Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-08

proposition looked easy. but experience has
shown that il was a most serious under
taking. The National Construction COM
pany. attempted to drive a tunnel through
the min at Fifteenth and Monroe streets.
They have been working over a year and
1000 feet or more yet remains to be built
Mistakes were made which are now ad-
mitted. due to lack Of deep tunnel expert
ence and the work Of the company 20 far
has shown a steady loss. George Parks
has often remarked that he would give
5000 In addition to the contract price to
any man who would take the proposition
off his hands. Water. sand and block
clay nave been a constant hindrance to
progress. 1t has required the purchase Of
a steel shield lately and the use OF a sys-
TEN OF Jacks. with all this the progress
has not been more than three feet daily.
For many weeks not any progress was
made, accident after accident causing de-
lay, several Of the other sewers cannot be
constructed until they have an outlet into
the Mud Creek sewer. Such has been the
history and the outcome Of the efforts of
the company so far clearly demonstrate
that figures made from surface survey
tell next to nothing of the engineering
feats required under ground. The city en-
gineer and W. S. King likened the sewer
to a mule in difficulty when steady pro-
gress was sought. The compan insists
that the contract will be carried out. One
Of the biggest contractors at the time OF the
letting of the contract agreed TO do the
work at cost and asked the city to guaran-
tee him a profit OF 10 per cent on the
-ity engineers estimate; but would sub
nit no bid. That is he agreed to furnish
skilled men and furnish material at cost,
all,wing the city to build its own sewer,
as It were. under his supervision.
These difficulties and the handicaps
which some unforeseen events have brought
about are given out as the reasonable ex-
PLANTATION Of the slow progress complained
Of.
Changes I'm the Charter.
c. A. Melcher. from the standpoint Of the
city treasurer, has expressed the opinion
that the South Omaha charter needs radi-
cal reforms with respect to the special i'm
provement assessment. Ho declared that
the city never could keep even and show a
consistent financial situation until It was
made Impossible for people to elude the
payment Of levies for special improve
| ments. He made the assertion that this
escape Of obligations was practiced In
/ fully half Of the assessments heretofore
levied in South Omaha In many Of these
cases the tax was escaped entirely.
As a remedy for a state Of affairs which
has kept the city in an uncertain state on
all matters of paving and street improve
ment the treasurer suggested that the
| charter provisions defining the steps be
-H--1Ffg.7 50 fHaf grounds for Euft IN cot
aside the levy be obviated. The laws in
this direction are cumbersome and involved.
A few precise regulations would make the
way clear. 1T seems tie law was made
for lawyers said the treasurer. They
don't want people to understand legal
matters. And it follows that invariably
| errors have crept into the city ordinances
which have made plenty Of good money
for attorneys, but taxed the city at large
while the benefit has gone to a few. AS
soon as a special levy is made attorneys
overhaul the whole history for defects
great enough to overthrow the levy. II
| has often happened that part of the people
pay up promptly and the matter goes fol-
a number Of years. when suddenly a sui.
is begun and the tax is knocked out. Their
we have to remit. In a case like this there
| should be a law providing that all right
of protest or action 10 set dSloe a special
assessment should be forfeited unless the
acton began within one year after the
levy was assessed. 1 understand this was
m at the last session OF the legis-
lature, but the clause was defeated by
special interests and the real estate men
Of both cities owning property along paved
streets. Without such a limitation many
people now neglect or refuse to pay the
assessment to see II some time the levy
may be knocked out. II has not been 6
policy TO sell this property at once fol
special taxes. 1t usually fails to the
scavenger tax. which means a sacrifice tc
The city. II there vas a year limit which
made further protest impossible we could
sell the property at that time and realize
on the tax sale enough to make the city
finances look comfortable. 1 suppose other
people don't see it like I do"
It is likely that some such suggestion as
offered by Mr.. Meleher will be examined
into and taken up by the charter revision
committee. which meets Wednesday,
Athletic Club Organized.
The Shamrock Athletic association has
been organized in South Omaha for a few
weeks and met Friday evening to perfect
its plans, A board of directors was elected
They are William Donahue, Lester Murphy
John MARCEL, William Curran. James Gun.
bingham, John Fitzgerald, Patrick German