Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-04
COUNCIL THRAShfS OUT
IMPROVEMENT QUESTION

Ss.@ S~~@-~--'
Aldermen Owen, Logan, Wingate,
Hanno, Wertin and O'Driscoll were
present.
The minutes Of the meetings for the
month Of April were read and approx
ed.
The petition Of M. II. Leyhon, the
blind man, to play phonograph on
the streets was granted. The petit
ton of the Gibson Lumber company
for q sidewalk to be constructed In
front Of the Ball Foundry was rsferr-
ed to tho Street and Alley COMMITTEES
fol investigation to report to the coun-
ell at the next meeting. The fol-
lowing petitions for licenses were also
received and granted: United The
ater company, theater license; Mar
tir Verce, one pool table license; San
ford Il Jemison, four pool table Ii
eenses; Durango Motor company, one
auto license; Durango Motor company,
garage license; Joe Bardner, cement
contractors license.
The reports of the officers for the
month of April were read and or
dered placed on file. City Treasurer
In Count reported balance on hand
of $l6,sl2.12, of which $13,44S.52 is in
the general fund. Water Superintend-
ent Redman collected $400.l0 during
the month. Four arrests were made
~,,l e1n Il, 6noo rollarfad
The bonds of the various city off,
cials were passed favorably upon by
City Attorney Moody. The bonds
were accepted and the new officers
will take their positions today. The
subject OF the payment Of the pre-
MUM on bonds WAS discussed. Al
derman Wingate wished to know II the
city could legally make this expendi-
ture. The city attorney stated it had
been done in the past by resolution
but there was no statutory provision
for it and II complaint was made
trouble might result. Mr.. Wingate
wished TO do cnly what was legal in
the matter and asked to be placed
on record as making a motion that
each official pay for his own bond.
Although there was no second TO his
motion. 1t was pointed out this would
work great hardship on the city
treasurer as he receives only $40 per
month and the premium on his bond
is 800. Alderman Logan stated that
he felt the council could and should
be held liable for the payment of
the premiums as they instructed the
finance committee to order the bonds.
The bills for the premium were final
ly allowed-all aldermen voting in ia
vor of doing SO.
The present status of the work in
sidewalk improvement district No. ]
was discussed at length. Mayor Hood
and different members of the council
questioned the outgoing engineer In
detail regarding conditions, contracts,
etc. It seems much misunderstood
ing has arisen because of false ru-
mors, or rumors with very little foun-
dation.
The mayor was instructed to order
tho treasurer TO turn over $4,000 in
Improvement bonds to the contractors.
Relative to the work in the district
ex-Engineer Goodman submitted the
following report:
Durango, Colo, May Q, 1911.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of the City Of Durango.
Gentlemen:
The following herewith Is an esti-
mate Of the work done by Contractors
Forsgren and Pile during the month
of April, 1911:
821O linear feet curb, at
$.44S76 W 68a.237
Less 20 per cent retained So. 7S6.847
Amount due contractors
for month of April ..-.....$2,947.390
Upon turning over my Office tonight
as the city engineer of the city Of
Durango, wish to call the councils
attention to few things concerning
this improvement district.
According to your contract for this
improvement, the city engineer has
nothing to do with the acceptance Of
this work, but instead 1t rests with
the council, while / have had general
supervision of this construction as city
engineer ] may state, am entirely
satisfied with all work done up to and
including April 30, 1911, excepting
hereinafter described, which is well
within reach of the 90 per cent that
has been retained from time to time
on estimates. I hold responsible for
the work done on May and 2 either
the council or the man employed by
this council, for this reason, he came
on the site without notice or in
PRODUCTION to either the contractors
or myself and Immediately gave in
structions TO the contractors concern
ing their work, some Of which l con-
sidered almost impossible to carry oat.
! wish to call attention TO the last
section In the contract, page 2, which
says the contractor shall do this work
to the satisfaction of the city council
and in strict obedience to the direc-
tions which may be given by the said