The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-16

The proposed change of grade on Rice
street and the paving of that thorough
fare with brick was discussed at length
by the assembly committee on streets,
yesterday afternoon. The board Of pub
lie works under date Of Dec Z, sent to
the council an order for q change of
grade on the street between Acker street
and Pennsylvania avenue The change,
the board Of public works said, was
necessary and proper. The order was
sent to the assembly committee On
streets for investigation In the mean
time the board without looking into the
legal aspect Of the case rushed ahead
and advertised for bids for paving the
street with brick. The bids were opened
and just as the contract was about to
be awarded. an attorney for property
owners. who did not agree with the board
as to the selection Of brick. raised the
point that the street grade would first
have to be established before any con-
tract could be let.
This was the condition of affairs when
the order recommending change CT
grade came before the committee yester-
said the people interested in the paving
Of Rice street wanted the contract let
and the paving proceeded with and this
course could only be taken by reporting
adversely on the order for change Of
grade.
Assemblyman Warner saw no reason
for haste in the matter of paving as no
work could be done Tor three months
and as there was some dispute as to the
proper pavement the board Of public
works had plenty Of time to readyertise
for bids
Carl Taylor, former assistant corpora
ton attorney, informed the committee
that he represented g number of the
owners along the street, particularly
those owning property between College
and University avenues. The majority
Of the owners did not want brick.
Assemblyman Benson Interrupted to
ask If the petitions in the office Of the
board Of public works did not show that
a majority of the owners favored brick.
Mr.. Taylor replied that there had been
no hearing given the property owners on
the question Of paving. At the time the
petition was presented favoring brick a
large delegation Of owners who favored
asphalt between College and University
protested violently. The board, however,
proceeded on the theory that there
must be a. brick pavement laid along the
whole length Of the street from College
avenue to Front street. Mr.. Taylor con-
tended that what would be satisfactory
pavement at the corner Of Front and
Rice streets would not be the proper
pavement on the street between College
and University avenues His own opinion
was that a macadam pavement such as
recommended by City Engineer Clausen
In his report several days ago would be
the right thing for Rice street north of
Como avenue, just as asphalt would be
the right kind and the kind the owners
wanted between College and University
avenues. Representing the property own
ers he had asked the board Of public
works to give the property owners re-
| hearing as to the kind of pavement to be
|, laid, but this request had s not been
+ granted
Mr.. Benson said he understood from
| Clerk Brunson, of the board of public
| works, that the petition for brick was
| signed by owners representing 1900 feet,
while the petition for asphalt represented
| only 1900 feet.
| Mr.. Taylor said he did not know where
| the clerk of the board Of public works
! secured his figures, but at any rate. not
| much dependence should be put on pc
titions circulated at the last moment.
| Assemblyman KtrSe could not under
stand why the board of public works
could not give the property owners a re-
! hearing on the kind Of material to- be
used.
| Mr.. Benson said the people wanted the
street paved at once and objected TO any
| delay. The people who had to pay the
assessment should have a choice, and ne
understood they favored brick,
| City Engineer Claussen brought the
| discussion back from the kind of pave
| nlent to be laid to the question before the
| committee, that Of change of grade
| between Acker street and Pennsylvania
avenue He said there would be no ma
terial change of grade made. When the
| question first came up 1t was decided that
| to accommodate the Great Northern
Railroad company, which was building q
| new bridge across It's right Of way, a
change Of about six inches should be
| made After the question of 1t being
| necessary to commence the paving pro-
ceedings all over, if the change was or
| dered the railroad company had decided
that the proposed change was immaterial
! and so informed the board Of public
| works. The principal reason why the
| contract had been pushed ahead was to
allow the street railway company to Sc
| cure the iron necessary for Its tracks
on the street. In reply to question the
engineer said 1t was probable that If
! the present bids were rejected the next
| advertisement would bring in higher
! bids for the paving.
| L. e. Shepley, of the firm Of Fielding
& Shepley, the lowest bidders for paving
| the street with brick, informed the COM
mittee that If the work was readvertised
| for the prices would be 20 cents per
square yard more. He had figured on do
| ing the work early in the spring, when
men and teams could be hired at less ex-
pense than in the summer. Mr.. Shepley,
! in answer to a query, said he did not
think there would be any more competi-
| ton in case new bids were called Ior than
| there was last time.
Clerk Brunson, of the board of public
works, was sent for at the request of
Mr.. Benson, and he corroborated the
| statement of Mr.. Benson that the petit
| lions filed with him showed 1,700 feet IA
voring brick and :, 200 feet favoring as
phalt. Mr.. Taylor said nothing was more
unsatisfactory than petitions hastily got
| ten up. All he asked was that when the
award came before the council that the
| property owners be given chance to be
heard. They had not been given this OPP
| portunity before the board Of public
| works. AS for the order for the change
Of grade, he was neither for nor against
| it. If the committee should kill the or
der for a change Of grade, it was prob
able that the board Of public works would
award the contract and send 1t to the
| board of aldermen for approval tonight.
| This, in his opinion, would not give the
owners chance to be heard.
Corporation Attorney Markham said II
| the board wanted to award the contract
| the change of grade would cut no figure,