The Pensacola journal., 1906-07-14
Immense Amount of Labor InvoI-
we'd in Sanitary Work.
THE MAYOR FAVoRs EARLY COM.
MENcEMENT IN UPPER PoR-
TIoN OF CITY, BUT SOME AL.
DERMEN ARE OPPOSED TO DIG.
GING UP THE CITY DURING SUM.
MER.

The contracts between the City Of
Pensacola and r. C.. Storrie of New
Orleans, and T. Chalkley Hatton, of
Wilmington, Del, were yesterday sign
ed by Mayor Chas. H. Bliss. He affix-
ed his signature yesterday morning.
afdtr consulting the afternoon pre-
viOus with City Attorney Jones over
the legal status. This was in regard
to whether or not he should sign the
contracts before the ordinance which
is now pending directing him to do
SO, Is passed and becomes effective. 1t
was decided that it would be of little
or no consequence so the mayor afflx-
ed his signature. The contract with
Mr.. Storrie calls for the construction
of a complete storm and sanitary sew
erage and drainage system, for which
the city will pay over 100000. and
which is a most prodigious undertake
ing, involving large expenditure on
the part of the contractor and much
labor.
The contract with Mr.. Hatton is to
employ him as engineerin-chief on all
the improvement work that is to be
done by the city. and he is to receive
) per cent. Of the total amount expend-
6u dS ItHfuHeTdtlOn IOT Ills SERVICES
and the services of his assistants
The improvement work can now
commence whenever the council de.
sires, but upon this point there Is
diversity of opinion, as shown at the
meeting of the council recently, when
the matter was discussed for a few
moments. The ordinance now pending
and which will be placed upon its third
reading at the next meeting. calls for
commencement OF the work on Octo
ber 1.
Mayor Bliss favOrs earlier com.
mencement, and said yesterday that
valuable time would be lost by putting
off the commencement of operations
until the above date. He believes in
commencement Immediately, not in the
down town district. or where there is
a heavy soil, but in the northern or
eastern portion of the city, where. ne
says, absolutely no harm can result
from digging up the soil, as it consists
of nothing but sand. and the work will
not be detrimental to the health of the
community. BY the time this work is
completed cold weather will be here
aid the work in the down town dis
tricts can commence. If the contrac-
tor desires to commence operations at
this end he can do so. as the sewer
pipes will have to run nearly a mile
cut into the bay and its laying is big
job. and he can do this while waiting
for the cold weather The mayor
argues that if the work is delayed
Until October just about half of 1t will
be completed when the middle of next
summer arrives, and the city will bs
dug up sure enough then.
Many of the aldermen are fearful
that If the soil is disturbed at this
time of the year it will cause sickness
and breed disease, and are of the opin.
ion that it will be much better to have
the work commerce later in order to
be on the safe side. They take the
view that by the time the contractor
secures all his material and gets 1t or
the ground October will be near d
hand, and he can then commence vorl
with no fear of causing any sickness
Jacksonville. New Orleans and Mo
bile however, continue their sewsx
and drainage work at all periods oe
the year, and the soil in those cities
is continually being disturbed