The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-08
In n nc cplornbic Condition

Norman Leach.
In n DcriornbIc Condition.
Both Mr.. Chittenden and Mr.. Roche
submitted lengthy communications en-
bodying their findings and suggestions.
West Market street they say is In a
deplorable condition. The road-bed is
OF soft clay and ungraded. and subject
to extensive damages at every rain
fall. The six culverts on the route are
In such condition that they can not be
repaired, but must be rebuilt. The ex-
pense Of putting the road in anything
like passable shape would not be less
than $4,000. The committee would in
no wise recommend temporary repairs,
as in the end they would be the more
expensive.
| Both favored opening the new road to
connect with the proposed free turn
pike, and also TO recede from the con-
tract with the turnpike company If it
can be legally done. In consideration
Of the interests of the business men and
others who have located at Providence
square, the present outlet from the
northern county districts. the commit
| tee suggested that the matter Of open
ing the new road and transferring the
business center to Oak street, should be
carefully weighed.
Messrs. Roche and Chittenden
strongly favored the opening Of the new
road. BY SO doing West Market street
would be relieved Of three-fourths or at
least one-half of Its present heavy traf-
| fic, and In such an event 1t could be
made passable without the big expendi-
ture that the present Immense traffic
| demands
They also raised the point that II
| the provision of the contract with the
Turnpike company, by which abutting
property holders are exempt from any
expense for grading or paving could
be annuled, II might be advisable to go
ahead with the permanent repairing of
| the road, have W graded, paved and
guttered and new culverts built.
Would Cost Forty Thousand Dollars.
IT would cost, according to the COM
mittee's estimate, $4,000 for permanent
repair with an additional 100000 or
| $50, 900 for paving with stone block. A.
tention was also called to the fact that
many abutting property holders have
overreached on the street. and that a
culm pile also occupies portion Of the
upper part of the road.
All the legal points suggested in the
above, together with the question as
to whether or not the city can recede
from the contract with the Turnpike
company, were, on motion of Mr.
Roche, referred to the city solicitor for
an opinion. To bring the matter in due
form before councils the adoption of
the following resolution was recon-
mended by the committees:
Resolved, That the streets and
bridges committee in conjunction with
the city engineer be directed to make
survey and estimate Of cost of open
ing Iron street, from Oak street to the
city line" The resolution was passed.
When the city was sued recently for
/ repairs done by the Turnpike company.
s. B. Price was engaged to represent
the city, owing to the fact that City
Solicitor Torrey. before his election,
was engaged on the other side Of the
case. Mr.. Price sent an opinion to
council, after n verdict had been rem
dered against the city. asking author
ity to take the case to the Supreme
court, claiming that he could have the
verdict set aside and also that he could
prove that the contractbet ween the city
and Turnpike company was not worth
the paper 1t was written on. The COM
municatiOn was never read In select
council, being simply received and filed.
In a somewhat pointed speech last
night Mr. Manley referred to the man.
ner in which the communication had
been shuffled into a pigeon hole and
then asked that the city solicitor be
also requested to give an opinion as to
whether or not 1t is too late yet to take
the case to the Supreme court.
What Mr.. Mnnioy Said.
Mr.. Manley deplored the position into
which the city had allowed itself to be
wheedled, muttering as he sat down:
1--WE ought to be shot. We ought to be
shot,"
In reference to the construction Of
the Farber court sewer through the
properties of Mrs. Mccarthy, H. A.
Rifenberg and John Gehrens. City
Solicitor Torrey communicated that
the property holders in question had
agreed to accept $50 each in payment
for damages sustained. They will also
sell as much of their land as is needed
for opening Vine street and Irving ave-
nue. as follows: Mrs. Mccarthy, $4,000;
Mr. Rifenberg. $1,000; Mr.. Gehrens, ST.
600. The communication was referred
to the judiciary committee.
The Mayors veto Of the resolution
granting an additional sixty days to b.
q. Rooms for the completion Of the
Fourteenth ward sewer was approved
of by the judiciary committee and stis-
tanned by council.
THE ordinance regulating the cleaning
of sidewalks was unfavorably reported
upon by the streets and bridges com.
mittee. Chairman Chittenden Of this
committee explained that the only
change which this new measure makes
In the present regulations is that It
prescribes that sidewalks shall he
cleaned before 12 o'clock noon, and as
this will be hardship on workingmen
who spend the day away from home
the committee decided to reject the or
dinance. The council adopted the COM
mittee's views.
Appropriations About Exhausted.
Street Commissioner Kinsley com.
municated to council that two appro.
priations. repairs Of bridges and cul-
verts and sewers and drains were
about exhausted. When he came into
the office, 80 ne states. there was
$2,S51.SS IN the bridges and culverts