Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-04
CHERRY IS PAID OFF.
FOR LOOP PAVING:
HAD $4,000 COMING
YOR AND COMMISSIONER
DOUGHERTY PROTEST AGAINST
DEFECTS IN STREET WORK,
BUT FINALLY DECIDE THEY
MUST ALLOW CLAIM.


Formal action was taken by the
city council last nigth to clean the
slate as far as John Cherrys claims
against Ottawa for paving the loop
are concerned when, after consider
able discussion pro and con, it was
voted to give Mr.. Cherry warrant
for $?,i69,5S, the amount due him as
tho unpaid balance for completing the
downtown Improvement.
The ~, i69.5s is Mr., Cherry's share
of the supplemental assessment con.
tirmed in the County Court and ruled
as rightiully his The assessment was
spread and sent through the courts
after the downtown paving was all in,
there being little or no opposition 70
the supplemental roll after ii was an
nOunCcd an extra charge would be
necessary against the abutting prop
erty to meet the cost of the improve.
Pent
Considerable complaint was made
against defects in the downtown ana
North Lafayette street sections by
both Mayor Weeks and Commissioner
Doughcrty. The mayor WAS convinced
that the condition OF Columbus street
north Of Lafayette street, was not
what Is should be, and accused the
Northern Illinois Light and Traction
Company, as well as the ntorurban
OF being responsible for smashing the
new pavement along their tracks He
thought someone should make good
the damage done the street besides
the city, and favored holding M what.
ever was due Mr. Cherry on the north
end job until such time as the re-
sponsibilty was placed and the proper
repairs made.
Commissioner Doughcrtv recalic
defects he had found in the loop sec
tions and was as firm in his belief
someone besides the city should be
held responsible as the mayor This
pavement is gong bad in several
places said the commissioner. and
can see no reason for these flaws
coming within a year after the jobs
completion,
Public Engineer Farnsworth. who
was present at the session, rallied to
the defense Of the contractor and the
old administration by saying that nu
pavement could be put down any
where without defects becoming mar
ifest as the streets were put to ordi,
nary use. 1T is impossible to lay n
pavement he said. without some
flaws. TO guarantee against an I'M
perfect job the cost would be almost
Inspection expenses alone wOIli
doubel and treble, while the estimates
would have to be raised proportion
ately To insure a flaWlcsS Job b. cx-
aiming pavement costs in surround
ing cities YOU will find Ottawa has one
of the cheapest and best jobs ever laid
in Illinois, There is a certain amount
OF upkeep necessary each year, and
no council can expect a pavement to
be put down and last forever without
making repairs on it once in a while -
When II was explained by the mayor
that the amount due Mr. Cherry was
o k'd by court order there was
nothing lett for the administration to
do but to draw a warrant in the con.
tractors favor, issuing bonds to cover
the amount and closing up the affairs
OF the improvement II was unani.
mouSly agreed by the commissioners
to follow that course and Mr. Cherry
vii get the money due him. Promises
OF fight against confirmation Of the
north end roll are looming in the
ofting. however, and tie.up of money
due the contractor threatens unless
blame for the smashed pavement on
Columbus street is proven not to be.
long on Mr.. Cherry'S shoulders and is
not due to inferior workmanship.