The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-09
THEIR CASE BEFORE COUNCIL.
FULL STREET PROPERTY OWNERS
LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS.

Drink. and some Were Drunk
While the work was in Progress.
All of the Witnesses Protested
Against the High Assessments,
and Charged Tint the City Has Not
Received value for rs ESDendi-
tare--It Was Agreed That the Conn
plants submit "a Compromise at
an Adjourned Neaiiug Monday
Night. Looking to "a Revision of the
Assessments.
The dissatisfaction expressed by Bull
street property owners before the City
Council last night indicates that there
viii be come kind of revision in the
gravel paving assessments. over two
hours were given to an arraignment OF
they did not think the city had received
value for che amount of money expended.
They claimed the work had not been
properly superlntended, that the laborers
had idled. while it was charged that some
of the foremen had been drunk while on
duty.
THE iaborers had an understanding
among themselves 10 idle" said Mr. W
T. Bedford. who lives at Bull and
Second streets. Commissioner Of Public
Works Willink was known to them as
High Water while Alderman Davis was
known as High Tide When laborer
sighted either Of these officials. the word
was carried along the line, and every Ia
borer grabbed a pick. shovel or anything
he could get TO make show. While the
commissioner and alderman were on the
ground the men worked fairly WELL but as
soon as they left, the main efforts of the
iaborers, Mir Bedford said, were in striv-
log 20 get each other TO drink. When
either OF the passwords We're sung along
the line, the men rushed to their places.
There is no question in my mind about
the pavement being worthless" continued
Mr. Bedford Tt washes into the cutters
when there is a rain, and my opinion IS
IT Will soon be gone. Dale and Estill ave-
nues are far superior to ii In every way
and if 1 had my choice. / would take
either in preference to what we now have"
This was a part of the statement made
by Mr. Bedford before the Council. Nearly
AL The members were present to hear the
complaints against the pavement, some of
which were even stronger that that of Mr.
Belford 1t was after 8 O'Clock before
there was a quorum of aldermen, and
when the board went into public session,
Aldermen Thomas, Davis, Reid, Owens,
Krouskoff, Smith and Johnson were pres
ent. Mayor Meldrim stated that the OBJ
ject of the meeting was 10 hear the Bull
street property owners. Mr.. Charles f.
Prendevgast conducted the investiga ton
on the part OF the c0mplainants After
he had questioned the witnesses, they were
cross-examined by Mayor Meldrm and
the aldermen All had questions to ask
at times and for over TWO hours the
examination was exhaustive on both sides
1t showed that the compliments are
strongly dissatisfied with the paving they
have been asked to pay for and that they
will insist on a reduction.
Mr. ". NJ. Davant was the first witness
examined The questions put to him drew
oul the reply that he did not think the Ia
borers had properly discharged their du-
ties. and that The city had not received
value for lis money. Mr.. r. Rober was ex-
amincd at some length. He considered the
citys money had not been properly ex-
pended and that the property owners were
being asked to pay for something they had
not received. Both statements were decid-
edly against the work, and showed thai
The complainants would pay for the work
under protest.
Mr. NJ 4. Robinson. who lives on Bull
was the next heard from. lie did not think
the laborers lad worked energetically. On
many occasions, he said il was $50 o clock
before they began work, and then they
would lounge around, waiting either for
the foreman or gravel. He called attention
to the Fact that the locomotive used in
distributing the gravel, was at times fired
I'D and KEPT steamed during the day.
though il was not used. On several occa-
af no. cd 10 all RI
have il removed, as sick persons in his
family Were disturbed by the noise. He
thought this unnecessary firing of the en-
CINE an expense the property owners should
not he called upon to bear.
Did YOU not see the laborers loadng
freauently?' asked Mr.. Prendergast.
Yes. sir did. And when they did work
IL seemed they would only pick up
spoonful OF gravel at a time"
"Do you know the amount The city was
TO paw for the use of that engine?" asked
Alderman Davis
mo sir. / do not. But I have been told
il was so day
"Why didn't you call attention TO the
fact The men were not performing their
dutiss?"
Il did call your attention TO the fact.
though did not tell you what time The
men went TO work
Alderman Davis said he had not been
podhed Of the way il was claimed the la
borers were attending TO Their duties
/ Mr.. Robinson said he considered the
pavement fairly good from New Houston
/ TO Tenth streets. From the way il was
/ washing off. however. he thought it would
/ soon be gone. Toe pavement is apparently
/ i'm GOOD condition in dry weather, but when
/ il rains SIS condition is as bad as il was
/ two months ago.
In reply to "a question from Alderman
! Duncan. MT. Robinson sad he considered
Ire old she'll read superior to the present
/ Improvement
Il talked with an alderman about the
probable cost of che paving" Mr. Robin
! son continued. The alderman was then
on his way to Augusta TO inspect the
gravel used there. According to our cal
c,laton. my assessment would be about
$40. but IL turned OUT TO be $lG5."
Mayor Meidrim questioned Mr.. Robin
son on a few technical points.
/ Did I understand you to say the labor
...- ,4..lr,l fff, "a SIMON fus NJ Gravel ,t d,