The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-25
BOARD LEN|ENT
WITH CONTRACTOR
Awards Excess of Contract
Price for Extra Sewer Exca-
Vati0nS on North Bench.
FERRY'S PERTINENT QUERY
COUNCIL TAKES NO ACTION ON
UNlMPORTANT MATTER.

The board of public works has taken it
upon itself to award ]. p. Kennedy, sew
er contractor, estimates for work on the
north bench in excess of the contract
price This fact was developed at the
council meeting last evening, when the
report CT the engineering committee was
read granting to Kennedy S11 .436 "a in eX-
cess of the construction price of sewers
on the north bench. due to an alleged mis-
take by Engineer Kelsey in estimating the
depth of the trenches.
The contract provided that all excava-
lions should be made for IS cents cubic
yard. The average depth was designated
as ten feet. Because the engineer miscal-
culated, il was found that a depth of
nineteen feet was necessary in some
cases The board of public works figured
that Kennedy should receive for this ad-
ditiOnal depth 7252 cents a yard for all
depths between ten and thirteen feet. 81
cents per yard for all depths between
thirteen and sixteen feet, and $1051A for
all depths between sixteen and nineteen
feet. The contract is Silent on any awards
of this character.
Mr.. Black Explains.
When the committee report came up
Councilman Black arose to explain il. He
said that in 1895 an ordinance was passed
making all sewer assessments OF this
character $40 a foot. When the estimate
for this extension, No. 176. was made by
the engineer, these figures were used and
the assessment was based accordingly.
He said that within the past twelve years
the city had not suffered a single loss as
a result of using these estimates until this
case arose In explaining, he said that it
was the first attempt to lay sewers on the
north bench, and the precipitOus nature
of the grade was not fully realized when
the assessment was made.
Was il absolutely necessary to make
the assessment according to estimates
made in this Anticipated Ordinance?' asked
Councilman Ferry. The question stag
yered Black for a minute, but he replied:
well, We would have had to repeal the
old ordinance"
well, we will have to repeal Il now, as
II has been shown that il has OutliVed its
usefulness, and We might as well have re
pealed il when this assessment was made
now and thus to repeal Ii have saved
the city nearly So, COO" replied the Amer
lean councilman from the Fifth ward.
The whole tangled mess was referred to
the committees on municipal laws and
engineering to investigate further.
The board of public works submitted
to the council form of contract drawn
by the city engineer, which Is supposed
10 conform to the new law. This con-
tract is convertible affair, and can
be used, with slight changes, for pave
ment, sidewalk or sewer work. The hoard
advised the council that immediate &C
ton was desired, as it was necessary to
have the contracts printed and submitted
TO bidders before the bids were received,
July 5. The council. as usual. referred
the matter to a committee which ever
meets and it is probable that the board,
as a result. will have TO defer It's open
ing of bids to later date.
A petition was received, accompanied
by a form of ordinance, from the Clti-
Zens Coal company, asking that ii be
granted the right TO build a spur track
TO the Oregon Short Line yards. The
street committee will investigate
The Electrical Ordinance.
A petition from the Electrical Workers
was received asking that the proposed
electrical ordinance be passed.
The auditor reported a number of small
estimates, amounting in all approx
mately to $1,000, for various improve
ments. They were ordered paid This
order has been made for the past four
months m scores of cases, but nothing has
been paid yet.
The council also voted s6.2SS55 for the
payment of the city's share in the mainte-
nance Of the county assessors and treas
urers offices for the past five months.
Councilman Black introduced a resolE-
ton requiring street cars TO come to =
full stop on the east side of the cross
streets. where a fatal accident occurred
last week. The matter was referred 20
the municipal laws committee
The payment of the claim of D. 3.
Homestead of IS. 42S1S as the result of a
judgment confirmed by the supreme court
for the raising Of the grade on North
Main street was ordered.
The contract for the erection of new
crematory was submitted to the council.
Councilman FeTnstrom, who Will make
viz ffUbr uaiDSf accROfanca.