The sun., 1898-10-05
RESOLUTIONS WERE ABSURD
So Considered at Last Nights
Meeting Of Street and Sewer
Department.
WILLING TO STAND FOR IT

WILLING TO STAND FOR IT
Report of Street Commissioner on
Streets In Question:. Harlan 4
Hollingsworth Want to
Lease Tatnall Street
Wharf.
The Street and Sewer Department at
its regular meeting last evening received
the resolutions of condemnation from
the citizens OF Fourteenth and Scott
streets. President of the Board Pro.
lessor Pratt read the resolutions and
stated that they were in the form of a
communication and could only be re-
ceived, but that he would like to say
few words in reference to the charges
made by the citizens in the resolution.
Taking the resolutions one at time,
Mr.. Pratt showed how unjust and alb.
surd were the charges they contained
against the Street and Sewer Depart
ment.
President Pratt said in part that the
city gave the B. 4 0. Railroad Company
permission to run through that portion
of the city and the running of the road
materially tore up the streets to a certain
extent, and taking into consideration
that there were no grade crossings the
Street and Sewer Department were will
ing to stand for all its actions.
Tho damn ont ho hooo yvorkipO on
this matter and the only way they could
make any progress was by negotiation
with the railroad company and finally
did succeed in eliminating part of the
trouble.
knowing that many property owners
were injured by the condition OF
things in that vicinity and while reliev-
ing the many they probably had to
neglect the few.
In reference to the first resolution Mr.
Pratt said that Pennsylvania avenue was
not vacated and that it belonged to the
city.
The city never grades sidewalks as
every property owner is expected to,
and does grade his own sidewalk.
Have improved Union street and
other streets and are doing all that they
can and using diligence and justice to the
residents of the entire city, and no i'm
proper delay has been allowed.
In looking over the names appearing
on the list Of signers of the resolutions
President Pratt said that many who had
signed it know that their interests were
guarded and that the department had
releases from any damage from these
same men.
In conclusion the president said that
the Street and Sewer Department did not
want to harm any man, and that they
were legally responsible to the city for
their acts, and the city seemed satisfied
with their street work which has been
extensive during the past year and he
failed to see the force OF these resolu-
tions.
Director William Simmons next took
up the matter and stated that the de-
partment had done nothing wrong; he
stated how they had worked with the
B. & 0. Company until they promised
to build number of bridges and this
work was delayed for various good rea-
sons and when the work was commenced
it was continued until finished.
Next came grading. This was done and
then the Water Department tore up the
streets to put their mains in and they
were followed by the gas men who laid
their pipes and following this the Street
and Sewer Department had to put in
sewers. Mr.. Simmons said there had
been no chance to do any permanent
street work on the streets named.
Ia tnI hn nl
report of the work as done ON the streets
in question.
August 10. 1897, the Street Commits
sion Department started to work to d.
vert travel from Pennsylvania avenue
preparatory to the abolition of railroad |
grade crossings at Pennsylvania avenue
and Union street.
On August 10, 1897, the contract for
grading Pennsylvania avenue was
awarded John Jacoby and grade stakes
were given for this work, which was
commenced October %, 1897, between
Union street and Grant avenue, and on
November lG, 1897, work commenced be-
tween Union street and the bridge. Jan.
uary 18th, 1898, working between Lin
coin street and the bridge. February 8,
1898, working between Lincoln and Scott
streets. March 19, 1898, working be-
tween Scott and Dupont streets. Grad
ing finally completed by contract April
9th, 1898.
Before this work of grading was fin
ished, work was commenced by the
Street Commission to sub-grade Pennsyl-
vania avenue for macadam or telford road,
the work being commenced January 10,
1898, and finished about May %, 1893. |
Curb stones and cutters had been re.
placed at all points where curb stones
had been set previous to the commence
ment of the work. Said curb and gutter
work having been finished August 20
1898.
On April q, 1898, contracts were let to
John Logan, Michael Donohue and Pat
rick Neary for the grading of Lincoln,
Scott and Thirteenth streets, Union,
Fourteenth, Scott and Ford streets, made
necessary on account of abolition of
grade crossing at Pennsylvania avenue
and Union streets and Fourteenth and
Scott streets. This work was commenced
May 10, 1898.
Union street between Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Fourteenth street being finished
June 2, 1893. Fourteenth street between
Lincoln and Dupont street diverted, to-