A Lively Meeting

The regular meeting of the b oard of : public works, held on Wednesday ( ing, was quite warm and in sorne of its aspects ratber uniqde. Pres. Ciark and Mr. Schuh were present. The latter had forgotten his glasses and the Argus reporter acted as his private seoretary j in preparing resolutions, etc. The ! sational features of the eveuing were the charges made by Mr. Schuh that the Hill street lateral sewer was uot builL according to the specifiations. This brought City Eugineer Key to his feeV as he recoguized the fact that a large part of the responsibility of any defective work would rest upon his shoulders. He became much excited and denied point blank the statements of Mr. Schuh. One resolutiou was not put after being supported. The board and the members of the street committee uresent seemed to be quite at sea, as to how, when and where the stone crusher and steam road roller should be tested. It was evident, however, that tliere is a great big bill of expense f or all future time stariug the tax payers iu the face. When the meeting was called to order the varions resolutions of the council pertainiug to the work of the board were read by the clerk. Pres. Clark asked City Engineer Key to explain the resolution providing that the sidewalk in front of Dr. Herdman's property on West Hurou street be cut down to the newly established grade. Mr. Key, however, did not seem to know mueh about it and could give little infornUitiou. In referenoe to some of the street work, Mr. Key stated he had ordered his assistant, Mr. Groves, to make a profile. In referene to the resolution of the council ordering the board to procure 300 loads of stone, Mr. Schuh thought that all the board could do was to advertise for bids and theu report the bids back to the council. They could not buy without violating the charter. It was foolish to haul the stone down to the crusher and then back to where they would be used. The stone would cost $1.25 per load bef ore it would get on to the street. It would cost $700 to macadamize a block. He moved to refer the resolution back to the council as authorized by the charter. For the purposse of bringing the reaolution before the board, Mr. Clark supported the same. He did not think they should criticize the acts of the couuil. The conncil would have the vesnousibilitv. He suDposed the stone rusher shcrald be first tested, because if t did not come up to the guarantee it was not supposed the city would pay 1650 for the machine. He favored adrertising for bids for the stone. Aid. Moore said that the idea of the mover of the resolution was so get eiiough stone for a block and after the stone on hand was used up to buy enough to make up the shortage. Aid. Snyder thought the board of public works should give the machine a 'air test and not throw obstacles in the way. Mr. Schuh said the resolution was unauthorized. Aid. Snyder said it looked as if the board was throwing obstructons in the way. Mr. Schuh thought the charter called for this work being done by contract, after receiving bids. Pres. Clark questioned the right of the board to make tests of these machines, but after the clerk read the resolution of the council he was satisfied the board was authorized to do su. Aid. Snyder said if the machine did not crush ten tons f stone per hour they did want to buy the machine. All the couucil asked was to give the machine a fair test. Mr. Schuh said they could buy crushed limestone cheaper on the track thun crush the stone. It could be bought fór 60 cents a ton. A resolution offered by Pres. Clark that the crasher be tested as soon as the representativs of the machine ed the board that it was ready, was passed. The questiou of the teaiuster's wages carne up. Aid. Snyder made au eloqiient plea iu favor of raisiug the wages to $3. 50 per day. It would not direotly affect the wages of but a few meu, hut it affected all the tearusters in that the city ftxed the wages No man could get more thau $3 per day iL ' the city did not pay it. Mr. Schuh moved that the street commissioner be permittedto pay $3.50 per day for doublé teams. Pres. Clark said ne iudividually was uot opposed to au advance iu the wages oommeusurate with the advance ia the prico of f eed, but he was uot prepared that eveuiug to vote ou the questiou :md if he did so he wonld vote uo. The vote beiug called the resoluuon was lost ou a tie vote. The clerk read live applications for the positiou of engineer of the steani road roller, viz C. Haywood, George Kiugsley, George Eaton, Clarence Eaton, Arthur Sweet and Theodore Sweet. Theodore Sweet was unaniiously slected. Aid. Snyder i-eniarked that he thought sonie one should treat as the board had agreed. A. A. Teriy was elected inspector of inan holes in place of Wesley Hicks resigned. Mr. Schuh said he had been down at the sewer several times and found three poiuts in which the specifications were not fulfilled. The trench was not kept ree from water and the pipe was laid in water. City Engineer Key asked Mr. Schuh if he had nieasured the water. He said the pipe was not laid in water. He had resabed iuto the pipe and fouud all the joints hard. Mr. Sohuh said this conld uot be as flve or six tile had been laid while he was there. He clainied the tile had uot been fitted as required before being laid. The pipe were not embedded in s.iud as reqnired. He saw the men put clay under the pipe. He brought a uiece along which he produced. City Engineer Key deuied that the pipe was laid in clay. Mr. Schuh said lie liad seen it done. Mr. Key said he had followed up Mr. Schuh right along and that the bottom of the trench was saud. There was no question they were doing the work and laying the pipe well. He could swear to it. Mr. Schuh said they were uot laying tile according to the specificatious. The heinp was not properly calked into the sookets. These were all facts. City Engineer Key said they were incomplete facts. Mr. Scliuh said the work was not properly attended to. Mr. Key : ' ' Yes, it is. Yon are not the ouly man down there lookiug at things. ' ' Mr. Schuh said the trench was not dug out six inches below the grade line. Mr. Key said Mr. Schuh had uot staid long enough. As soon asahe carne, Mr. Schuh skipped out. Pres. Clark said he did not like to hear these asperatioás. Tl e charges made shoud be investigated. Inspector Ward said he would try bis hand in pouring oil on the troubled waters. He had flashed light into the tile and only one tile was slightly out of grade and the joints were all good. City Engineer Key said there had uot a man looked at the sewer who did uot fiud it all right. These charges did not amount to i snap of bis tinger Pres. Clark asked if Mr. Schuh could find the place where he got out the clay. Mr. Sohuh said he could. "Everythiug goes with the gang or ring and the city must pay for it. " It was decided that the pipe should be examined.