The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-13
CAN'T GET WHITE OAK.
Topeka Bridge Company Wants Via
duct Contract Amended.

The city council has met square up
against the question as to whether
city contract means anything.
The city council does not transact its
business like a man engaged in private
business enterprise or a corporation
except at rare intervals.
1t makes a contract for the construc-
ton of improvements or public works
and then If there is much insistence on
the contractor it trims the contract this
way and that until it bears no resem-
blance to the original agreement.
1t has penalty for exceeding the
time clause in it's contracts, inserts it
each time but has never been known to
enforce it. Attempts that promised
something of the sort have been started
IN the council but they died in the bud.
Saturday night the Topeka bridge
company asked that the council come to
some sort Of an agreement on the
acceptance of other character Of lumber
for flooring the East Sixth avenue via
duct than is specified in the contract.
The contract calls for white oak COM
mercial cut. The Topeka bridge COM
pany claims that it ordered white oak
but on delivery of the car from the lum-
Der company 1t was found to be red oak.
John Rodgers, city engineer, has since
refused to accept several car loads OF
lumber, all of which have been shipped
back He said that he had his instruc-
lions to stay by the contract and would
insist on what the specifications called
for until the council changed them. The
life of red oak. according to his esti-
mate, is just about one-half of that of
white oak
The Topeka Bridge company claims
that it is impossible for them to secure
white oak now and that if the council
insists it may take until fall before they
will be able to secure the lumber de-
sired. There IS quite a difference in the
price of the two grades of flooring and
the question which the council has be-
fore IL is whether it wants to put in in
fer4Or 1fooring. at a cheaper price or in
sist on the best and walt on the con-
tractor.
There has been too much of a ten
dency on the part of the bridge COM |
pany to bubble over it's contract. Con- |
siderable friction was engendered be- |
tween Mayor Davis and the company in |
to be giving rise to further trouble.
The whole matter has been referred |
to the city engineer for a recommended /
ton and report.
An ordinance vacating part of Sc
ward avenue and the alley west thereof, /
and also the alley between Seward ave- |
nue. and State street was passed Satur- /
day evening.
The ordinance vacates the following
land: THAT all that part of Seward
avenue lying between the west line of |
Linn street, or the west line of Linn
street produced, in Metsker's addition
to the city Of Topeka, and a line 10 feet
west of and parallel to the west line of
the north and south alley between Linn
80 feet in width, and extending between
lines as above described, be and the
same are hereby vacated
Section 2. That all that part of the
alley in said Metsker's addition extend
ng from the north line of Seward ave-
nue. to the south line OF state street |
and lying between Linn and Walnut
streets in said Metsker's addition; and
The 10 foot strip of land lying west of |
and adjoining said alley be, and the
same are hereby vacated"
W. F Scotch has been granted a con-
ract for the sprinkling of the Melan
bridge.