Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-02
PAVING REPAIRS
ARE A H0LD.UP'
So Considers the Streets and
Alley Committee Of the
City Council
WORD IS ORDERED DONE
While tho Committee FeoIs That the
Barber Asphalt Company is chare-
ing an Exorbitant Price, it Secs no
Way Out Of tho Difficulty But TO
Acoede to companys Prico.


Way Out Of tho Difficulty But to
Acocde to company's Prico.
In the minds Of the streets and al
leys committee members of the city
council the Barber Asphalt Company
Is ''holding up" the city when 1t asks
q price of SIS per hole for repairing
thirty-six holes on West Church stree,
and South Fourth avenue, where sam
pies were taken for district court III
spection in the Calhoun and Brown
cases. The committee. which had been
authorized 10 act for the city, net
Monday night and decided that the
holes should be repaired, for public
safety and perhaps for the good of the
pavement AS far as the good OF the
pavement is concerned, however. the
committee believes that 1t would make
but little difference, for the paving is
so far below specifications now that
1t Is not considered that 1T could be
much worse.
The Barber company claims That tho
paving where the samples were taken
out has alreauy been damaged by rea-
son of the water seeping under the
pavement thru the holes. The holes
were cut by order Of the district court
and the city feels that 1t Is In 20 wise
responsible for the action. However,
the committee members were OF the
opinion that public safety might de-
mand action on the part Of the city,
even tho the city does not accept any
responsibility for the tearing up of the
pavement.
The contract OF the Barber company
was looked up, to see just what re-
pairs the company could be compelled
to make, and 1t was found that re-
pairs due to the laying Of sewer. gas
and water mains, under the direction
of the city, are covered under the
contract price, with 10 per cent adj
ditional
City Solicitor b. L. Burritt was ask
ed for an opinion as to what the city
should do In ordering the company
to make the repairs, and said that
so far the law points We're concerned
he thought 1t would make no difference
whether the repairs were made or not.
On the other hand, however, II the re-
pairs We're not made the future cases
might be complicated, as the paving
company might be able to show as a
matter of fact that the leaving of the
holes unrepaired had damaged the
pavement In places, even tho the city
might show that the paving was not
according to specifications originally.
10 Up to q Fight.
Mayor Ingledue said to the commit
tee that he considered that 1t was to a
fight, and the city might as well pre-
pare itself now for q fight with the
Barber people, as we'll as some future
time. The courts had declared cer-
tain portions Of the paving defective
and not UP to contract, and the mayor
believes that all asphalt paving In the
cityy will come under the same BAN
when the tests are made. Mr.. 1ngledue
thinks that when the repairs are made
on North First and Second avenue the
city will find that the paving Is under
the specifications, and says that At has
been proved on South Third avenue
where measurements have been taken
during the past few days, while the re-
pair work was In progress. The peo-
pie will never be satisfied with the
paving" added Mayor Ingledue. until
they know 1t is up to specifications
and as every place that has been dug
into has been found short. we might as
well take high ground and stand
on It,"
Work Will Be Done.
1t was harder than pulling teeth for
the committee to make up Its mind
that the repairs should be made at So
per hole, thus necessitating an ex-
penditure OF $3.50, but the work will
be done. The committee finds itself
up against the proposition Of either
hiring the Barber people to do the
work, or letting the holes remain. AS
horses have been known to fall by
reason of getting into the holes, and
the city might be made liable for
damage suits If the holes remain, the
committee thinks that there Is nothing
to do but to grin and bear 1t. and have
the Barber people make the repairs
while It's plant is In the city II the
company was not here now, making
the other necessary repairs according
to contract, the repairing could not
be done even at IS altho the commit
tee believes that that amount is just
twice what the work is actually
worth. Every effort was made by the
members of the committee to get Sup
erintendent Grayson to consent to
cheaper price, but he has said finally
that 1t is SIS or nothing.
Mayor Ingledue has directed Street
Commissioners George Ordway, City
Engineer c. A. Baughman and Con-
tractor Chris Reimer to be. on the
First and Second avenue work when 1T
is begun by the, Barber people and
take the measurements at certain
points to ascertain in just how near
the pavement is UP to specifications on
those streeU
REEVE LAND SOLD