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, IL
Appears.
MATTER TO DE SETTLED SOON.

MIR. q, 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,
slgnified 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
morning. 1--WE are willing to go
ahead with the work or suspend it
whichever we are instructed to do
We have the contract and are willing
to fulfill IT,"
Mr. Ingram talked with members
of the board of works and Solicitor
James Campbell this morning, but
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 e confer.
ence, and City Solicitor Campbell
will have report to make
When asked if his firm wanted al
extension of time Mr.. ingram statet
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 a hardship Oh many
teamsters and merchants who had to
ship goods to the depots. He talk
ed as If the firm would prefer post
ponn the work until spring.
II is not improbable that this con
tract will eventually result In the
hoard 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
Il. Wien 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 10 witt ac-
cepting or rejecting 1t. The council
Is not called on 10 consider anything
connected with the work again until
the bills for the work come in. IT.
Is then compelled, If they are prop
eriy Endorsed by the ci.y engineer
auc others, to approp:ia @ the nor
ey. IL :hey should get stubborn 9ni
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 1t, through
courtesy" If 1t 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 60 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 decld-'
sd that tbs property owners should