Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-01
gICKBAR STILLS The STORM
Trouble Over Rslsying of Pavement
Settled BY the oounsil.
CONTRACTOR HAULs STONE TO CITY YARD
Day and Night watchman 20 Ne
Employed 60 Look After the
r DredEe which il Now
Lying Idle.

The city council did not do anything serl-
Gus 20 Contractor wickham when IL met
yesterday afternoon in special session to
decide what should be done in the matter
OF the conduit laying on South Main street.
Wickham's persuasive eloquenoe again won
the day and all the council requested him
to do was 20 haul the broken stone and
granite blocks he had carried away TO the
city's yard on Bryant street This Wick
ham consented to do, although he said he
would much prefer leaving them where
they we're In his yard on North Main street
and that the city get them when It needed
the blocks or the broken stone. An In
spector at the expense Of the Independent
Telephone company is also to be placed on
the work
Alderman FINLEY zentured the opinion
that wlckham should be required to relay
large part Of the paving ON Main street
where it was admitted that too much dirt
and not enough crushed stone had been
placed under the granite blocks but he
declined to make a motion 70 that effect
and as none OF the other aldermen seemed
inclined to do so the matter was dropped.
The BAH was started rolling by the mayor,
who told of personally witnessing several
loads of crushed stone being hauled away
from Main street and Of seeing at least 100
granite blocks which had not been relaid
In the places from which they had been
torn up. Alderman Weaver fastened to
the support OF wIckham with a statement
TO the effect that the blocks had been taken
UP to make room for the manholes for the
couduits,. The alderman had progressed
but a little way when Mayor Macrae called
him to halt. Nov before you 60 any
further, Alderman Weaver, want you TO
understand that I am not talking about
manholes, but about the excavations made
ior the condults, ana. furthermore, I hap
. ko1 to know what I'm talking about" Al
3srman Weaver resumed his seat and the
mayor proceeded, TO state how he believed
that seeing the property owners did not
want the few granite blocks the city should
have them and not the contractor
wickham states His Side.
Contractor wiokham addressed the coun-
ell at length stating that he had no desire
to do anything but what was right and any
defect in the relaying Of the paving would
he remedied by him. He had no use fol
@he granite blocks or crushed stone and
gwould only be too glad II the city woulc
haul them away.
At this point City Solicitor Snyder took
hand IN the game and with some warmth
disputed the statement of Wickham tha
in relaying granite block paving all OF tn,
original blocks could not be replaced. Tn,
city attorney insisted that II the wOrkmeI
were given sufficient time they could rela!
every block. This brought Wickham to hi
feet with an ofter to bet the city attorne!
$500 that he could not relay a block o
granite paving without leaving out a mum
Der OF the blocks. Mr.. Snyder declined &
accept the bet. although still maintaining
that he was correct in his assertion.
he NJ Alderman T1p1ey
Captain. j.. J. Brown was appointed in
spector OF the work, his compensation 4
be paid by the Independent Telephon
company which Il was incidentally statet
during the discussion was responsible L
the city and not wickham, for any defec
in the relRying of the paving over its con
duits.
The Indian Creek dredge came up for an
other round, the committee. OF which Alder
man Weaver Is chairman. reporting tina
II had been unable to secure a suitable ma
at So a day 20 take care OF the machin'
Then once again the former action OF tn
council in ordering the placing Of 81
day watchman was rescinded and aftt
considerable discussion. the committee wa
instructed to secure two watchmen. or
for the day and the other for night, eac
to be paid $3.50 per day.
Manager Hart addressed the council reiI
tive to the cutting OF Of the rental Of ~
~ hydrants from the half years bill allowe
: at the last meeting. Mr.. Hart showed thu
the hydrant on Twenty eighth street hs
been covered up by the motor compar
when II commenced to tear dcwn its o
barns and that the motor company and n
the waterworks company should be maC
20 pay for this. The hydrant was in worl
ing condition and that II had recently bee
a.. -
20 be the case by Fire Chief Nieholso
Action was deferred until the regular NEE
ing next week the council deciding tn
- the matter could not be considered at
special session called for other specii
matters.