Newport's Street Grades Come With a Bill—and a Fight Over Rock

At the regular meeting of the town council, held Tuesday evening, considerable business of importance was transacted and bills amounting to large sums were allowed and ordered paid. All members of the council and the mayor were present.

The matter of a final settlement with Fife Bros., of Spokane, for the work of street grading was brought up, Mr. John Fife being present, as were also a number of citizens owning property on the streets graded. Mr. Fife presented a claim for $1,245 for extras on the Spokane Avenue grade, claiming that he had encountered rock excavation between First and Pine streets. The understanding when the contract was entered into was that in case solid rock was encountered Mr. Fife was to receive additional compensation or the grade eased so as to avoid expensive work. Citizens owning property on Spokane protested against the claim, stating that the rock encountered did not come under the classification of solid rock, but was decomposed granite, which was handled without very much greater expense than the dirt excavation.

The matter was finally compromised by allowing Mr. Fife $4,000 for the work on Spokane Avenue, an increase for the extra work of $407 over the original contract.

Bills for extras on other streets were presented by Mr. Fife as follows: Fourth, $120.10; Third, $5.45; Scott, $123.05; Warren, none. The original contract price was as follows: Fourth, $573; Third, $1,684; Scott, $2,036.60; Warren, $1,995; Spokane, $3,593; a total of $9,841.60. The extras footed up $656.20 and a resolution was adopted for payment in full of the balance due Mr. Fife.

M. C. Krause, civil engineer in charge of the work, presented a bill for his services, which was allowed, as follows: Fourth, $79.25; Third, $174.65; Scott, $128.68; Warren, $135.68; Spokane, $174.65; total, $693.47.

K. J. Lutz presented a claim for $175 for his services in superintending the work, which was allowed.

A claim of Fife Bros. for work on Fourth Street to bring it to conform with the new grade, amounting to $33, was allowed.

Cannon Lee presented a claim of $168.50 for legal services in handling the defense for the town in the case instituted to test the validity of the local option election, which was ordered paid.

County Engineer Manning's claim for $90 for locating street corners was rejected and a tender of $75 made to Mr. Manning.

Christina Muller, of Spirit Lake, through her attorney, H. B. Duff, presented a claim for $848 for damages to her property on Warren Avenue between First and Second streets. Her claim was itemized as follows: damage to property by reason of four-foot fill in street, $600; destruction of eight shade trees on sidewalk line, $120; destruction of four trees inside property line, $70; damage to fence, $5; damage to property and trees by taking down fence and permitting stock to enter, $50; repairs on water pipe, $3. The claim was laid on the table.

J. S. Mitchell asked for a permit to build an addition to the McCurdy property on Washington Avenue, within the fire limits, to be used as a kitchen. Permit to construct a brick veneer addition with gravel roof was granted.