and Young against it. The con
tract was awarded to Henry Vogel FOL
S42,940.75. The city pays for the inter
section of streets, which will cost about
$4,000 OF the above amount. The stree'
is to be paved from Park drive to Sixth
street, and it is the purpose OF Con
tractor Vogel to commence work at once
and get the work done this year.
This is the second contract LEI
to Mr.. Vogel. The first contrac
called for paving with vitrified brick
but Mr.. Vogel was unable to carry on
the contract owing to his failure to man
ufacture brick Of the required character
and he was compelled to stop work ant
give up the contract after spending
large sum of money. The city instituted
suit against him for damages and h!
filed a contrary suit against the city. 4
few weeks ago both suits were with
drawn on a sort Of tacit understanding
that he should be given the present con
tract provided he was the lowest, as h,
wac. This fact induced ome Of the al
dermen to vote for the improvement
who would otherwise have opposed 1t a
this time. Aid. Sullivan, in particular
alleged this as the reason which induces
him to vote as he did, in a speech to tn
council.