The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-19
1000 TOPEKANS
Petition the City Council to Call
an Election
To Vote on City Ownership of
WaterWOrks.
PLANS
AUDITORIUM
Are Referred to a Committee
and the Engineer.
Bids For Paving Madison Street
Rejected.

The revised plans of the Auditorium
We're submitted to the city council Mon
day evening by R. S. Brigham and J.
b Billiard, representing the Auditor
ium association.
Architect Stanton explained that the
size and convenience of the building
had not been impaired by the change
in the plans.
Councilman Skinner moved that the
plans be referred to the committee on
ways and means.
Councilman Warner said: "I do not
see the necessity of referring this to
committee. There is no new legal ques-
ton involved for the revised plans do
not conflict with the city ordinance.
There can be no good reason for delay.
Mr.. Brigham-A1 that we ask now IS
a tacit acceptance of these plans. We
have nearly enough money on hand to
build the auditorium in accordance with
the revised plans and the sooner we
get to work the better. The Auditorium
association has carefully gone over
every detail of the plans and we have
approved them only after a careful in
VeStigatiOn.
Councilman Mergan-I have no inten-
ton of delaying this building but 1
think we should all know what we are
doing before we take any steps. Coun-
Gilman Warner is ready to act because
he is a member of the auditorium board
and has examined the plans but think
we should have the same opportunity.
be submitted to the city engineer and
all we ask is a tacit agreement that the
plans will be accepted.
Councilman Skinner don't wish to
do anything to put damper on the
auditorium but I think we should be
given time to examine the plans.
Councilman Elliott move that the
matter be referred to the city engineer
in conjunction with the committee.
The plans were then referred to the
committee on public buildings.
City WaterwOrks.
The second step toward city owner
ship of the waterworks was taken up
bv the presentation of the petitions, for
calling a special election, to the cOun-
ell The petitions are voluminous, con-
tanning the names of over 1000 resident
tax payers.
The next thing to be asecrtained is
ffths of the resident tax payers. If
they do an election to vote on cit
ownership of the WaterwOrks will be
called.
The petitions were referred to the
committee on sewers and waterworks
for investig cation.
1t is evident from the petitions that
Topeka people are ready to take hold
of the waterworks question and settle
at once for all.
Paving Bids Rejected.
The contract for paving Madison
street between Fifth and Sixth streets
was not awarded though the contracts
for grading and curbing We're.
The trouble was caused by H. K.
Winans, one of the bidders, submitting
his bid five minutes after the time for
closing.
By a vote of seven to three it was de-
cided to open the tardy bid. Repre-
sentatives of the only other bidder
John Ritchie, objected, and Council
man Morgan asked the city attorney
if the council might not breed litigation
nv apPPDtin0 the tar0V bid.
Mr.. Bird replied that it would be
ground for a suit if the contract was
awarded to a bidder who presented his
bid after the time fixed for closing in
the advertisement.
When the bid was opened it was
found that Mr.. Winans was the low
bidder. His proposition was to do the
work for $1-1S per square yard
Mr.. Ritchie's bid was $1.21 per square
yard.
BY a motion of Mr.. Drew both bids
were rejected and the clerk instructed
to readVertise.
The curbing contract was awarded