The Pensacola journal., 1906-05-24

to Mr.. Wright, but that Mr.. Wright
never qualified and consequently never
was garbage contractor. He never
signed any contract or gave any bond
to the city. The only contract let was
to Mr.. Long for two hundred and fifty
(S250.00) dollars per month, and, as
Mr.. Long removed the garbage we
think he was entitled to the money ne
was paid for the same in accordance
with his bid.
Wharfage on Ballast.
In regard to Section II where the
committee complains of paying wharf
age on ballast, and on five hundred
and seventy (57O) tons received from
the bark Maranda, the city paid wharf
age on this to the amount of fifty
seven ($57.00) dollars. With this car
go Of ballast the city built one block
of street on Barcelona street between
Intendencia and Romano streets, then
turned west on Romano street and
made a hard street beyond DeVilIers|
street, which is today one Of the best
hard streets in the city. Out of this
cargo the city got over thirty (30)
tons of good coal which would have
cost the city six dollars ane one-half
(S6.50) a ton had it been purchased,
thus saving the city one hundred and
ninety-five (S195.O0)) dollars. which
would pay the wharfage and leave a
profit to the city Of one hundred and
thirty-eight (S13S.O0) dollars clear
gain ON this cargo of ballast, besides
building of the street. This cargo of
hnIfock oiVvov, - n hnf 90
the Board Of Public Works and he
could have hauled this coal to his own
house If he had so desired and given
the city the clay and other material.
1t seems that the committee is going
long ways to strain a point to find
fault with a transaction Of this kind.
While We are on his subject we de-
sire to call the attention of the council
to the fact that one of these cargoes
complained of consisted of five hun
dred (500) tons Of fine gravel, which
has been used extensively in the con,
crete work of the city. This cargo
was also given to the chairman Of the
Board Of Public Works, and he could
have sold it to contractors very read.
lily at ole C$1.00) dollar a yard, there.
by putting several hundreds of dol
lars in his own pocket; but instead of
doing that, he gave it to the city and
the city was not even required to payl
wharfage on it. In other words, the
city received the same absolutely free,
and such gravel today is commanding
a price of two dollars and one-quarterI
(S2.25) TO two dollars and one1halfI
($2.5O) a yard.
Several caraoes Lost.
Gn this connection we desire to cali
the attention of your honorable body
to the fact that the L. & N. r r. Co.,
discharged and hauled all ballast free
Of cost from the ship until last Octo-
Der, and it was necessary, in order to-
get any ballast for the city, for some
inducement to be offered to the ships.
Unless we paid the wharfage we would
not get any valuable ballast. The
city has lost quite number of valu.
able cargoes of ballast of stone and
gravel, because other parties have
been willing to pay more for the same
than the Board of Public Works has
authorized in their meetings.
The chairman of the Board Of Pub.
lie Works has taken il upon himself
to board vessels and examine the bal
last and get that which was most de-
sirable to the city, and this has been
done without costing the city a cent
for time or launch hire. The commit
tee seems to lose sight Of the fact that
the Board Of Public Works receives
no remuneration whatever for its SER
vices, but, that on the other hand, /
they are expected to do a great deal
of work, and give a great deal of valu-
able time and neglect their own busi-
ness to attend to the business Of thel