Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-11
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] SOUTH OMAHA NEWS. |


| Innumerable complaints have been lodged
J against the street commissioner within the
last few weeks and several members OF
| the city council have intimated that all OF
the lumber purchased could not be accounted
| for. At recent meeting of the city council
Kelly stated that he walked about the city
| a great deal and that he noticed but few
new planks in the sidewalks For this
reason he called upon Street Commissioners
| Ross TO explain where all OF the lumber
went to. Ross promptly replied to the
question by saying that he had checked the
lumber received.
1t has been suggested that an easy way
out of the controversy would be to compel
the street commissioner TO make a report
weekly, showing where lumber for sidewalk
repairs had been used. These reports could
be placed on file in the office OF the city
clerk and any property owner who felt that
he was getting the worst OF it could inspect
the records at any time and IL the tally of
the street commissioner did not correspond
with the property owners measurement
there would be cause for an investigation
or remeasurement. 1t is thought that II
this practice, which it is stated is in vogue
in other cities, was made a rule here there
would be far less complaints about the re-
pairs OF sidewalks.
DR.. Stone has made a complaint which
the street and alley committee will be eX
pected to investigate and other complaints
of similar nature have been made, but not
filed. According to the bills the city is
certainly buying enough lumber to keep the
sidewalks in passable condition The great
trouble, however. is that planks are fire.
quently stolen. Not over a month ago rod
OF new walk was laid on the west side OF
Twenty-flfth street at the intersection OF L.
street. One plank in this new walk is now
missing and others will most likely be torn
up before the present cold snap is over
with. However, the stealing of planks al
ready laid will not account for the amount
OF lumber alleged to have been used unless
the street commissioner sees fit to send 10
the committee on streets and alleys an item
lied account OF where the lumber was used
Last summer an attempt was made by GER
tain members OF the council 10 have the
walk on the east side OF Twenty sixth
street. near the corner OF VI street, repaired
This walk is in a deplorable condition, as
about half OF the planks are missing. Or
ders have been issued to the street commits
sioner time and again, directing that a new
walk be laid on this property, but nothing
has been done up TO the present time and
now II is too cold. Since these orders were
Issued the street commissioner has torn up
portions Of walks on n street which were
in fairly good condition and relaid them, and
the same has been charged to the property.
Ross has studiously ignored the orders OF
the city council as regards sidewalk repairs
and when questioned closely, falls back on
the statement that he is obeying the orders
Of the mayor by doing as little work as pos
sible during the winter. 1t is fact how
ever, that time checks are issued by Ross
for labor supposed TO have been performed
during some OF the coldest days OF the year