The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-22
A GOOD HOUSE FOR SIS
That Was the Only Offer for
Pat Sherman's House
Which is About to Be Moved
From City Park.
Action Taken by the City Council on
Various Matters Last Evening.

The meeting of the city council last
night was for the purpose of awarding
two contracts and selling the old house
in the city park. One of the contracts
was awarded, but the other was not
and the house was not sold. The side
walk contract for this year was award
ed to Charles Lane, who is a nephew OF
L. Blackman, for cents per square foot
This is the lowest point yet reached by
the sidewalk contractors. Last year
the contract was awarded at five and
thirty-nine hundredths and contractors
opened their eyes in establishment, but
this year they were more than startled.
At the contract price the walks will be
built this year at $3.50 per lot of 20
feet
Following are the bids submitted last
night:
Charles Lane-For walks six feet
wide and over, cents per square foot.
For walks less than feet wide, ga
cents per square foot.
H. K. Winans-For walks six feet
wide and over, 5.39 cents per square
foot. For walks four feet eight inches,
5.S cents per square foot. For walks
four feet wide, COL cents per square
foot.
o. Swanson-For walks six feet wide
and over, 5.5 cents per square foot; for
walks less than six feet wide, $50 cents
per square foot.
John Ritchie-For walks six feet wide
ana over 90 cents per square IOOI
For walks four feet eight inches, SO
cents per square foot. For walks four
feet wide, 5.65 cents per square foot
The contract was accordingly award
ed to Charles Lane without discussion.
city Engineer Barnes ana the pant
ers of Topeka have widely diverse ideas
about painting. Engineer Barnes places
the estimate for painting the Sixth
street viaduct at $214 and every painter
who figured on the job said it cannot
be done for less than $500 with profit.
That is why there was but one bid
on file last night. That was opened
and found to bear the name of 0. H.
SandersOn and the price was $3.50.
Mayor Fellows said that he supposed
the bidder was figuring on three via
ducts instead of one and the council
men looked frightened. The bid was
three times as much as the estimate of
the city engineer and was promptly re-
| jected.
Councilman Skinner said: Il believe
| that the viaduct should be painted by
days work. It does not take very
sl1illful man to pain iron work. We
can buy 500 worth of paint and pick
up men who can do the work under the
will have to be scraped off"
Mayor Fellows said that he eonsid-
cred that the most practical way and
the cityfVilI paint the Viaduct itself.
No one seemed to want the Pat Sher-
man house in the city park. There was
but one bio. and when it was opened it
was IOQnQ 10 De InaI OF 01ly Engineer
Barnes. His bid was $25.
All the councilmen and the mayor
looked at the city engineer and Mayor
Fellows said: This looks as if Barnes
is going to get married" That was
the signal for a general litter and Mr..
Barnes blushed, but did not deny the
charge.
To relieve Mr. Barnes embarrass-
ment, Councilman Drew moved that
the bid be rejected, and that was
promptly done.
On motion of Councilman Burgess it
was decided to move the house across
Kansas avenue to a vacant lot on the
south bank of the river owned by the
city. The house will not improve the
appearance of the south approach to
the bridge. but the cOuncilmen did not
think of that. It will have to be moved
again when the bridge approaches are
improved.
The council decided to pay the Ma
sonic board of control SIS for the shut
ters on the windows in the third floor
of the city building. They were placed
there by the Masons when they Occu-
pied the hall, and were never taken
away.
The council decided to paint and re
pair the roof of the city building in
accordance with the report of Chair
man Morgan of the building commit
tee.
The trouble over the road in Philbin's
addition which is being washed into
the river was referred to Councilman
Galen Nichols attorney for Rol Mich
OILS, presented a communication asking
that the litigation over the appraise-
ment of the three cornered piece of
ground in North Topeka between Kan
sas and Central avenues be compro-
missed. The appraisers gave Mr.. Mich
OILS $500, which he refused to accept,
and the matter was taken to the dis
trict court. City Attorney Bird was in
structed to go ahead with the htiga-
ton.
The pay of NJ. J. Cady, stenographer
to City Attorney Bird, was raised from
$35 to $50 per month.
The bond of the sidewalk contractor
was fixed at Sic, 900.
The council adjourned to Thursday
evening, July l, to allow the pay rolls
before July f.
President Van OrsdaI of the Topeka
and Vinewood railway presented a
claim for $29. 900 damages against the
city for destroying the viaduct and
otherwise damaging the road The
claim was ordered filed. It will be
made the basis for the damage suit to
be commenced against the city.
LOS ANGELES REACHES OFT