The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
CONTRACT AWARDED
BUSY SESSION .oF SELMA CITY
 COUNCIL.
Feeling in Some Quarters is Anfenseiy AmtI-Paying and a Strenuous
 Fight May Re Waged
 Against Proposition.

Selma, Aug. 3.-(Special )-Selma's City Council met tonight to finish the work of awarding bids for the paving of the towns two principal streets.
 The work was carried through ana the asphalt paving contract for broao Street being awarded the Memphis As phait Paving Company. the bid pelhs ss3.97s.20 for paving the street between Dallas and Water Streets. The Croek- ett Paving and Construction Company of Birmingham received the award TOT the brick paving of Water Street De- tween Selma and Church Streets.
 But before tn contracts were aWAra- ed, Hon. A. D. Pitts. at his own re- quest, addressed the City Council, ask ing that the paving be put of. He gave as his reason the hardship the paving would work on Col. y M. Ab- bolt, owner of the Selma Street Car system.
 among us when the public carrier or the city was a single car drawn by mule, against the counsel of every one. He invested his capital. putting in trolley system He has come among u. aS a prime factor for the city's good and the expense he would sncur in the burden he will be forced to bear will reduce him to penury. The City Council will confiscate this mans prop ertv a property that has doubled the value of the city. He has gone every where and has been unable to raise the money necessary for him to rebuild ms system, for that is what he would have to do. New ties will have to be lald at great expense, and at this time of the present panic he cannot do 1t, This man, whose purpose has always.soeen open to the city stands before you stripped of his all at your feet; 10 do this work now will beggar him.
 MT. Pltts's remarks were received amid a silence almost painful. After what seemed five minutes. the chair his hack license refunded. The Coun- ell vented its feelings on the coon. The license was not revoked.
 Evidently feeling relieved. the ousi- ness of the meeting was taken up' MT. Pitts having made his address previ- ous to the approval of the report sup mitted by the Committee on Paving.
 This work was whisked through except for a few interruptions from taxpayers, who wanted to know a few points about the measure. The motion that the city's share of the paving was not to exceed S20,000, was carried.
 Recently, the Council took steps to- ward getting the local light company to reduce their annual bill against the city and they were asked 10 make a new proposition. The Council would not give out what oher the light peo- nl made, but the offer. whatever 1t was, was literally kicked out of the room It was approved that the clty's bills Tor the month of June. $1,SS1. be paid. A petition from the Board of Educa- : tion for an appropriation of a sum not to exceed S1.50o. for a new Selma school. was carried.
 Feeling in some quarters IS intenseIy anti having, and 1t is understood that a strenuous fight is to be waged against | the work being done. Prominently men tioned in this connection are the Baker interests, the street car company, ana many citizens. It Is understood. how ever. that the law preventing an in- junction to stop the work IS very clear iv put. and that the paving work will be carried through seems foregone conclusion.