The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-08
MILL RIVER BRIDGE PLUM
IT FELL IN NEITHER OF THE CON-
 TRAoTOR's POCKET.


 Specifications-win be Submitted to the Incoming Director or Public Works
 Friends of Geary, Clark & Go. and c. w.
 Blakeslee Make Determined Fight.
 The board of aldermen last evening voted to refer the matter of building the sub-structure of the Mill river bridge back to the city engineer. with the in- struction that he prepare plans and specifications for a bridge to be sub mitted to the incoming director of pub lie works for bids, in accordance with the provisions of the new charter. There was not a dissenting voice not withstanding the friends of the rival contractors had occupied two hours of the session discussing the merits of their favorites. A strong lobby had been in attendance in the corridors of the aldermanic chamber for more than an hour before the mayors gavel fell, calling the members to order. The local men naturally had the largest share of the workers, but Clark & Go. were not without friends both in and out of the body.
 Several petitions were read and re- ferred to proper committees. Two special constables, w. E. Short and Andrew Allen were elected by unanimous con- sent, the Fair Haven and Westville Street Railway was granted the privi- lege of taking off the six minute car west of Norton street. The matter of canopy at the Hyperion and several minor matters were disposed of in quick succession before the final contest over the report of the committee on rail- roads and bridges came up. The first one read called for the change of grade | in the street between the railroad | bridge and the proposed one over Mill river This was laid on the table to await the reading of the accompany | ing report and the one providing for | the construction of a foot bridge. The commended by the committee awarding | the contract to James J. Geary for | $89, ,655 50. The report was signed by Alderman Corcoran, Councilmen White, Clifford and Fisher, Alderman Pickett withholding his name.
 Alderman Root moved to amend the resolution substituting Clarke & Co. for James J. Geary, and the amount of the latter's bid, for Gearys.
 1 The aldermen and the spectators | turned their eyes in the direction of Alderman Pickett, as if they expected a minority report. In this they were disappointed. There was silence in all i part of the chamber. It was broken by Alderman Corcoran, who moved the re- port of the committee be adopted. This was seconded by Alderman Rourke. Alderman Chillingworth inquired if the mattle of grade had been settled. Alderman Guernsey called for infor- nation on the subject and Alderman Corcoran volunteered to explain why the committee had sent in such a re- port, but it was chiefly a discourse on the merits of granite and sandstone and resume of all the difficulty that MT. Geary had in building the Grand avenue bridge.
 | Alderman Chillingworth could not see what the Grand avenue bridge had tC do with the subject matter of the re- port.
 Alderman Corcoran continued his dis course.
 When he had finished Alderman Rourke asked of the chairman of the committee, Alderman Pickett, when the change In the grade of the street was first thought of.
 Alderman Pickett replied that the matter had been talked of fin the early stages of the proceedings, relating tc the matter of building the bridge, but had been abandoned because of the likelihood of heavy damages. Then 2 number of the citizens of the Eleventh and Twelfth wards came before the committee and asked that the humI be taken out of the street between tho bridges. It was in accordance with tho desires of these citizens and taxpayer! that the change in grade was made
 Alderman Guernsey thought the al derman from the Third ward MT. Corco ran, begged the question when he en- tered into a long talk on the qualitie: of the stone. What he and the othel members of the board wished to know was whether the Messrs Clark & Co.,: bid was lower that MT. Geary's. Alderman Dewell inquired if Alder man Corcoran did not remember tha his motion to refer the matter to tn, street committee included instructions to inquire into the bids, as the court O common council was of the opinion tha they were all too high?
 This question was answered in tn, affirmative, and the speaker said tha he had inquired of Sparks &, Evans ant of citizens as to whether the bridg could be built for less than Mir Geary'. bid
 Alderman Brennan objected to tn questions, and said that they should b, directed to the chairman of the com mittee. His objection was overruled and the alderman from the Eighth pur sued his inquiries.
 Alderman Root suggested that Alder trnan Pickett give a detailed statemen as to the facts he had gathered durint the hearings given the matter.
 MT. Pickett then gave detailed statement of the inquiry made of for mer City Engineer Hill and the presen incumbent, MT. Kelly. The forme thought the bridge could be bull cheaper and still not prove detrimenta to it's strength or its durability. Tn committee, Alderman Pickett said, ha, gone over the plans as modified by tn