Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-01

BARBER PEOPLE DO NOT BID
Claim the Work Is in Such a Small
Amount That 1t Will Not Pay Them
to Move Plant Here-Granted an Ex-
tension on Brick Work-New ordi-
nance Adopted.

|
With but one member absent, Mr..
Henry of the First, the city council
met in adjourned session Tuesday
evening, to open the bids for the paw
ing of the streets intersecting State
and Church-Second, Third, Fourth
and Fifth. But one bid was filed and
the price is so much in advance of last
year that further consideration was
postponed until the regular meeting In
June. The council considered and dis
posed of a large volume of business
and adopted one new ordinance, rela-
tive to the destruction or repair of
dangerous buildings.
The opening of the paving bid was
the first work taken up Andrew
Jacks, of Chicago, was the bidder, and
he offers To pave the six blocks with
asphalt, on a concrete foundation at
1921 per square yard. The combined
curb and gutter is offered at "a cents
per lineal foot. Eorty-two cents per
cubic yard is wanted for the extra
grading. and cents per cubic yard for
extra hauling. Last year the asphalt
paving was let for s1.9T. and combined
curb and guttering at 60 and 60 cents.
| The council took short recess to
consider the bids and upon reconven-
ing Mr.. Webster moved that further
consideration be postponed until the
regular meeting in June. Mr. Webster
stated that the only bid received, be-
yond any question, was too high. and
that he was not in favor of imposing
upon the people any such price. He
thought that further consideration
should be taken, in order that the
council might determine whether or
not 1t would readvertise for bids, give
the people chance to petition for
brick. or abandon the project for the
season. The vote to postpone consid-
Grafton was unanimous.
Mr.. Good presented communication
from the Barber Asphalt Paving CO., to
the effect that the amount of paving
to be let here was too small to war
rant its bidding at price that would
be considered reasonable. The COM
pany stated it expected to bid on other
future contracts, should they be adver-
tised, and preferred waiting until
there was a bigger yardage before
placing a bid at ALL. The company
stated that it could not afford to move
It's plant here for so small a contract.
The council does not appear to
know Mr.. Jacks, the only bidder on
the work. He was not furnished with
of
for the work from the office OF the city
clerk, nor was he furnished with pro-
posal blank. Copies Of both We're
used in making the bid.
Granted Extension of Time.
Mr.. Good presented Il petition from the
Barber Asphalt Paving Company ask
ing for an extension of sixty days time
from June !. to complete the brick work
on Byron, North and West Main streets.
and the repairs to the asphalt on North
First and Second avenues. The cause
for asking the extension was that the
company hatd been unable to secure
crushed stone from the quarry, owing
to the fire ut the crushing plant. Mr..
Good moved that the prayer OF the petit
ton be granted. Mr.. Ingledue opposed
it, with the remark that the company
had had sufficient time TO do the work.
He thought the penalty beginning June
/, should attach at once. Mr.. Good
thought that the city should not be
unreasonable, considering the adverse
conditions under which the company
had been working. Mr.. Webster CALI
ed attention to the delay that the
company had been put to last year. be-
cause the city had not placed its water
and sewer mains under streets that
We're to be paved. The company had
demanded no penalty for the violation
of the cityss contract. He also referred
to the fact that the company might
have demanded the levying of the as
sessment on. the North First and Sec
ond avenue work which had not proved
satisfactory, but had not asked it, pre-
ferring TO wait until the paving had
been made good. This fact alone had
saved the property owners on those
two streets 500 in interest. The vote
to grant the extension was lost, and
afterwards Abbott moved
to extend the time one month. or to
July 1. This was carried.
Fourth Avenue Remonstrance.
A remonstrance against paving South
Fourth avenue. was presented to the
council by Mr.. Good. Property owners
representing frontage of 1880 feet
signed the remonstrance. The total
frontage of the street which it is pro-
posed TO pave, with the exception of
that owned by the Great Western is
2 .2S0 feet. The remonstrance was re-
ceived and placed on file.
Adept New Ordinance.
A new ordinance, by Webster rela-
tive to the destruction and repair OF
buildings was presented. The
matter came up in having attention
called to the condition of the old Hart
well barn, on West Main street. The
ordinance empowers the council to con-
denim any building that is liable to fall
and cause any injury to persons or
property. The council is authorized to
order the removal OF such building, its
destruction Or repair. The inspection
of such building comes within the jur-
isdiction of the chief of vie fire de-
partment, according to recent state
law, and the city has had no ordinance
that would comply with the state law,
and empower the chief to conduct the
proper inspection. The rules We're
and the ordinance adopt
ed
A revised ordinance regulating bill
lard saloons, pool halls, bowling al