The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-06-08
Council Reconsiders Its Action
and Contract for Sewers Is Let
to NJ. H. McCoyern, Chicago
WANT End PUMPING PLANT
Aldermen in Memorable 5-Hour SEES.
sion Take Up Many Important
Matters Monday Evening.
Sewer Work to Begin

In memorable session, lasting fol
nearly five hours, the city council
put an end to the fight for the big
sewer contract last night, and recon.
sidered the action of the former meet.
ling refusing all bids. The bids were
again taken up and the contract for
the work was awarded to NJ. H. Nc.
Govern of Chicago. The contract
price for the big work is $24,O47.
For the last two weeks the alder
men had been quietly getting to-
gether on the sewer project, and the
loss Of time was considered in the dis.
cussion of the question. When the
council convened last night the com.
mittee on sewers brought up the reso-
luton providing for the letting of the
contract to McGovern. Then came
the discussion, most of which was
held during recess of the council. 1t
was shown that McGovern was the
third highest bidder, and the alder
men favoring the consideration
brought out the fact that the city en-
gineer had feared combine of bid
ders IN case new bids we're opened.
Then there was a discussion of the
merits of the different contractors,
Shea & O'Shea of Hammond, Ind,
who had the lowest bid, having few
friends who insisted that their claims
should be considered. Mayor German
and Alderman Goodman had little
personal tiff over this matter, but ii
passed over without serious trouble.
When the matter was finally put to a
vote only four of the aldermen voted
against awarding the contract to Nc
Govern.
The successful contractor will bs
notified at once, and it is expected
that he will commence work on the
sewers within the next fifteen days
McGovern stated to the council some
time ago that if he got the contract hi
could complete the work in forty days
so there is little doubt but that the
work will be completed before the enc
of the summer.
May Build New Pump Station.
The next matter of vital interest tc
the city was brought up by Alderman
Stemn, who recommended that the
city take some immediate action to
secure the erection of an emergency
pumping station for the use of the
water company. Mr.. Stemm stated
that with the building Of the new g.
story factory of the Simmons Manu-
featuring company the demand for
such station had been made impera-
tive. He held that with big fire in
that building it would be impossible
for the present pumping station to be
used with safety, and urged that the
council take up the matter at once
The superintendent Of the water COM
pany is fully in sympathy with this
move, and seconded the statements of
Alderman Stemm. In order to get the
matter properly before the council a
special committee, composed of AL
dermen Stemm, Hageman and Gras-
ser, was named to act with the COM
mittee on waterworks, aud the water
commission to bring in a report at the
next meeting Of the council. It is
thought that the committee will re-
commend the building of the emer-
gency station at once.
The council refused to accept the
Exchange street paving recently
completed by John O. Jones of Racine,
and it is claimed that the work is not
in keeping with the contract. Many
people on the street have objected to
the acceptance Of the job, aud the
members of the council will make a
personal investigation Of the work be-
fore Mr.. Jones is given his pay.
Ward Brings Charges.
Patrick Ward appeared before the
council to protest against the pay
ment of the bill presented by George
Wallis, the city sexton. Ward alleged
that while Wallis had claimed pay as
working for the city, he had been
working in the st. James cemetery.
The bill was allowed, and the charges
brought by Ward laid over until the
next meeting of the council, at which
the city sexton and Ward may both be
present.
Manager O'Brien of the Bijou thea
ter asked permission of the council to
erect 12-foot fence about the Durkee
property, at the foot of Park street,
for the purpose of putting in an
amusement exercise. The council
spent half an hour in discussion Of
the matter, after which it was dis
covered that the property was private
property, and the city had no power to