The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-04

Recorder COnnoll and Director of
Public Works Roche were very much
surprised yesterday afternoon, when
'hey opened bids for number of sew
re, to find that in two instances there
were no bidders at all. and that in no
instance was there more than one bid
for sewer
This is certainly astonishing" said
Mr.. Roche to Tribune man. IL hardly
know how to account for it, do not
believe that the sewer contractors have
an understanding with one another. so
as to shut off competition. and the
only reason | can advance for their
failure to bid is dissatisfaction at the
way in which the city has been pay
ing them in the past.
There is no question but that the
lax methods which have prevailed in
the city solicitors Office in past years
are largely responsible for the failure
OF large number of property own
ers to pay their sewer assessments
promptly. They have been given per-
mission in the past to put off the pay
ment of their sewer assessments time
and again, until finally the time limit
would expire before the lien could be
renewed
These property owners, rejoicing at
their good luck, have noiscd the news
around, and it is my belief that they
have succeeded in a large number of
instances in dcterring other people
from paying up, by leading them into
n" belief that they, too. might get out
without paying anything.
CONTRACTORS KEPT WAITING.
Tho result of this transaction has
been that sewer contractors have been
kept waiting for years for money Just
ly due them, and in many instances
have been forced to lose large sums.
My office is continually bombarded
with complaints from contractors who
have become hcart-Sorc and weary of
doing work for the city
There are Il number of ways in
which this condition of affairs can be
improved. one of these has been put
into force Of late. The present city
solicitor, acting under instructions
from the recorders cabinet, is doing
the pest IN his power to use extra
ordinary diligence in the collection of
sewer assessments and this action on
"ln some cities where the property
owners pay part Of the cost of con-
structing sewers. the plan has been
adopted of collecting all, or nearly all
of the money. before entering into a
contract This is a very good method,
hut it takes time and deal of pre-
limnary work. Then again, the entire
cost of constructing sewers can be
paid directly by the city from taxes
levied directly upon the citizens at
large. This is the method in use in
the very large majority of thu impor-
tant cities of this country, and I'm be-
ciuling to believe that it's the only
I:op,r way after all.
"Remomhel that I'm not saying pos
sitivoly that the lack of bids is due tp
past CarelessnesS on the part of the
city in collecting sewer assessments.
That's only my individual guess, hut
I'm inclined to think it's correct
one
RAILROAD ALLEY SEWER.
The most important sewer for which
,iGs We're Yesterday received is tn,
Railroad alley sewer which is planned
to relieve the big main sewer on
lachdwanna avenue. The only bidder
tur this sewer was Thomas +. Cannon
If jackson street, whose bid was S3.1;
per lineal foot. The other bids wert
as follows:
ror Section \ sewer Seventeenth
geWei district, Eleventh ward: Fickus
~ Partridge, Sl.I5 per lineal foot, Will
stont covered basins. Sill per linea
1o0t with Pierce casting covered ba
sins, and 50 cents per foot for extra
house connections.
!'ur Section B sewer, Seventeenth
sewer district, Eleventh ward: Ficku,
4 ParaidGc. $l.6l per lmeal foot. Will
N"n" covered basins; sl.59 per linca
irot with Pearcc casting covered ha,
S'nS, and 80 cents per lincal foot fol
extra house connections.
For Il lateral sewer on Alder street
lrtNecn Pittston avenue ana Roser
'odrl, Eleventh ward; A. H. Coons
$lii Ter lincal foot with stone covered
LaSins. 30 cents per foot for cxtr;
house connections.
\ hid was also received from PotrI
Stipp for paving West Market street
between the Lackawanna river an,
North Main avenue, with stone block
and for putting in curbing. He of
tcrs t. lay the pave for 81 per squar,
yard. straight curb to be 6S cents pc
foot and circular curb, $l.4O per foot.
There were no bids received for tn,
construction of Section & sewer, ScV
enicenth district, nor for he sewc
On portions of Wyoming avenue am,
A~h street The contracts will b.
awarded oday To the bidders for tn
other work if, after computation. it 4
todr6 that their bids are within tn