The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-02-26
INTERESTING Letter
ON PAVING QUESTION
NJ. c. DOYLE GIVES HIS VIEW OF
THE MATTER
Has Been Close Student Of the Entirs
Proposition and Deprecates
Litigation

The Messenger is glad to present to
it's readers this week, the following
from the pen of M. c. Doyle relative
to the litigation now pending over the
paving of Vienna st. 1t is perhaps UNI
necessary for US to state that other
articles regarding this matter will be
given space in our columns If their
length is not too great and the Ian
guage proper. Following is Mr..
Doyle's letter:
Editor Messenger: 1t is with much
interest that / have read the articles in
the Messenger relating to the law suit
started against the village by Messrs.
Field, Wright, Gillett, Yerden & Co.
(not incorporated). Although was
not at all in sympathy with the present
board last Spring when they went be-
fore the people on ''gravel ticket, :"
as no thinking man would be if he had
given the subject thought, but have
nothing but commendation for them
now for changing their plans after
carefully considering the proposition
and seeing the costs and results of the
different ways of repairing Vienna st.
do not believe that there is tax
payer in Clio who is not proud of the
main street of our village. Then why
this contention? The manner in which
the money was raised for doing the
work.
In the Spring of 1913 the question of
bonding the whole village for the pur-
pose of paving the street was submit
ted to vote of the people and was car
ried by vote of nearly three to one.
Later in the summer the same question
was voted on and lost because the peo-
ole did not get out to vote. The gain
in adverse votes was about twenty
which were polled mostly by the wives
of those who voted against the psopo-
sition in the Spring. In the election of
1914 Il 465 made an Issue Jy.tha astfer.
ent parties to assess fifty per cent of
the cost against the abutting property
and the balance on the property at
large; or any old way to get the work
DONE As you all know the party that
advocated the latter won out. and | OBJ
serve that with but one exception the
men who are making extra expense to
the village now, were the workers for
the successful candidates. Several of
us tried 70 explain to those people what
the result would he if Mr.. Bodine and
his party were elected, and did all we
could to defeat them, but we lost out
and the new party got control of the
council. OF course they came into
Office with pledge that they would re-
pair Vienna St. in some way. AS
have mentioned before, as soon as they
began to investigate as to the best pos
sible way to do the work, they were up
against the very same stumbling block
7 regarding gravel as the former council
had been when they decided to pave
with concrete. Gravel would have cost
nearly as much as good substantial
pavement and would have been but
little better than the mud that we got
so tired of. They did, therefore, as
their best judgment dictated and ex-
pended our money in way that would
do the most good. They also devoted
large amount of their time, without
pay, and constructed pavement that
stands as monument to their best
efforts and energy and put Clio on the
map for industry, thriftiness and pro-
gressiveness that no other village of
our size in the state can boast
Now comes the question of the law
suit, What do these men hope to gain?
The village still owes about $3.50. 90 on
the pavement. 1t is too late now to
make special assessment district for
the purpose of paying debt. So what
is there 20 gain. Let US calculate tn
what extent this litigation may cost
. the village. In the circuit court it will
' cost at least 100000. If we lose, it
would be foolish not to carry it to the
supreme court which would cost $500. 0C
more. Suppose we loose in both courts,
then the Saginaw Paving Brick Co.
would certainly not lay down. We
would have to fight them through the
courts which would cost at least $500. OC
and then the debt would not be paid.
Now then, let US see what Field,
Wright, Gillett, Yerden & Co. mot in.
corporated) are going to do. You will
notice that | say not Incorporated
which means that each is personally
liable for the full amount of hi:
earthly possessions. which are not By
law exempt. If the village attorney:
do not ask them to put up security fol
costs. they will be very slow Now