The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-07
ESTIMATES ALLOWED ON
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT
CommonS Council Receives Re.
Communications From Board
of Public Works.
TO CURTAIL ENGINEERS FORCE

The first meeting of the commof
council Of the city of Hancock in three
weeks Vas held last evening and al
though the session lasted hess than two
hours, a large amount of business was
disposed of. including the reading of
monthly reports of various officials
receiving recommendations from the
board of public works relative &c
amounts due to several contractors on
municipal Improvement jobs, and dis
cussions and action relative to the re-
duction of the engineers force during
the winter months, besides a number
of other minor matters.
Communications Received.
A communication from Charles Mat
thews and Attorney S. l.. Lawton rela-
tive to damages resulting to property
in west Hancocl. that it was claimed
had resulted from failure of the city
to provide sewers, asked reimburse
ment to the amount of $SO4.25 for loss
of rental for four months and expenre
of putting i'm private sewering sys-
tenn. 1t was claimed that the build
ing could not be rented for lack Of
sewers. No action was taken. beyond
the referring of the matter to the fl
nance committee and city attorney.
A petition was received from Rev.
]. X. Nikander. l.. HERES and other
residents of Franklin street calling at
tention to the necessity Of installing an
electric light at the corner of Frank
lin end Finn streets, which il was
claimed is badly needed owing TO the
incomplete state of the grading and
sidewalks on that thproughfare. The
communication was referred to the
street lighting committee.
Estimates Recommended.
The board CT public works submitted
to the council several estimates made
by the city engineer relative to work
done by various contractors and they
were accepted and the various
amounts ordered paid.
The estimate of amount due J. J.
Byers & Co. for laying water mains on
west Hancock hillside streets, less the
twenty per cent withheld according to
terms of the contract. was 1888. The
engineer asked that the full amount
due be allowed. as the work so far as
done is complete i'm itself and can oe
made use of in its present state.
To hold up the twenty per cent,
he said. would be unjust as it would
compel the contractor to have a large
s,,,,, tiod ~ fo. covoral ,,oontbc xvbia al
he had already earned, the work hav-
ing been satisfactorily accomplished
and payment of labor involved has TO
be paid
The estimate of the amount due
James McGlynn on Front street re-
tanning walls was $645.s4.
1t was moved by Alderman Holland
and carried that the Byers matter be
referred to the attorney to see II the
full amount can legally be paid to the
contractor without affecting the lat
ter's bond and it was also suggested
that the McGlynn estimate be sim
ilarly treated.
Mr.. Craig said that the two cases
were different, inasmuch as the two
Front street walls, if the others
should not be completed, We're Of
doubtful value to the city. In the By
ers case the actual terms of the con-
tract could be abrogated without in
juring either party to the contract.
The statement of the amount due
Bccman q Larson for construction of
cement sidewalks on Minnesota street,
Franklin and Sumite streets, was
sS927S. This was accepted and the
amount ordered paid.
Payment for Paving Job.
The matter of the estimate of bal
ance due the Central Bitulithic Paw
ing company of Manistee for the paw
ing of Hancock street ELECTED consi1-
cradle discussion relative to the time
when the money might he expected to
be paid over by the two local banks
that have agreed to take the paving
bonds. The amount of the contract. In
full, was $2705S50 of which there has