The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-16
Name of Anonymous En-
 gineer Given. THE FIGURES DISAGREE That Adams Street Improve
 rlient Matter. Aldermen Received Estimate of Street Committee, But Again Postponed Action-Many
 Matters Were Under
 Consideration.

The vcxed question of the Adams and Bainbridge Street improvement had brief but interesting appearance before the City Council last night.
 After Chairman Adolph Roemer had submitted figures and estimates by Ben- jamin B. Smith a well known engineer and architect, estimates which Chairman Roemer declared were less than half those of City Engineer D. w. Ford the Council decided that the whole matter should go over until the next meeting.
 For awhile 1t looked as though most interesting debate would accompany the consideration of the proposed permanent Improvements on Adams and Bainbridge Streets, but being pressed for time the Aldermen sidetracked the matter.
 It will be recalled that these same im- 'provements were under consideration at the last regular meeting of the Council and a rather warm time was had. The correctness of estimates made by City Engineer Ford were doubted by some of the Aldermen. Chairman Roemer, then submitted estimates for the work which were much lower than those furnished by the City Engineer. At that time. ho said, he was not at liberty to give the name of the contractor who made the estimate, but vouched for his responsi- bility.
 In the meanwhile the ordinance has been killed, but resurrected by recon slderation.
 As unfinished business it came before the Council last night. Alderman foemer announced that he proposed to give the name of the man who had made the estimates furnished the Council at a previous meeting. He proposed also to show that the work could be done at less than half the cost as estimated by City Engineer Ford
 Roemer Names Engineer.
 He then read to the Council a commit nication from Benjamin B. Smith. The communication went into thorough detail of the proposed work. Every branch of 1t was discussed.
 According to the strict specifications of City Engineer Ford Mir. Smith said the work could be done at total cost of S5,- S44.3S. Mir. Smith pointed out that the City Engineer estimates made no allow ance for sewerage material, bricks for retaining walls and other things now in | use, but which could be used when the l improvements were put In. Deducting these credits Mir. Smith declared that the work could be done for $4.I6Ol4 Now" said Alderman Roemer. "com- pare these figures of $i,160.14 with the It move the passage of the ordinance" MT. Gunter declared that at last the Street Committee had gotten down to | business and had come before the Coun- | ell with definite figures. Still, he thought the Council should have more time to digest the matter and he suggested that 1t should go over until the next meeting
 Alderman Strauss was also Tn favor of ! ietting the matter go over as there wa 6 much business before the Aldermen. And ! the ordinance went over.
 The aldermen present were President Mcintyre, Sullivan, Ryan, Maddox. Grif- 1leh' Roemer, Kohn. Forbes. TeaRue Jackson Coins. Gunter. Ruth and The Finance committee asked for fur ther time upon the series of ordinances introduced at the last meeting of Council by Alderman Forbes.
 The streets committee reported fovora ply upon the resolution of Alderman Grif- fifth to have curbing placed on North port was adopted.
 The Street committee reported fovor- ply with conditions the resolution of Alderman Ruth for the building of a storm water sewer from Holcomhe street To the Jenetta ditch. The Committee re- commended that the sewer should be built If the finances of the city would pear the expense. The Committee recom inended that the matter should go to the Finance Committee, which shopId say whether the sewer should be con structed. The report of the committee was adopted
 A Storm Water Sewer.
 The streets committee recommende1 l that the City Attorney should he in- structed to institute proceedings to com pei the Montgomery Traction Companv to comply with its agreement made when Is was granted a franchise on High street. The report was made upon a res olution of Alderman Kohn instructinr the street Committee to investigate and as- certain If the Traction Company had kent the contract made. with the city. The Committee reported that the Traction company had agreed that if the city would grant a franchise to the compsnv on High Street the company would pur- chase what is known as the Haas pron- 'rty for the improvement and enlarge fnent Of High Street. The Company had aiso agreed to pay into the city treasur crNq the difference between the cost of the Haas property and $2.OOO The Com lh'ttee reported as the Traction Comnanv ndd not Kept it's contract, the City Attor- h'Y should now take steps to compeI inc company to meet Its promises.