Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-28
FORFEIT PAVING CONTRACT
Council Takes First step in AbrOEat-
ing Contract on Harrison
street.

At the meeting Of the city council last
night City Solicitor Snyder was instructed
to draft a resolution declaring the con-
tract of e. A. Wickham for the paving
Of Harrison street forfeited by reason of
his failure to do the work within the time
specified; that the city readvertise for bids
and tina Contractor Wickham and his
bondsmen be held liable for any damages
that the city may sustain by reason Of
his failure to carry out his contract for
this work. As preliminary step to de-
claring. the contract forfeited the city mar
sha was instructed. to notify Wickham and
his bondsmen that the council would take
such action in the matter at the regular
meeting next Monday night.
1t was conceded during the discussion
last evening tina even ~ the city awarded
a new contract for the paving with Coun-
ell Bluffs brick, 1t would be very doubtful
IL the work could be Ion owing to the lack
Of material, also that If bids were asked
for on a different material whether Wick
ham or his bondsmen could be held liable
for the difference In the cost. City Solic-
itor Snyder in giving his opinion ofthand
said he believed that the city would not
be able to hold Wickham liable unless the
same material was used as was called for
in tie contract with him. The city coun-
ell, however, expressed itself as being in
favor Of declaring the contract forfeited and
readvertising for bids irrespective of the
question whether the city could recover
from Wickham or not.
Alderman Mcdonald in asking for the
placing Of an arc light at the intersection
OF First avenue and South Eighth street,
urged that the electric light tower
~ the nnSnar ~ proadUoU and EiUhth
street be abandoned and the lights dis
tributed in the immediate neighborhood at
suitable street intersections. This brought
up a discussion of the old question of
abandoning the light wers and with 1t
more or less opposition to, such a PROPOSE
ton, No action beyond. referring the mat
ter to the committee of the whole was
taken and on adjournment the aldermen
took a drive in the patrol wagon to invests
gate the need Of a light at the point named
by the alderman from the Fourth ward.
John j.. Hardin was awarded the con-
tract for the grading of Third street
between Willow avenue and Story street ON
his bid Of 20 cents per cubic foot for cash
and "a cents for certificates. His was the
only bid.
Victor E. Bender. appearing for residents
Of Fifth avenue, east of Third street, called
attention to the failure OF w. II. Knepher
to complete his contract for the grading
OF that avenue and the, city marshal was
instructed to notify Knepher and his bonds
men that unless the work was completed
in ten days the contract would be declared
forfeited and he and his bondsmen held
liable for any damages.
In conformity with the recommendation
of the committee on city property, II was
decided to deny the request that the city
donate one OF its lots in Ferry addition
to the Union mission for a building site,
but to offer the use OF the lot rent free for
three years with the option Of purchase al
the expiration Of that time Of the property
for 800.