Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-01
GREGORY HITS UPON SOLUTION
OF PROBLEM THAT PUZZLES
COUNCIL.
MONEY QUESTION is
RAISED BY HERMAN
Whether Money in Sinking Fund Can
Be Legally Used to Defray Expense
Discussed-Work Will Cost Much
More Than Fisured-Lively Tilt Over
Report.

The tables We're turned in the city
council Tuesday night and instead ot
the mo delay" policy of members of
the night before there was a DISPOSE
ton to "be extremely careful" and
postpone action Herman and Psen-
icka, who were in such a hurry the
preceding evening to adopt the public
utilities franchise contract, were just
as ready to go slow when it came to
closing the contract with the Clearly
White Construction Company for the
building of the new concrete dam and
retaining walls.
1t took the council two hours to
finally determine that it would defer
action one week. Councilman Gregory
hit on the solution of the knotty prop
lem, by suggesting that the contracting
firm be asked to take the retaining
wall work this season, and postpone
the building of the dam until next sea-
son.
Lively Tilt Over Report.
While the council session was COM
paratively a tame affair there was
promise for time that McCarten ami
Psenicka might mix on the floor in
spirited one-round go.
AT a caucus held in the afternoon,
and from all reports caucuses these
days are noted for personalities. it was
agreed by the water works committee
that a certain report would be made.
When the report was finally placed in
the hands of Chairman Clark for pre-
sentation it was not according to
agreement, and McCarten refused to
sign when Psenicka brought it over 10
him and asked him what he thought CT
it. McCarten was not slow in telling
his colleague what he thought of IT,
and declared it wasn't square. Nc
Carten said that he had a little horse
sense left, and he wouldn't sign any
thing that wasn't right according 10 MS
notion.
chairman Clark, seated directly be-
hind McCarten, was then consulted by
Mr.. Psenicka, and Mr.. Clark made an
audible reply to the effect that "Mc-
Carten wouldn't sign anything,
whether he had agreed to or not" or
words to that effect.
This brought McCarten to his feet
IN an instant, and he told the chair
man and Psenicka a few things in
plain English, without mincing his
words, and stated emphati caiy that if
they wanted his signature to the report
1T must be offered to the council In
the very way the report had been
agreed to, and not smoothed over to
make it sound better to the public.
Report Bears But One Name.
The report, when read by Charm an
Clark, bore only his signature. 1t rec
commended the awarding of the con-
tract for the dam and retaining walls,
and all concrete work, in fact, con-
nected with the water works improve
ment, to the Cleary-White Constr,c-
ton Company. of Chicago, at s24,ss5. IS.
The report then went on to say while
this price was higher than it was sup
posed the work could be done, the In
crease in material and labor was re-
sponsible for the difference. The report
also said that the city could not aft
ford to take the chances of postponing
the work owing to the danger to the
reservoir from high water next spring,
and that the damage to the reservoir
IN the event of the dam going OUT In
high water might more than offset the
difference In the cost Of the work as
contemplated and what 1t might be
done for If new bids were advertised
Tor and the work put over until next
year.
Mr.. Clark explained that he and Mr.,
Mack had always figured that the dam
would cost about $4,000.
McCarten Explains Position,
MT. McCarten explained his position
and said that when the committee had
met that afternoon, to go over the bids
the meeting of the committee at Iowa
City was recalled, when Mr.. Lambert
Informed the committee that the Iowa
City dam had cost $4,000, and said
that the Marshalltown dam ought to
cost about $4,000. With the state paw
ang $4,000 this would make the city's
share about $4,000. At that time the
countys interest was not mentioned
Now when it comes to paying $4,000
more than the estimates it looked to
him aus If the price was high. The COM
mfttee. however had taken into con-
sideration the urgent need OF the re-.
tanning walls, in protecting the pu,np-
Ing station and the reservoir and
agreed to come into the council and
explain that, altho the price was 49,
900 or $4,000 above the estimate. we
deemed the Improvement expedient
under the Circumstances, and recon-
mended that the bid be accepted"
Now the report purports to explain
that this advance in price is due ia
the rise In material and labor and this
to me, doesn't explain anything. "rhe
reason didn't sign this report ia be.
cause 1t isn't what we agreed upon
Material isn't higher. unless 1t NAV be
stone, and cement is much cheaper
and cement is what we are going t,
use most Of"
Gregory Quotes Cement Prices.
Mr.. Gregory, who sells cement. sa;s
that the reference to the increase O.
the cost of material, as made in thu
report, was not correct, and he though
material was not cent higher than i
was five or six months ago. While h,
rid not censure the committee, HI
thought some one had been dilatory
and that the dam should have beel
built earlier in the season. Mr.. Greg
Dry said that cement five years aga
when the Iowa City dam that cost SIS,
300 was built cost around 81 per bar
tel. Now 1t is selling at $1.1s
Mr.. Clark explained that many cir
eumstances had combined to delay tn