Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-08-21

ready reclaimed a strip 1900 feet wide
extending from Diverscy to Belmont
avenue.
President Nixon said that he was un.
der the impression that an agreement
had been entered into with the property
owners along the Lake Shore drive that
no obstruction should ever be built be.
yOnd the present sen wall. This would
leave out Of consideration the territory
from Oak street to North avenue. The
commissioners favor the scheme, but
will not act until further investigation
by the attorney.
A committee Of property owners from
Diversey avenue asked for the repair of
that thorOughfare between Clark and
Halsted streets. 1t Il almost impassa.
ble. The matter was referred to the
boulevard committee.
A contract was let for the erection of
wire fence fOrty-twO inches high
around the south end of the lagoon to
protect children from falling into the
water.
One more job perpetrated during the
last administration came to light In the
city hall. A bridge abutment. which
engineers estimate could have been re-
paired ut a cost Of 500, was torn down
and n private contract for new one
was let to Fitz Simons 4 Conneli, May
ar Swift's political friends, for $12,-
:,72.5s. The bills have been paid. the
work done and the incident closed.
The Fltx SimOns 4 COnnell Company
did pretty nearly all Of the tunnel and
bridge work during the Swift admins.
.tratiOn. In political circles this was
recognized merely as the payment of a
political debt, and for the same reason
u private contract for nearly 100000
worth Of work was let to the same firm
the fOur-mIle crib-when George II.
Swift was commissioner of public
works.
In the spring OF 1896 the water In the
Illinois ana Michigan canal was very
high and the docks We're not as strong
as necessary. The result was the sink.
ing Of the abutment that supported the
Ashland avenue bridge. 1t sank about
twelve or fifteen inches and the city's
bridge engineer was sent to examine It.
He found the abutment had sunk with.
out cracking a single stone and was
level at all points. He reported that
the damage could be repaired for $500
j. l.. Gnrrettson, now dead, who was
superintendent Of bridges at the time,
was displeased with the engineers re-
port and called In Thomas +. Melon.
Ough. a draughtsman, and ordered him
to make plans for a new abutment.
When the plans were completed the
contract was let privately to Fits Sim.
0ns & Connell. The engineers In the
bridge department unite In saying the
work was well done, but that II could
have been as well done In every way
for 500.
The plans for the abutment are not
ON die In the city hall, but that they
were made and that the city paid $i2,-
372.5s to Fitz Slmons a. COnnell IL
shown by the last annual report OF the
city engineers department.
When the story was circulated about
the city hall 1t revived memories OF the
deal OF Mayor Swift and his assistants
by which they attempted to change the
contract Of the same firm for building
% ten-foot water tunnel under the lake.
II was contended when this change
was demanded and an attempt made
TO put II through the Council that TWO
eight-fOOt tunnels would have To he
built, because Of the danger arising
from attempting 10 construct ten'fOOt
tunnel. The job was frustrated through
exposure In the Chronicle and the work
Of building the ten-foOt tunnel contin-
ued. There has since been no trouble
whatever and the work IN progressing
nicely. The present city engineer and
Commissioner McGann insisted upon