Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-06-15
WRANGLING OVER
PARK JOB AWARD
Alderman Mii!!ssen Wilson Opposes
Democrats in Arguments on
the Park Situation.
ABOUT ExcAvATING WORK
Resolution Passed to Issue
Bonds in Amount of S38, 900
to Pay for Park Land.

Public parks, the problem of pay
| ing for work on them and the subject
of paying for the former Merritt
at times grew into warm arguments
at the adjourned meeting OF the
Board OF Aldermen last night.
Charges were made that 1t was un-
fair to people In the western section
of the city to appropriate $500 for
parks and then spend two-thirds of
1t on the former Merritt tract In
the northern part. Alderman VII
liam C. Wilson, opposed the Demo-
Gratis on that point and, according
to Alderman John J. Clark's inter-
pretation Of Mr.. Wilson's remarks,
the latter insinuated that Graham &
McKeon could out-bid other local
contractors on excavation work for
the city because the firm was allow
ed liberal measurements. After con-
siderable wrangiing, a resolution was
adopted to let Graham & McKeon do
the cutting and excayating on the
park land, formerly the Merritt tract
at twenty cents cubic yard Six
voted In favor OF the document and
Mr.. Wilson passed. A resolution to
issue bonds In the amount of $4,000
to pay for the park land, to retire
notes issued to pay for the land tenn
Dorarily, was adopted unanimously.
''One on'' WILSON?
When the resolution to award the
excavatfng work to Graham & Nc
that ne had been misinformed when
he voted for an appropriation of
$1,000 parks. He indicated that
'one had been put over on him. in
asmuch as he had been told that the
appropriation was to cover the Mer-
ritt tract, the aims house and the
former water works park sites, with
about $500 for each. About $500
has been expended on the Merritt
tract and at least $500 more will be
expended upon it. This, he conclud-
ed to be unfair Mr.. Wilson stated
he had previously es&imed that $500
was not enough for the north end
park. Democratic members OF the
board said II had been found nee
essary to expend SO much there be-
cause Of the large amount OF work
necessary. They claimed that proyi-
sions would be made later for the
other park sites.
The resolution in question was to
complete a temporary agreement
which the city's street department
had made with Graham G McKeon
for excayating, including the remoy-
al of stumps, at twenty cents a cubic
yard. Mr.. Wilson argued that the
work could not be done at that figure
and he also claimed that the same
contractors could not afford to cart
dirt to the park land for fill at
twenty-seven cents yard, as it had
done. The first ward alderman
argued that the firm would lose
money. He then asked about how
count was kept on the number of
yards handled. Alderman Chris
Jorgensen declared it was done in
systematic and painstaking manner.
In response to questions from Mr..
Wilson, he said more than one cubic
yard of dirt was figured for some of
the wagons.
Aldermen John j. Clark and Jor-
gensen then smiling stated that the
contractors must be able to do it
without losing money as otherwise
they would not take the jobs. They
argued that the city procured the
benefit, and Mr.. Clark gave an illus
tration how the city once lost money
by holding a job over for competi-
ton, despite the fact that he held
in this and other jobs had there been
ample time.
Mr.. Wilson again argued that the
only way the contractors could do it
was If they secured 200 yards for
100 yards. "Ah!" exclaimed Mr.
Clark. 80 that's what you were driv-
ing at" The latter then stated that
he would not make any such aecusa-
tions unless he had proof to back
them up. Mr.. Wilson said he was
not making any accusations, but re-
iterated that the work could not con-
sistent1y be done for the prices
charged In conclusion Messrs. Jor-
gensen and Clark stated that the
whole secret of the low prices lay in
the fact that Graham & MeKeon
were being paid at both ends, receiv-
ing pay per cubic yard from where |
dirt was removed and pay where 1t |
was deposited. They also claimed |
the firm could do work cheap because
they used a steam shovel A vote |
was then taken on the resolution.
Bonds in the amount OF $4,000 to |
pay for the former Merritt land will |
bear interest at the rate of four and |
a half per cent. per annum and they |
will become payable in twenty-five
years. Alderman Wilson asked If 1t
was advisable to date the bonds from
July 1, as was provided for, when the
aotes out would not expire until Sep
ember. He held that 1t would be un-
wise to pay interest twice on the
mount. After some discussion on
he subject he became convinced
hat the interest on the bonds be-
ween July and the date Of deliv-
ry would be accrued and would be
urned back to the city, thereby In
urring no double charge of interest.