The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-09

An ordinance was introduced by Mr..
Keller in common council last night in
opposition to the asphalt pavement re-
pair measure which passed one reading
at Wednesday nights special meeting
of the select branch. Mr.. Keller's or
dinance was, on his motion and with
out debate, referred to the pavements
committee with instructions to have
the measure printed and to report it
at the next meeting.
The ordinance provides that the re-
pairing shall be by contract, to be
awarded to the lowest responsible bid
der. The contract is to extend ten
years. Section provides: THE bids
shall be for an equal annual sum for
each of the ten years and shall be pay
able each year from the current rev.
enue of the city commencing with the
year 1899 and ending with the year
1909. 1t is not required, however, that
the contractors shall eXpend the same
amount each year"
The city engineer is given complete
supervision of the work, he to pre-
scribe it's amount and location. In
case of serious difference between the
city engineer and contractor the latter
may appeal to councils. The payments
are TO be made quarterly.
The contractor Is not to be obliged to
repair pavements now in bond until
the expiration of the bond periods, A
bond of $4,000 is to be required of the
contractor.
To meet the expense, a section adds:
'"The city is to appropriate of the cur
rent revenue of the city applicable to
repairs of streets, each year for the
period of ten years, commencing with
tho year 1899, the annual amount called
for by the ordinance"
Under the provisions of the ordi-
nance it is estimated that the annual
cost will be from so, 900 to S12, coo for
ten years, or a total of from 100000 to
$4,000 for the entire period. Accord
ing to Mr.. Roche's select council meas
ure the cost is not to be more than
$4,000 for the whole ten years.
1t is argued, however, in favor
of Mr.. Keller's plan that It will be
cheaper in the end. This view is based
on the fact that the Roche ordinance
involves only half the asphalt pave
ment in the city while Mr.. keller's
measure refers to all the asphalt pave,
that now under bond (after the bonds
eXpire) and certain stretches of pave
ment out of bond and now in fair
condition but which will require much
attendance soon.
The meeting developed the beginning
of a movement to Secure for Scranton
the 1899 state firemen's convention. To
this end a concurrent resolution was
introduced by Mr.. Zizelman and
adopted.
The action of select council directing
the city solicitor TO appeal the decision
of court against the city in the Koehler
paving assessment case to the Superior
court was concurred in.
No debate was occasiOned by the Sc
lect council resolution providing for the
employment of clerks to assist the city
assessors in making the 1899 assess
ment, the clerks to receive seven cents
per assessment and ten cents per dog
recorded. The resolution was con-
Cured in.
Select council resolutions directing
| the special bond ordinance committee
to include in the proposed bond meas
ure $4,000 for the purchase of Trips
woods, to be used for park purposes
and $4,000 for the purchase of a site
and building for Eagle Hose company
were concurred in.
Action on the select council ordinance
for paving Forest court, south OF
Spruce street, which was called up foi
first reading, was indefinitely post
poned on the ground that it provides
for brick in opposition to the wishes ol
the property owners, who want asphalt
| Select council ordinance providine
for the paving OF Dix court in the real
of the city hall, payment to be mad;
out of the annual appropriation for the