Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-05-05
Council Meeting Tuesday Even.
Ing Proves Interesting.
Second Street Paving Discussion Occupies
Several Hours.
And Finally Goes Over One Week to AL
low Test of Samples submitted to
be Made-Electric Light Plant
Not Yet Located Other
Business.


day evening, with all members present
and large number of spectators.
Upon motion of Bachman the reading
of minutes was omitted.
Building permits were granted to
Geo. NJ. Wood dbridge, Third street: C
z. Cochlan, Fourth street.
A petition from property owners on
Fourth street asking the passage of
an ordinance establishing sidewalk
grades between Butler and Putnam
streets, was received and motion was
made by Mr.. Wood to refer it to the
City Engineer and Street committee
The motion prevailed.
The matter of the city bearing the
expense of a telephone in the residence
of Marshal Dye was referred to the
Police committee.
A petition was received from owners
of property on Second street, asking
the awarding of the paving contract on
that street to r. B. Townsend, he being
over 5000 the lowest bidder. The pet!-
tion represented front footage OF
4O5O15 feet.
A. d. Follett presented petition for
Athens block on Second street, signed
by property owners representing
frontage of 4,1O0 feet. Several names
appeared on both petitions
Mr.. Hardy moved the adoption of
Athens block, seconded by Mr.. Haddox
Mr. O. NJ. Townsend addressed Council,
claiming to be the lowest responsible
bidder. He stated that his company
desired very much to execute the Sec
ond street contract exactly according
to specifications.
Mr.. Trautman arose to oppose the
Townsend brick, claiming the brick on
Fourth street are not up to speciica-
tons.
Mr.. Cochlan arose to say that if the
job of paving on Fourth street is not
up to specifications it is the fault of the
city only and that the property owners
on Second street should be saved all
the money possible.
Attorney Follett spoke in the interest
of Mr. Berry, who he said was well
known and had done good work ,
Mr.. Price favored following the de-
sire of the property owners but depre-
Gated the use of language antagoniziug
any contractor.
Mr.. Wood objected to Mr.. Townsend's
statement that estimates had been
made on uncompleted work on Third |
street.
Mr.. Townsend again repeated that
his company was the lowest response !
bic bidder and would endeavor to pro.
tect it's rights
He said that parties who had signed |
the Athens petition had been deceived. |
Mr.. w. A. Lancaster arose to say that
he himself circulated the petition and
that every person unders TODD it.
Mr.. L. w. Fleetwood addressed Coun- !
Gil to state that Mr. Berry had never
yet completed his job of paving on
Third street, and that it was still in a
condition between Mont
gomery and Marion. He insisted that
Mr.. Townsend, as the lowest RESPONSE
BILE bidder, ought to have the contract.
He cited the decision of the Circuit
Courts that if Mr.. Townsend's brick
are W to the specifications and his bid
the lowest he must be awarded the
contract.
The discussion continued for some
time between Mr.. Follett and Mr.. Ell
lenwood.
Mr.. Wood called for statement
from the Solicitor, who gave as his
opinion that in the specifications Coun-
Gil had already spoken, by it's require
ments, as to the material to be used and
that the awarding of the contract was
now simply u matter of dollars and
cents, and that it must find any
brick not up to specifications before re-
jccting it. lie held that If Cisler brick
were up to specifications and were Of
fered at the lowest price, they must be
used.
President Mcclure spoke at some
length and pronounced in favor of
Townsend block.
Z. S. Alderman stated that in his
opinion the job of Mr. Townsend on
Fourth street was the best in the city
Mr.. Bachman said it was not too
late yet to test the brick according to
specifications, beginning with the low
est, and MIR. Wood demanded that in
future all brick go through the test.
Irautman demanded the question.
Bachman, Garrison and Wood con.
tinued to advise test and Bachnau
offered a motion that when Council ad.
journ they do so to meet Thursday
evening to receive the report of the
test. The motion to adopt the Athens
block was lost
The duty of making the test was re-
ferred to Council as Committee OF the
Whole.
Mr. Price moved to defer the entire