The herald., 1896-08-20
TEARING UP MAIN STREET
Work Commenced After the Contract
Has Been Forfeited
An Effort VIII Probably Be Made to Get the
Council to Reconsider Its Rscent
Action In .ne Matter

From present indications the Main
street contractors do not intend to give
up their fat job without a contest. After
repeated warnings, and after exhaustinis
every means at their command to hur-
ry up the work, the city council on Mon
day last declared the contract forfeited
for compliance with the provis-
ion that the work should be pushed
with due diligence, thus stopping all
further proceedings. This step was taken
only as a last resort. The contract was
signed up last May, ard provided that
not more than two blocks of the street
should be torn up al any one time. the
object being to have the work done with
as little Inconvenience as possible. In
place of proceeding in this manner the
contractors went ahead and tore up the
street throughout its entire leagth, reE-
dering it almost impossible. and then left
IL in that condition. keeping only one
man lat work to hold the contract. This
of course raised a general kick The
contract had been awarded at what
many of the property owners considered
an exorbitant price. and all agreed that
1t was ample to cover any deficiency
that might result from losses on the
bonds. the work being done under the
street bond Improvement act. and they
naturally wanted the job rushed through
as rapidly as possible. The contra-0>, -
Kept putting of the work on one pre-
tense or another and nothing was done
1t was generally understood that the
contractors We're awaiting a supreme
court decision as to the validity of the
bonds, but this was persistently denied
by the interested parties. About the
middle of July the contractors were cited
TO appear before the council and explain
why the work was not being done.
At this time their legal representa-
1--WE, John !. Jones. appeared and stated
that the contractors were waiting for
some special asphalt mixing machinery
and that when it arrived they would be
prepared to lay pavement a t the rate of
10000 square feet Il day. August l was
positively g.ean as the date on which
paving would begin. When that time
arrived there were no signs of work and
again tn contractors were cited to APP
pear before the council. This time r. j.
Widney, Jr., one of the contractors. ap-
peared and assured the council that
work would begin at once. 4 few men
were put at work laying curb, but on the
complete "fall-down'' of the contractors
to keep their promises the contract was
declared fol-aited on Monday last
Nothing .; been done since that time
until yesterday afternoon. when the con-
tractors commenced plowing up the
street between Ninth and Tenth streets
as II they intended to commence laying
payment. AS the contract has been for
feited, they have no right on the street
Several thousand dollars have been
spent on the street and it is evident that
the contractors do not propose to give
up without d struggle and will endeavor
to get the council to reconsider its ac-
tion. AS every one wishes the street
paved as sooS as it can be done, it is not
beyond the range of possibilities that
this VIII be done if a sufficient showing
is made and the contractors go to work
like they mean business. A special meet
ing of the council may be called to take
action in the matter