The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-09-08
Cannot be Let at All at the
Present Time.
More Delay on Account Of Stupid
City Officials and Their
Blunders.
BOARD OF WORKS Is DOwNED

The city has struck a snag in connec-
tion with the building of new market
house, on account of city officials not
knowing anything TO hurt about the city
charter. As result there will be de-
lay of two weeks or longer while the two
legislative boards pass an ordinance pro-
viding for the improvement.
The charter prescribes that no public
improvement can be made until an ordi-
nance for il has been provided. No ordi-
nance, IL has been discovered, has ever
been passed in Paducah providing for
the building of new market house, al
though one was for bond issue to build
the market house. As result the boards
will now have to pass an ordinance pro-
viding for the building of a new market
house, and other things must wait.
The general council held a called meet
ing last night and turned down the board
of public works in regard to the letting
of the market house contract. The real
trouble seemed to be that the general
council had not been asked to pass on
the plans, and over the fact that the con-
tract was let to an outside firm that
made the mistake of bidding under local
contractors. 1t was openly charged in
the meeting that II the contract had
gone to local contractor, no objection
would ever have been raised.
President I'd. p. Noble, of the board of
public works, stated that the board
awarded the contract to the st. Louis
firm subject to the ratification of the
general council, which could have been
ascertained had the members of the
council made any effort to. President
Noble stated also that nothing was done
by his board except what the board be-
lieved it was authorized to do, and what
il believed was for the best interests of
the city.
The opposition had the original reso-
buttons read, showing that the board was
instructed only to get plans.
Mr.. Noble also made the point that
the legislative boards knew what was
being done, that the board of works had
advertised for bids after adopting plans
and was preparing to award the con
tract. and that if the present objections
were sincere they could and should have
come before the contract was awarded.
There was considerable discussion
pro and con, and finally il was voted to
reject all bids and leave the matter in
the hands of the joint public improve
ment committee to advertise for new
ones.
The boards then met separately and
voted as above, to call everything off,
and get new plans and new bids.
This morning the joint public improve
ment committee met at the city hall to
take up the question of plans. The plans
as drawn by Architect Brainerd and
adopted by the board of works were ac-
cepted as originally drawn except the
ends will be left open, without doors,
and the approach will be so feet on both
ends. The original plans called for
closed ends. This was the only change
and the committee finished its work by
1880 o'clock.
The boards will now pass an ordinance
providing for the erection of a new mar
ket house and in the meantime adver-
tise for new bids for the market house
and award the contract as soon as pos
sible. 1t is not known when this will
be, but may be two or three weeks.
The Barwick Construction company of
st. Louis will probably not make fight
over the contract. Many contractors
will not bid on work in Paducah because
they claim that there is combination"
in Paducah to keep such work in the
Lands of local contractors and gouge the
people. One contractor says he would
not think of bidding on work in Padu-
cab unless he had some relative or infu.
entail friend in the general council.
Owing to the present status of affairs
the board of works will allow matters
TO take their course.