The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-29
Csuncll Procecaings.
CoUNcIL RooA,
May 18th, 1855.

Prsssnt-The Mayor, and Aldermen Bill
lings, Conn, pistman, Sharts, and Taylor.
The Mayor presented the contrsSG and
bond Of John Zwart for grading and paving
the Alleys through Block Is, 26 and 81. On
motion the bond and contract were accepted.
The City tEngincer reported the bid OF
Cofman & Hunter for curbing, grading and
paving side wolks, and said Engineer was di-
rocted to enter into contract with said Coff.
man 4 Hunter for said work.
The Engineer reported bids for building
culverts on Sd, 4th, 5th, and 9th streets, and
was directed to enter into contract with tho
lowest biddcr-security to be given for the
performance Of the contract.
The Engineer also presented the bids for
covering the culverts on johnson street,
which was referred to the Committee on
Streets and Alleys.
Company to have the members thereof ex-
empt from road labor tax, was received and
referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
The special committee upon the extension
Of the Wharf below Main street. made the
following report:
The special committee, to whom the SUBJ
lect OF extending the Levee ip the Second
Ward, have had the same under considera-
ton, and unanimously recommend that the
outer line of the Lcvee BE established at q
point 800 feet eastwarMy from the front line
OF Block No. 4, in TIE city Of Keokuk, run
ming thence on straight line to point op-
posite and in lime with Bank street. $50
from the eastxardly side Of Second street,
thence on straight line to point opposite
and in slime with Demon street, 40 feet
from the eastwardly side Of Second street,
THENCE on straight line to point opposite
and in line with the west side Of Cedar
ptreet, $50 feet eastwardly from Third
street.
Your Committee would further recommend
that the city, as soon as means can be had,
shall proceed to make Levee $50 feet wide.
between which Levee and the present front
OF the lots fronting on the river, there viii
be strip OF ground of uneven width from
fifty to two hundred and seventy-6vc feet
wide, worth, at present prices for front pro-
perty, ut least two hundred thousand dollars,
which, in the opinion Of your committee, by
proper management on tho part Of the citv.
will be nearly sufficient to build the entire
Levee from Main to Cedar streets, which
would give our city almost four thousand
feet Of Levee and would be both an honor
and credit to the city.
And in the opinion of your committee, it
IS not an extravagant calculation to estimate
the value of acquired property alone BY the
proposed extension Of the Levee, when it il
built ut over one third Of million Of dol
lars, on which, at the present low rate of
taxes, would be collected revenue enough to
pay the interest on more than three hundred
thousand dollars Of city bonds.
The committee have conferred freely with
owners of front property on the river, and
80 far IS they have conferred, there appears
to be disposition on the part Of lot owners
to make fair and equitable arrangement
with the city for the extension of the Leyee,
and for the purpose of making such arrange
ments, the committee would recommend the
appointment Of Commission Of two citi
zens, not members Of the City Council, to
proceed to examine the acquired ground be-
tween the Leyec hereby established and the
lots as now located, who shall have power to
make such arrangements with persons no v
holding front lots rs may be deemed fair and
equitable, either by dividing the property or
selling them, payable when the Leyce is
made, or by allowing them to pay for the
ground by making the Levee in front OF their
lots, which committee shall report their de-
ings TO the City Council, and when ratified by
the council, shall be final.
HAWKINS TAYLOR,
WM. ZIMMERMAN.
j. NJ. BILLINGS,
| Committee.
Report received, adopted, and Arthur
Bridgman and d. B. Smith appointed Com
missioners in accordance with the recommen-
| dation Of said report.
The petition Of Calvin Coats and others.
in relation to the grade of johnson, between
Fourth and Sixth streets, was received and
laid upon the table.
The petition Of John Templin and 70
others, asking the Council to appoint some
person to proceed to the city Of Washington
70 attend to the Rail Road interests Of the
south part OF Iowa, was received, and laid
upon the table.
The special committee upon the Market
House reported plan, specifications and es-
Inmates for Market House, also the follow
4 ing resolution, which was adopted
Resolved, That the City Engineer be. and
hereby is instructed to advertise for promo
sails for building Market House and fialf at
the corner Of Fourth and johnson streets. in
accordance with the plan and specifications
drawn by Mr.. Hixon, proposals to be made
for payment in city bonds, payable in twenty
years, and bearing eight per cent per annum
interest, also for payment in cash.
The following communication was received
from Hon. =. W. kilbourne:
KEoKUK, May q, 1856.
To the Hon, Mayor and City Council:
While Mayor Of the city, l was authorised
to negotiate Tor the purchase Of one or more
tracts of land for the city, to be used q
public squares and pleasure grounds.
/ Failing to consummats such negotiations,
and Is our thriving CITY il without any pub
lie grounds whstever, propose TO convey to
the city. Of Keokuk Block No. 81, between
TimeA and Bank street and Seventeenth and
Eighteenth street, in my addition, on the fol-
lowing conditions:
i LIST. That the Same shall be kept forever