The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-05
WOULD ABANDON
CITY CONTRACTS
Others Would Follow Example
Set by the Utah Fireproof-
ing Company.
BIRCH AND KENNEDY
SHOWING RELUCTANCE
City, However, Will Doubtless
Refuse TO Release Them
From Agreements.

The Utah Fireproofng company is
not the only contractor which would
like to get out of carrying out old con
tracts. The progress that concern has
made in the matter of escaping further
work under contracts made some time
ago has encouraged 8. Birch. who has
about 90 miles of cement sidewalks yet
10 lay under "A former contract TO say
that ho has done all he intends to do.
The opinion of Judge 1Iiles in regard
10 the Utah Fireprooing company S con-
tract was that the term "approxima-
tions could only be held 10 cover
certain reasonable amount Of work. Mr..
Birch has not formally declined 10 carry
out his contract yet, but be has stated
TO several members of the Board of
Works that he has LAID all the sidewalk
that he intends to do.
Birch IS in n different position from
the Utah Fireproofng company. That
concern laid over SIX times the amount
called for in the contract of 1905 and
Judge Hiles thought they could not rca
sonably be called upon 10 do any more,
Birch has not laid as much sidewalk as
called for by his contract, though he
has nearly reached the figure. AS he
figures II, however, he is ahead of hls
contract He estimates il in value, and
in this way he has done more, for where
the contract estimates the amount of
work which he NAV be called TO do APP
proximately at S92.215 he has really
done work to the amount of $4,000
though not as great in mileage. Birch g
work remaining TO be done is mostly
on the North Bench and along the
alphabet streets. The board will recon-
mend that he be held to his contract
if he refuses to 60 on with 1t formally
Kennedy Wants to Quit.
James Kennedy, who has contracts
for sewer extensions, also wants to get
ont of finishing up some work still up
to him under old contracts. He, also. has
intlmated that he is through; though he
has not asked formally to be released.
Such request from him will not be
considered as his work is on the same
plane as that of Birch.
The trouble with these contractor
seems to be that labor and materials
are both % or 30 per cent higher than
when the contracts were made. The
matter was discussed at the meeting Of
the Board of Public Works Friday
evening, but no action was taken, refer
ence being made until the next meeting.
Instructions to Moran.
P J. Moran was ordered to GO ahead
with the work in his contract on West
Temple street. This is the proceeding
that is TO be taken to test the amend
nnent of the last session. No time is to
be lost In getting the matter before the
Supreme court. When he breaks ground
he will be enjoined and a friendly suit
instituted.
An order passed the board that Birch
be ordered to complete his work of
curbing and guttering on Second West.
This is under another contract than the
one he disputes, Contractors will be
asked to tender bids on replacing sec
oP 1l-s oil ha hop lie Of
the Jordan.
P. J. Moran was present at the meet
ing of the board and urged the getting
rid of the telegraph poles, that he may
proceed with his work. A petition call
ing attention to the evident desire of
the Utah Light and Railway company
to defer the work of taking the poles
from Second South and asking that it
be ordered to do 80 was received from
number of property owners on that
street. The representatives of the com
pany at the meeting were evasive in
the matter and had since told the city
engineer and Chairman Leonard that
they did not intend 10 hurry. W. !.
Halloran of the board had, however,
seen President Bancroft. and had re-
ceived his assurance that the poles
would be removed.
Must Remove Poles
An oIder was passed rn9t the various
companies be notified TO remove the
poles on Second South within thirty
days and that City Engineer KELSEY
give them locations on Third South to
replace them.
City Engineer Kelsey pointed out that
the companies were not at fault with
respect to the poles on some of the
streets, The city had made a contract
with the Rocky Mountain Bell Tole
phone to change the fire alarm wires,
The company had done its part, but the
city had not received the alarm boxes
and could not complete the work The
poles will be off the paved district as
soon as these boxes arrive. The state.
ment had been made at previous
meeting. that the companies had taken
their wires off seven miles of streets
and were only waiting for the city to
away the poles. This, Mr., Kelsey said
was substantially correct,