The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-10
LIGHTNING CHANGE
STUNT PULLED OFF
BY The I, H. / ( {,
Plans for National Road I'M
provement, Under Which
Contractor Is Working,
Acceptable Once.
CAN NEW CONTRACT
BE GIVEN CRONIN?
Question Arises If II Would
Not Be Necessary to Ad-
vertise for Bidders on Any
New Contract.

Though up until press time no flnal
action had been taken by the board OF
county commissioners in relation to
Its tentative proposition to the Terre
Haute. Indianapolis and Eastern Trac-
tion company for compromise settle
ment as to the location OF the COM
pany's tracks on the National road.
from West Fifth street to the Wayne
Center township line. 1t was evident
today that the board members would
be highly pleased IL the company re-
fuses to accept the proposition.
The only consideration given the
subject in the morning session was to
hear attorney Wilfred Jessup. repre-
senting the Ave hundred petitioners
for the improvement. The county's
attorneys were tied up in other busi-
ness matters and could not be present
until the afternoon meeting.
For the Petitioners.
Speaking in the interests Of the pe-
titioners and to revive the commits
sioners' memories. Attorney Jessup re-
viewed the early history Of the propo-
sition for the improvement. He told
the board that General Manager Todd
OF the traction company had been In
like to make to the reviewers and en-
gineer for the Improvement, who were
appointed to report on the utility OF
such an Improvement. as to what re-
concentrations the company would
gineer. before these onicials reported
to the commissioners. He said that
Mr.. Todd's word was accepted BY the
oficials and no written agreement
was made. Mr.. Todd rejected tho
road officials proposition that the
company use the center OF the high
way as far west as Easthaven avenue.
and from that point west, the south
OF curb line Mr. Todd. he said, gave.
these officials to understand that the
company would much prefer to place
their tracks outside Of the improve
ment because it would eliminate
curves and lessen danger to the gem
eral travel Now Mr.. Todd has said
that he made no such representation
to the road officials.
Asked No Damages.
Attention of the commissioners al
so was called to the fact that the COM
pany made no demand for damages
when advertisements Of benefits and
damages were published. This the
company had a right to do az tax
payer OF the county and one which
would be effected by the improve
ment. The board also was asked to
recall to mind that the specifications
for the improvement fully outlined
where the tracks were to be located,
and that the contract was inspected
by the company's representatives and
attorneys before the contract was .et.
No objection was made by the com
drawn up. Perhaps no specifications
for any improvement ever made with
in the county were ever more
thoroughly inspected than were the
specifications and contract for the Ma
tional road Improvement, Mr.. Jessup
said. Ten attorneys at Indianapolis,
also counsel representing the Second
National bank OF this city, which took
over the $4,000 bond issue, and county
attorney J. F. Robbins and attorney
r. j. Study. representative OF con-
tractor Cronin, went over this con-
tract. A few minor details were
amended by the county attorney and
all the legal talent stamped the spect
fications and contract as satisfactory.
Questions have arisen. which attor-
neys interpret differently, az to wheth-
er the commissioners can amend Cron.
ms contract to call for forty foot
improvement when the existing con.
tract is for forty-six foot improve
ment, without putting the amended
contract up for public bid. There -
also question whether the commits
sioners can have q forty foot highway
built when forty-six roadway was
petitioned for. without involving the
county In much litigation.