The herald., 1897-03-11

in6 OF the many surprising proposieions
OF the protestants The contractors
They protested against any further de-
lay and were ready to submit the case
on the reports of the committee ana rne
evidence already submitted.
IF that is the case" said Mr.. Arthur,
I'VE can perhaps bring this discussion
to close at once by accepting the prop
osition"
well" replild Judge Mckinley,
that is our position. We are under
heavy expense, $500 to $500 month for
interest alone, and we want the matter
settled II this is not good street we
are willing to have the work downed at
gain to the property owners of SlSo,oO0
by which a mudhole has been turned
into q beautiful boulevard"
Councilman Mathuss said thex mat
ters had taken a new turn, and there
was a much bigger fight on than he an
ticipated. For this reason he believed
that the parties should have all the time
they wanted, as he believed that an In
justice had been done on both Sides
The street was a good drive, and he
had driven over 1t a number of times,
and he was satisfied with 1t. But now
that this new turn had been taken, he
was in favor of giving these people all
the time they wanted to agree among
themselves, so long as the business
could be definitely and permanently set
tied.
Councilman Nickel said that 1t was
practically impossible for the council
men to make up their minds on the evil
dence before thkn. Some of the re-
ports and analyses showed that the
work was very good while others
showed that 1t was very poor. and they
should have further time in which to
make Investigation.
Councilman Grider thought that the
testimony was all in, and that all the
council had to do was to act on the re-
port of the committee.
Councilman Mathuss insisted that
there had been no report When he en-
tered the committee room every mem
ber had his own report, though they az
terward had compromised on but two
reports.
Councilman Toll favored postpone
ment He felt much encouraged that
matters were now getting down to
focal point, and he was beginning TO reel
that the end was in sight.
Councilman Hutchison wanted to
know what the gentleman meant by
focal point, when Mr.. Toll replied that
il had now about settled down to the
question of the asphalt. surface and the
grouting of the cutters, as the other
matters could doubtless be arranged
III T0e analysis OIL I N ooAA vas Nt-
credited as it seemed to be, then the
councilmen should have an opportunity
to secure new testimony.
Councilman Ashman could not see
why, il both sides were agreeable; the
matter could not be settled. At first the
protestants based their charges on the
whole work. and now they had appeared
to center on the asphalt. They seemed
to be switching around.
Conpoi1r,1an Toll moved that fuTtneI
consideration be postponed for ten days
In order to get more information, 1t be-
ing understood that the inquiry should
be devoted to the asphalt and grout-
ing.
Judge Mckinley again entered his pro-
test against any continuance. His
clients had large amount invested, and
they had already suffered great pecu-
mary loss by reason of the delay. If 1t
was true, as has been stated, that the
whole matter has now been narrowed
down to an asphalt fight, the whole
thing was a matter of easy determina-
ton by reference to a board OF compe-
tent engineers. The work was in evil
dence, and any member of the council
could inspect it for himself. The con-
tractors were willing to submit their
case on the evidence as 1t stood.
John T. Jones said that he had made
but one protest during the whole in
vestigation, as he desired the fullest in
vestigation. When he had been told
| that Price & Son had been selected to
make the analysis he had objected on the
ground of that firms affiliations with
another asphalt company, and he had
assured the chairman of the commit
tee that their analysis would be bad,
and when they had put in report as
to the physical condition so widely al
variance with the truth, as shown by
an actual inspection of the work, 1t
should not be considered. AS to the
physical tests, they had only pounded
up the asphalt at different tempera-
lures, and any one could do that. This
street had been subjected to the heav-
lest pounding by heavy traffic of any
street in the city, and under the report,
If it was true, it should be pounded into
powder
IF Prices analysis is correct, what
then?" asked President Silver.
why the asphalt would not be worth
laying" said Mr.. Jones, "and l should
not say another word. And further if
Prices analysis was all we had on the
subject, there would be no use in going
ahead. But we have another analysis,
one made by a disinterested property
owner. Then we have others made by
Prof Stabler and Shaw, and we have
the statement of DR.. Salathe, who has
side, that Mr.. Shaw is a competent and
trustworthy chemist. Then we have
one by Prof. Rising of the State univer-
sity, all of which contradict that of Price
& Son, which is so wide of the truth; at
least on the physical tests. as to be
absolutely of no value. 1t was known as
a fact that the pavement had stood
actual tests successfully, when under
that report 1t should have crumbled to
impalpable powder
| Frank P. Flint, representing creditors
of one of subcontractors, who had fur
| niehed the cement protested against de-
| lay and said that If the matter was post
behalf of his clients, who were a Eu-
| ropean firm.
This brought forth a sarcastic remark
! from Mr.. Arthur to the effect that this
| statement almost induced him to with
draw all opposition to immediate con-
sideration, as the European firm could
not be delayed.
This closed the debate, and the coun-
| Gil by a vote of to g. postponed furth-
! er consideration until the 22d inst, at
| p. M, 1t being understood that in the
meantime further inquiry was to
be confined to the asphalt and the gut
| ters, and the time for the completion OF
| the contract was extended for ninety
days, in order to cover any additional
work that might be ordered on the
! street.
FOURTH STREET LINE.
| The matter of establishing the proper
| lines of Fourth street, between Spring
and Main streets, was again called up