San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-07

S'l,lbb. Il iOSS WHICH lell upon luC
city in addition to the excessive cost
paid the contractors. Total loss to
the city. S2O,S25.
(See minutes of meeting of city
council February Il, $780, and suit
of Mickeliohn & Co.. of San Antonio,
in Thirty judicial District
COURT
Compare prices of bridges under
French and Callaghan administra-
tons.
FRENCH ADMINISTRATION.
The SuperStructure of bridge on
Commerce street, built in 1SS1-weight
$1,000 pounds-was contracted and
built for $5,S4S.
Houston street bridge was built in
1882. at n cost for superstructure Of
SS.545.
CALLAGHAN ADMINISTRATION.
st. Mary's street bridge, for iron
work. concrete roadway. contract
price. $13 ,436. Total cost of this bridge
including 81 paid for writing in let
tiers of gold" the following inscription.
Bryan Callaghan, Mayor" $21. 317.-
90.
Crockett street bridge; contract
price. S11 Dog. Total cost of this bridge
$26040,39.
Market street bridge: contract
price ST.. 197; total cost Of this bridge.
500. G23.71.
(See auditors reports. on file in city
Ofiices.)
THE CITY HALL JOB"
The contract for the construction
of the city hall was let to Ed. Braden,
ST.. for $4,000. and a good and suf-
ficient bond was furnished by Mr..
Braden for the faithful performance
of his contract This building. how
ever. under Callaghan's adminiStra,
ton for work covered by the Braden
contract cost $19S.S00, or an excess
over the contract price of ST9.S00.
No steps were taken by Mr.. Callaghan
or his counsel. to enforce the liabili-
ty of the contractor or his SuretieS.
Mr.. Thad W. Smith and Mr. Lewis
were two of the Sureties on this bond.
MORE CITY HALL.
April -. 1891. Charles f. King. was
awarded the contract for painting
the city hall. according to certain
plans and specifications, for $500.
The books of the city show that the
contractor received extras for paint
ing parts of the same building. 81
9G5. p. being 81, 410,25 in excess of con-
tract, and records do not show that
any extra amount was allowed by the
council.
HOW MAYOR CALLAGHAN d.
VERIFIED THE SINKING FUND.
October 8, 1892, Mr. Callaghan exc
cutcd warrant for $4,000, against
the sinking fund in favor of the San
Antonio National bank. to reimburse
the bank for general fund advances.
Section IS of the city charter. pro-
vides that the money in this fund
can only be used to redeem bonds is
sued by the city. and pay the inter
est on outstanding bonds.
The amount that became due upon
interest coupons from October 10,
1892. to June |. 1893, amounted to
$40. 7OJ. The diversion of the 100000
through the warrant specified left to
the credit of the sinking fund the
sum of $10.12019. When the interest
upon the interest coupons, due in Jan.
uary 1893. matured. the latter amount
alone remained to redeem the same.
The city, therefore, in January 1893,
defaulted upon hts interest The fact
was not made public, however, be-
cause. the San Antonio National bank
took up the outstanding matured In
| tereSt coupons, and received eight
per cent interest upon the advance
made for that purpose, from the city.
| The bonds themselves bore interest
| at the rate of five per cent per an
| nun.
On March 1, 1893. when the Pas
| chal administration went into Office,
/ 1t was ascertained that the Callaghan
administration was in default for cou-
| pon interest to the amount of $14.-
| O33.S5. All of this amount has beer
| paid by the present administration,
| and in addition thereto, $4,000 on
bonds maturing September Is. 1898,
| hrs been paid, and all accrued inter
| est up to the present time. leaving no
| bonded debt or coupon interest ma
| tured and unpaid.
IaynSea39s oStroaO hteSthesafAfbhm
When the Callaghan adminiStra-
| ton went out of office there should
have been in the sinking fund S12I.-
600. whereas there was nothing! The
| sinking fund should he the most sa-
l cred of all funds as the City'S Credit
| depends absolutely upon this fund
| being set aside to meet the city bonds
as they become due and interest on
i same.
| HOW CALLAGHAN FOUND THE
FINANCES OF THE CITY.
When Mr.. Bryan Callaghan went
| into office as mayor, the total indebt-
edness Of the city, including bonds
\ was S1O1 900. When he retired, eight
1.vears later. the total debt Of the city
tvas s.. $50. 1885. being an Increase
b 1851. 1855. Look at the improve