The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-07

been given to this paper for publica-
ton by the gentlemen whose sigma
lures are attached, as they wished
that both papers give publicity to
their statements. The Gate City, not
[. having been selected as the original
place Of publication, and not desiring
to appear taking either side of the
controversy while not involved in
the same, prints the communications
as paid advertisements.] Editor Gate
City.
BY Mr.. Schmidt.
To the Editor of the Constitution
Democrat:
In your issue Of Saturday, March
4th, you published an article attack
ing me and criticising certain trans
action between the Keokuk Quarry &
Construction Co., and the city Of Keo-
kuk. I have no intention of engaging
IN newspaper controversy. r simply
wish to state the facts in connection
with the matter, so that I can not be
accused Of remaining silent under the
imputattons contained in that article.
You ask me several questions and
will proceed to answer them In their
order.
You ask me whether | believe that
tho previous city administration took
proper action In filing a petition with
View to recovering an alleged dam
age of Five Thousand Dollars {S5,-.
oooOo) In Cedar street. Answer l
believe that the previous city admin
1strat1on did take proper action in
filing this petition for the reason that
1T brought forward claim which had
been pending for some time and
placed it in the way Of an adjust.
ment and settlement. AS a result of
this suit negotiations have been car
iied on for the settlement Of this
claim which will probably result In
proper adjustment of the same
| Your next question asks me If
believe that the previous city admin
istratlon did take proper action, upon
what grounds do | Justify my agree
nent to permit another corporation
to do practically the same thing and
not only this, but pay them for this
work. Answer / justify myself up
on the grounds that in this transac-
! ton I have made ar arrangement
which not only myself but the re-
naming members of the council
| think is of great advantage to the
city. We are not permitting the Keo-
kuk Quarry 6, Construction Co. to do
the same thing as was done in Cedar
street in any manner. The excavation
in Cedar street was made in a street
which had never been vacated and
which before long will need to be i'm
proved and which also furnishes
access from the river front to Fifth
street and thence up town. The city
received absolutely nothing for the
material taken from Cedar street, and
the excavation was not made by vir
tue of any agreement with the city.
either verbal or written On the other
hand, the arrangement with the Keo-
kuk Quarry & Construction Co., Of
which you complain, was made with
reference to an intersection which is
absolutely unavailable for any public
use. Fourth street between this in
tersection and Cedar street is not
owned by the city. Towards Fifth
street, Bloody Run prevents the
opening Of d street. Towards the riv-
err, the city is entirely shut in by
private property. Towards the cereal
works, the street has been vacated
and Bloody Run also prevents the
opening Of a street in that direction.
This intersection is isolated and
could form part of no street which
it is possible for the city to open. But
even If by any stretch of the magma
ton, this intersection could be used,
the city still has the right to it and
it would be in better shape for a
street If the earth and rock were re-
moved than it is now, as It would be
more nearly to feasible grade. The
case of this intersection Is not In any
way parallel with the excavation made
in Cedar street and anyone who de-
s1res to do so, can assure themselves
Of this fact by simply examining the
locality.
You also ask II In order to quarry
stone It Is not necessary for COM
pany first to remove dirt from this
stone. Answer. It is necessary to re-
move dirt, If there is any dirt on tho
stone.
You ask. "Was not the FIJI on
South Fifth street as convenient a
place as any for the keokuk Quarry
G. Construction Co. to dump the earth,
in the process of ouarrying" An
swer. I am not interested in the
convenience of the Keokuk Quarry
! the information you ask, I will say
that I understand that the Keokuk
Quarry & Construction Co. has a more
convenient place to dump this earth
and that the earth could be dumped
in this place more cheaply and rapid
~ than by taking It to Fifth street
The Keokuk Quarry & Construction
Co. is under a contract to fill the
hole made by their quarrying in years
past and I understand that they have
been notified to make such fill under
their contract It would be much
easier and cheaper for them to dump
the earth into this hole than to take
it to Fifth street.
Your next question asks me AZ to
why the agreement between tho city
and the keokuk Quarry & Construc-
ton Co. was not made In writing and
filed as matter Of public record In
the customary manner. Answer. It
has been entirely customary in the
city Of Keokuk for years to handle
matters Of this kind by verbal con-