The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-09-23
He is Willing to Start Work or
Postpone It.
Is Disposed to Follow the Direction
of the Board OF Works, 1t
Appears.
MATTER TO BE SETTLED SOON.

Mr.. G.. NJ. Ingram, OF Nashville,
president of the Southern Bitulithic
Co., the firm which has the contract
for building Kentucky avenue from
Fourth to Ninth street, and Jefferson
street from Fifth to Ninth, is in the
city today in conference with the
board of public works members
City Engineer l.. A. Washington and
City Solicitor James Campbell, Jr.,
relative to the street contract.
The board of public works asked
the legislative boards to postpone
starting rebuilding these two streets
as far as the bitulithic contract is
concerned, because the weather will
soon be getting bad.
The legislative boards refused to
extend time or order a postponement
and ordered the work, to go ahead
The board of aldermen. however. at
the last meeting Thursday night,
signified its willingness to extend the
time If the contractors ask for the
extension.
President Ingram came to the city
to confer with municipal authorities
10 see just what is wanted and ex-
pected of him. and is willing to do
what the people want him to do, he
says.
"My firms hold contract to re-
build these two streets and the con-
tract was made with the board of
public works, therefore my firm will
naturally look to this board for in
structions and orders" President In
gram explained to a reporter this
morn ng. 1--WE are willing to 60
ahead with the work or suspend II
whichever We are instructed to do.
We have the contract and are willing
TO fulfil IT,"
Mr. Ingram talked with members
of the board of works and Solicitor
James Campbell this morning, bat
did not arrive at anything definite.
There will probably be a meeting of
the board of works called for this af-
ternoon for the purpose of confer
ence. and City Solicitor Campbell
will have a report to make
When asked If his firm wanted an
extension of time Mr. ingram stated
that he was acting solely on the or
ders end instructions of the board.
but that winter time is the worst
season to do this class of work and
would work hardship Oh many
teamsters and merchants who had to
ship goods to the depots. He talk
ed as if the firm would prefer post
pom ing the work until spring.
II is not improbable that this con-
tract will eventually result la the
board of works having its authority
defined in the courts. In Louisville,
Lexington, Covington and Newport
the boards of works submit nothing
to The legislative boards, it Is claim
4. W;en a street is 70 be improved,
the legislative boards or general
council, pass the necessary ordinances
and after they are passed the power,
duty and authority of the legislative
boards cease. The contract is award
ed by the board of works, and the
council has nothing to do wit3 ac-
cepting or rejecting 1t. The corncil
connected with the work again until
the bills for the worl; come in 1t
Is then compelled, If they are prop
eriy Endorsed by the city engineer
an5 others, to appropgia @ the nor
ey. III they should get stubborn an,
refuse to allow the money, they
could be promptly mandamused.
This Is the way, 1t is said by some
who have Investigated 1T; that the
boards of works in other second class
cities IN the state do things, while
here the board seems to allow the
council to run over II, through
courtesy" II it can be done that
way there, it can probably be done
that way here.
One reason that nothing has been
done en- these Kentucky avenue aud
Jefferson street Improvements Is mat
some OF the property owners have
been threatening to file injunction
suits to prevent the work. and the
contractors did not want to go the
expense of getting men and equip
ment, and then possibly be stopped.
And the reason some of the prop
erty owners raised a kick was that
after the city paid for storm water
sewers on several downtown streets
on which valuable property OF vari.
Gus city officials is located, a differ
ent construction" was placed on the
law, and the same officials who al
lowed the city to pay for the storm
water sewers along their property.
short time ago have since decid-N
sd that tbs property owners should