The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-25
STERN PROTESTS
AGAINST ALLEYS
ALEX STERN AND OTHERS PRO-
TEST AGAINST PAVING or THE
DOWNTOWN ALLEYS - STERN
AND DR.. FRENETTE ENGAGE IN
HOT VERBAL BATTLE.

= ~NFNt y - @~a
There were few exciting moments
at the session Of the city council last
night during the consideration of the
paving Of the down town alleys be-
tween the Pioneer Life, Fargo opera
house. and Henderson buildings. when
former Aid. Alex Stern and Aid. Fren-
cite engaged in rather spicy verbal
battle.
Together with Henry ]. Rusch and
George Hancock. Mr.. Stern came ia
formally enter q protest against the
paving Of these alleys, on the grounds
that such pavement at this time was
not at all necessary and should walt
until these alleys had been properly
graded to meet the level OF the street
which would doubtless come within a
year or two.
Mr.. Stern cited the time when he
was a member of the city council and
had desired that these same alleys
be graded properly and paved. but
with Aid. Bowers had been persuaded
to let the paving Of these alleys wait
He further stated that he, as one OF
the largest property owners on these
alleys, had not been consulted about
the paving of the same.
do you mean me?" asked DR.
instance when he was a member OF
the council.
Eyes. I mean you" declared the
former alderman, in no uncertain
terms. Il mean you. l mean YOU
he repeated third time.
Hancock Adds Harsh Words.
Then George Hancock. who had
been the first property owner to be
heard on the proposition, rose again
and said that he thought the alder
man introducing the ordinance, re-
ferring to DR.. Frenette, was taking
things in high hand.
DR.. Frenette attempted to explain
that the property owners had beer
consulted, but Mr.. Hancock denied
the statement emphatically, and said
further that the alderman was doine
things In a high handed manner, anC
that he himself was prepared to fight
the matter, if necessary.
Mr.. Stern interrupted Mr.. Hancocl
and told him that it was not necessary
to throw it into the alderman, wht
would without doubt be courteous
enough to withdraw the ordinance
when he saw there was so much OPP
position on the part of the propert.
owners" Despite his indignation
which was only temporary, Mr. Sterl
disliked to hear such criticisms hurle,
in the tensity Of the moment, especial
| ly over the matter of merely enterinl
a protest, as Mr.. Hancock was doing
H. ]. Rusch added protest, stating
that he owned 200 feet on one of tn
alleys which had been proposed to b
| paved, and that he felt with Mr.. Steri
and the others that paving them a
this time would be unnecessary. TIL
council decided that the advertising o
them should be continued, inasmuch a.
bids had already been received anC
opened, but that need not imply tina
the paving Of them would be obliga.
tory.
Opened Paving Bids.
The most business coming before the
council last night was the opening OF
the bids for the paving Of First ave.
nue. north between Fifth street north
and Roberts street. Under the ordi-
nance none of the bids were even con-
sidered at last nights session, as five
days are required for the same to be
advertised in the official newspaper
so that the property owners may have
an opportunity to present formal petit
lions on the same.
The bidders, in the order in which
the bids were opened, were Robert
Johnson of Fargo. the General Con-
tracing Co. of Minneapolis, S. Birch
& Sons Construction Co. of Fargo
and James Kennedy Of Fargo. Each
bidder presented three propositions for
the paving of First avenue, the first
creasote block pavement, the second
concrete, and the third asphalt
Robert Johnson's bid virtually only
provided for the pavement Of the al
legs advertised, with concrete pave
ment at $3.50 per square yard.
kennedy's Propositions.
James Kennedy proposed complete
brick pavement at 1884 per square
yard, concrete pavement at $120 pei
square yard, creasote block paving al
1884 per square yard and asphalt al
s194 per square yard.
Mr.. Kennedy's bid. as did the others
includes manholes, catch basin, full de-
tails for excavation, steel reinforce
ments, suitable curbing and tile drains
making it thoroughly complete.
S. Birch & Sons Construction Co.'s
bid for creasote block paving was SAFE
per square yard. Their bid for brick
pavement was $2.56 per square yard
and for asphalt paving was s2,1s.
The bid for the General Contracting
Co. of Minneapolis for paving OF crea.
sote block was 1896. All of thes,
were higher than the bids in the thre,
propositions OF Mr.. Kennedy.
The council adjourned until Satur
day night, July 20. when IT win NEE
again in special session for the pur
pose of awarding the contracts for tn,
paving of this street.
Other Routine Matters.
A number of communications wer
read at the opening Of the session las
night. One was from A. J. Craig. su
perintendent of the city water works
asking that his salary be increase,
from $1,000 to $1,000. Aid. Stewar
moved that the city attorney draft al
ordinance providing for such an In
crease, which motion prevailed.
Another communication was iron
the Fargo Builders & Traders ex
change, signed by its secretary. w. c
Leeby. making request for q copy 0
the building laws, and the city engin
eer was instructed to send that asso
citation copy OF the same.
/ Several bills were allowed, incIudin
one to the Interior Lumber Co.
for certain improvements at the waite
works, and TO the police departmer