The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-22
STRUCTURES ON ENGINEER Criticised by Aldermen
 for Estimates. DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL Proposed Street Improvement
 Went Over. MT. Kohn Says He is Tired of Delay in Work at Corner of Adams
 and Bainbridgs
 Streets.

The proposed improvement of Adams and Bainbridge streets, the lowering or their grades and realignment will, in all probability be ordered by the City Coun- ell. This matter was made the subject of severe strictures on City Engineer D. W. Ford last night.
 A majority of the aldermen at spe- cial meeting showed that they favored the proposition. In fact the improve ments were all but ordered last night. At the last moment the ordinance author izing the Improvements went over until the next regular meeting of the Coun- ell.
 The discussion of the ordinance threat ened at one time to become warm and lively. Alderman Kohn declared that he doubted the correctness of some esti- mates furnished by the city engineers office relative to the cost of relaying the sanitary and the storm water sewers. He | asserted that in the estimates furnished the Council, as to the cost of relaying the sanitary and storm water sewers, no allowance had been made foh all the new pipes, which had just been put down, | and which had not been excluded from l the estimated cost.
 Kohn Tired of Delay. Continuing MT. Kohn said: We are tired of this delay. There Is no occasion for postponement. We have | been impeded in this work of improve ment. We have not been furnished with the estimates we requested. We have not had our instructions carrid out It has reached the point where we have got | to take the bit in our teeth and act to- night"
 The ordinance ordering the Adams and Bainbridge street Improvements was re- ported favorably by a majority of the Street Committee. The majority report was signed by Aldermen Roemer and Mo- Intyre. A minority report signed by AL derman Teague was adverse to the ordi- nance.
 In presenting the report Alderman Roe- mer said that City Engineer D. W. Ford had estimated that the improvements would cost $4,5S7.S5 MT. Roemer said that a contractor estimated that the work could be done for $4134. He was of the opinion that the Improvements could be made much cheaper. He said that the amount of money that the dirt moved from the streets would be worth was not included in either of the estimates. He figured it out that it was possible for the work to be done at a net cost of only $1 ,294 when the value of the dirt was talk en into consideration.
 Opposed by Teague.
 Alderman Teague was opposed to the passage of the ordinance. The Council was not in possession of definite figures as to the cost of the proposed improve ments. The matter was too important for it to be passed upon blindly. The Coun- ell should by all means. he said, allow the matter to go over until the next meet ing.
 A similar view of the ordinance was talk en by Alderman Strauss. He character ized the report of the Streets Committee as guess work. too unsubstantial for the Council to proceed on.
 Alderman Ruth made the point that he had introduced a resolution asking for information from the Streets Committee as to the cost of the proposed improve ments. He did not think that the Streets Committee had made an adequate report
 Alderman Roemer submitted to the Council that his committee had made a definite report with all the figures that could be had. They were definite enough he said. for action. He moved to amend the ordinance so that 1t should contain a provision that the cost of the improve ments should not be more than %OOO. The amendment was adopted by the Council
 Alderman Gunter offered an amend ment to the ordinance providing that the present grade of the sidewalks should not be changed. He explained that, to lower the sidewalks. would damage the property of some of the residents along the streets in question.
 The amendment did not, however, meet with favor and 1t was voted down by the Council.
 At this juncture by a close viva voce vote, the ordinance was passed up until the next meeting of the Council.