The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-31

VI iHlS WY
A movement is on foot to take the
contract for paving North Main ave-
nue. and Providence road away from
the dilatory Girard Construction com
pany and give it to the next best bid
der. NJ. II. Dale.
Common Councilman Morris V Nor
ris with the consent of the other North
End councilmen and the approval OF
the property holders Is heading the
movement.
He interviewed the city officials yes
terday and finding them either favor
ably disposed or Indifferent to the
proposition. waited on City Solicitor
Nosburg and asked him to figure out
legal way of carrying out the pro-
ject.
Mr.. Vosburg is satisfied that it can
be done, but hestates to give an opin-
ion as to the proper way of proceed
ing until he has given the matter some
study. a suggestion to the effect that
the resolution awarding the contract
gould be repealed by concurrent reso-
luton was thought by Mr.. Vosburg to
be feasible. He would not say it was,
though until he looked into the mat
ter further.
CAUSE OF MOVEMENT.
The failure of the Girard company to
make any move towards carrying out
their contract during the four months
since it was signed, and the inability
of the city officials to get any salts
factory answers to queries as to what
the company proposed doing, led to
the present movement.
What precipitated it was the action
of the Scranton Railway company in
beginning extensive and costly tempor-
airy repairs on it's North Main avenue
tracks. A gang of 100 men were put to
work Yesterday morning at the Wood
street intersection laying wooden ties
FOR double track to the square. The
trolley company has waited year al
most for the pavement to be laid in
tending to set its rails in concrete.
General Manager Silliman, who has
had numerous interviews with the
Girard people regarding the Commenc-
ing OF the paving work. has evidently
become convinced that it isn't to be
undertaken this year and not wishing
70 nut up with the dilapidated North
Main avenue track for another six
months, resolved upon improving them
temporarily. When the paving is be-
gun, if it ever is begun, these tracks
VIII have to be dug up. the wooden
ties removed, deeper excavations made
and steel cross ties on a concrete base
put in their place. 1t is safe to say
| that the trolley company would not go
to this great expense If 1t was not as
surcd that the paving operations We're
dim and distant uncertainty.
Mr.. Dale whose bid of $1.9S per
square yard is only one cent higher
than the Girard bid. stated last cvea-
ing that he is willing to take the CON.
tract and start on the work the minute
papers are executed.
MR.. DALE'S STATEMENT.
"T would prefer that the Girard com
| pany should do the work, as they pro-
| pose to buy their brick from my COM
| panN,' said Mr. Dale. but i'm view of
| the fact that the Girard company is
| in danger Of losing the contract | am
| anxious to get it. So that my company
| shall not lose the sale of the brick.
| There may be some pro bono publico
| in my motive. but I am not making
| any pretensiOns in that direction. II
| the North End people want me to take
! the contract | stand ready to accommo-
/ date them"
The contract with the Girard COM
| pany was signed May %. 1899. It
| calls for the completion of the work
| by May 30 1900. According to expert
| calculations the work cannot be done
| in less than four months. Only a
small portion Of it couId be completed
| this year, as City Engineer Phillips
| will not allow any concrete to be laid
| in frosty weather and it would be
scarcely possible, judging from the
| way the winters are lengthenng out
| in this region, to do much more than
| months work next spring prior Ia
| the expiration of the contract. But
| this aside. the company has not COM
menced work yet and gives no assur-
| ance that it will commence this year
! all of which means that the North
! End will have. another years expert
! ence with the mud canal on Main ave-
| nue. and Providence road which. they
| claim, is depreciating their property
! and injuring their health, and which
! they do not propose to put up with II
! there is any way of avoiding it. The
| legislation looking to a change Of con-
tractors will be introduced in councils
| one week from tonight.