The Beakes Street Bridge Closed

The special meeting of the council held last evening was more in the nature of a law lecture than of an ordinary meeting, the lecturers being ExCity Attorney Norris and City Attomey Kline. They discussed the Beakes street bridge over the Michigan Central railroad track in all its phases and differed in their opinions like only lawyers can. The bridge, like Banquo's ghost, will not be downed, and will stay with the council for many a year. When Pres. Hiscock called the meeting to order all the aldermen excepting Aid. Ferguson, Taylor and Prettyrnan were present. Taking up the subject of the repairing and lowering of the Beakes street brigde over the Michigan Central, by request Ex-City Attonrey Norris spoke at length until he had to leave to fill an engagement. He said that the case of the city against the Michigan Central, nominally the people vs. Michigan Central, would be shotly disposed of and then the city would know where it was at. If the bridge was part of the highway the city must maintain it and could lower it, if not he had his doubts. The case was just at issue, Lawrence and Butterfield appearing for the Michigan Central. City Attorney Kline thought the court had adjourned to September 8. Mr. Norris thought this made no differencb as the case could be heard any day. It was sirnply a matter of law. There was nothing in the contract that the city keep the bridge in repair except by implication. He considered the contract ultra vires. City Attorney Kline differed in some of the phases of Mr. Norris' argument. At thetime the contract was made with the Michigan Oentral the city was represented by Judge Kinne and Judge Cooley and it ill became Mr. Norris to sav that the contract was ultra vives. He had also looked into a law book and in his opnion differed from Mr. Norris but as the younger man it was proper that he chould give way. He advised ealling in the railroad commissioner. The contract was a most lamentable affair, whereby the city had lost valuable rights. The fine passenger depot was some compensation however. It was a better way to' say instead of the contract was ultra vires, that the contract had changed. His advice was to prepare for what might come. Aid. Allmendinger moved that the Beakes street bridge over the Michigan Central be closed until the same be repaired. It was carried on the f ollowing vote : Yeas - Aid. Moore, Maynard, Allmendinger, Koch, Snyder, Butterfield,' and Pres. Hiscock; nays, o - Aid. Laubengayer, Brown, Shadford, Coon and Cady. The matter of the bonds of Henry Collins for building sewers number three and four came up. City Attorney Kline said unless the contract had been taken unusually low there was little chance of liability on the bonds. Pres. Clark of the board of public works also thought there was little danger of any cali on the bonds, as the ten per cent. of completed work retaiued by the oity was safe, as the contract could be re-let without difficulty.. On motion of Aid. Brown the bonds were accepted and approved.