Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-07-18
OUTRAGEOUS STReErPAviH0.

Thiriy-ilvr miles Of the hes, paved
streets In the north division have been
torn NJ by the notorious Ogden Gas
Company.
Instead or properly rclmvimg the
streets. the notorious concern simply
pu, back the blocks and covered them
with sand.
No, n III, NJ tar or gravel has been
used ON the work.
The citizens are wild over the mat.
t'r. and will carry tho outrage into the
courts.
II Is about time that tho people learn.
al whether they have any rights whicl,
the city government II bound 10 rc.
spcct.
The question of the hour on the
North Side II: "WhO II the Ogden
';as Company putting up tn that It
can destroy streets wi,hO,,, any rx.
PLANTATION Or rrparation;"
u II said twO.tlir,ls Of ChicagO's
streets are paved In fraud. AMI there
Is IN he stop put to that kind Of work
II possible. Contractors are charged
with bidding ~ low for the work they
cannot make profit unless the sIcc!-
iicatiOns are Ignored. The inspectors
have tho largcs, control or the work.
and when they report favOruhly the
city pays the bill and asks no ,lucs.
lions.
Mayor Swift had u long conference
with the tivil Service Commissioners
Wednesday. a, the close President
Clark said:
Eve will begin tho investigation IN
few days. We have lot OF new
evidence. hut I cannot say what II II
NJ present. Mr.. Mills has the matter
In charge. und when he II ready to bc.
GIN the investigation will resume"
The crushed stone foundation for
The granite block pavement on Jcffcr.
son street In many places was found
To u" below the sprlilca lions.
What Il " pu,Tosed to accomplish by
III" present Inquiry II tho dismissal
from the servlc" Of al Inspectors under
who's" supervision such work has been
permitted. u IL not within the province
Of tho Civil Service Commission to In.
vest gatc tho street contractors. Neither
can III" city obtain redress IN cases
wlirr" work has been accepted. The
way u IN Intended to reach tho cOmtrnc.
tor. Il by the instailmcnt Of II new sys.
tenn Of Inspection that will compel then,
to Ito their work according to sp,clii,..
tiOns. To that end u list Of lmprOvc-
m"nts completed and upon which work
IN under way In which the work II
found I" lm below grade. AMI the IN.
spcctors In charge. is being made up.
I'll" list viii In the subject of the
civil service investigation. The first
case taken NJ will m that of Richard
CrOakc. who had charge Of the paving
Of West Madison street AMI II accused
OF soliciting u hrilr from the cont,.lc.
tor This will b" followed by the case
Of sullivan. the Jefferson street lnspr..
tor. both men have been suspended.
There are at present ninety street In
spectorS ana IN streets are being
paved.
Supt, Mcdonald of the Street Depart.
ment said Wednesday:
1T has been claimed for years that
the street work of this city has moi been
done according to specifications. Under
IN" present system II Is impossible TO
hold the contractors to their contracts.
All depends on III" Inspector in charge.
II he Is crooked the way Is open for the
contractor. The contractor lids less
than the actual cost of the improve
mrnt. u is useless to deny they heat
the city In some eases. In every case
In which hay" found work done below
grade have ordered II torn M and the
Inspector In charge dismissed. Up to
date ! have discharged thirty inspcc-
tors for lnc0mpetrncy or intentional
or unintentlonal neglect"