The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-05
PUTTING THE STREETS IN TRIM
CITY TO DO WORK AND CHARGE
TO SEWER Contractors.

Attorney Threatens Injunction
Proceedings If the Southern As
phalt Company Starts Work for
Street Railway-The Warren
scharf Company's CIaims-Orders
to Begin Work Held Up Pending
the City Attorneys Opinion.
About fifty men were set to work yes
terday cleaning and repairing the streets.
which are in bad condition as a result of
the house drainage work that has been
done. The move is in keeping with the
notice heretofore sent the house drainage
contractors. who will be required by the
city to pay the bin for the work.
The condition. of the streets, and espe-
cially those on which there is most traf-
fic, has been such as to elicit much un-
pleasant criticism on the authorities At
ter tearing up the streets the house drain
age contractors gave no apparent atten-
ton 20 placing them in proper condition,
other than to fill the old bitches in care
less manner and possibly to lay loose
planks across the soft ground on main
streets. Deep holes were worn in many
places and the streets are in disordered
condition and are covered generally with
brick and other rubbish.
Notice was served on the house drain
age contractors by the city to the effect
that if work was not begun on the restora-
ton of the streets within a stipulated
time, the city would do the work and
charge it against them. The time arrived
and no move was made Realizing there
was no other course to pursue, the city
employed laborers, who commenced at
the western extremity of the torn up
streets and lanes, and will work east until
all streets are again passable.
In the lanes the cobblestones are relaid
in many instances, but are covered with
three or four inches of sand, which is
being piled up with hoes and hauled away.
This will leave the lanes in a clean con-
dtion and with the six or eight men at
work in each of those now being cleaned,
It will require but short time to run
through to East Broad street.. Other la
oorers are engaged cleaning brick prepar-
atory to relaying them where they have
been removed from streets. Just what
time will be required to complete the
task, which includes simply the replac-
ing of brick and hauling off surplus sand,
Is not known, though Alderman Davis
said there will be no cessation until the
streets and lanes are in first class condi-
ton.
The Southern Asphalt Paving Company
win not be allowed 10 undertake the re-
pair work on the asphalt streets for the
street railway company without opposi-
ton.
Mr.. A. L. Alexander, who represents the
Warren charf Asphalt Company here,
stated Yesterday that u-bonaTrar he
company undertakes to do this work II
will be met with an injunction Mr. Alex
ander claims that under the maintenance
contract of the city with the Warren
Scharf company for the asphalt streets,
the city cannot permit any other company
to do repair work on these Streets for the
reason that his company being under con-
tract 10 maintain these streets for term
of years, it cannot do so if other compa-
MES are allowed to repair them His com
pany could not be held responsible, he
| said, for the material used or work done
| by other companies or individuals.
| Mr. Alexander said that his company is
ready to do any repair work needed on the
asphalt streets when notified to do so by
the Commissioner of Public Works. $500
There is large lot of asphalt paving,
| especially on Broughton, but this will
probably stand in suspense until the re-
| ply of City Attorney Adams, as to the
position the city should take in view of the
| claims of the Warren-Scharf company.
The company, as stated, holds to its own
construction of its contract rights in re-
pair work. The city holds a different view.
1t is asserted the agreement of the asphalt
company is simply one to do repair work
at the figures named, and does not obli-
gate the city TO have new paving done by
the Warren-Scharf company, which could
not have been contemplated in the con-
tract, as would be the case in the Brough-
ton street work. In places where the paw
ing is torn up from any other cause Than
wear and tear il is claimed the city is not
bound to have il replaced by this com
pany.
Until the question is settled Commits
sioner Willnk has declined to give the
Warren-Schar an order for the paving to
be done by the street railroad company on
Broughton street. The railroad company is,
of course, very anxious that the opinion of
Mr. Adams will be with the city, as both
the city and the street railroad can then
get paving laid by the Southern Asphalt
Paving Company for $I.S1, instead of pay
| ing $2.5S, the price per square yard charg-
ed by the Warren-Scharf company. BY
some of the aldermen il Is asserted that
they do not wish the city nor the street
| railroad company to pay a higher price
| than that for which competing company
proposes to do the paving. But as the
Warran-Scharf company is bound
by its contract to do repair
ing at a low figure it claims
there is no fairness in making 1T repair
| paving put down by another and possibly
inferior company, and this will doubtless
be urged against the position taken by the
city.
There Is no question but the streets will
be in the best condition by May L." said
| Alderman Davis. THE city has had a Sc
rious drawback on account of the failure
of the house drainage contractors to place
the streets in their former condition, but 1
do not think there will be any further de-
lay getting them in shape now, as it is
proposed to keep the laborers at work I'M
Ill all streets are in their old time tidi-
ness"
CYCLERS, SPRING MEET