The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-09
FROM SENECA.

Aessrs. Ed.tors--In your last issue there APP
peared an article under the above heading which
l, as one of the trustees propose to review. The
writer Of that article was either a censummste
numbAkull writing about somethng of which he
was entirely ignorant, or nefarious liar endeav-
oring TO mislesd the pablo by misrepresents-
tions for political effect or personal malice. He
asks, "where did the money go to Z" and would
have yon believe that the board appropriated
public money to drain their cellars. This he
knew WAS utterly, totally and nsanly false. if
he knew anything whereof he wrote.
In December 1867, We had q corporation cleo.
tion-the issue was men and not par ty. As
every one knows, ear town is largely Democratic
and had there bssn party issue it would have
been impossible to elect three republicans and
two democrats. A republican was elected pres
ident, this left the board stand two and two, ex-
cept in cases OF tie vote, which occurred, 1 be-
lieve, but once, and that was on street conmis-
sioner-the choice lay between two democrats.
The clerk and treasurer are both democrats. The
committee on streets and alleys consists of one
democrat and ono republican, under whose d.
rection, together with democratic street com
missioner, all moneys were expended on the
streets and drains. If the one repu blican and
two democrats drained republican cellars at the
public expense it does not speak very highly
for either the honesty or intelligence of the dem
ocrats. New propose to answer in genera
way the question as to where did the money 90
to. say in a general way, because have n OF
the time nor you the space without pay to
mention each small item but every dsllar is OIL
the books to whom paid and for what. There
was in the treasury $21522; taxes on real and
personal property, $46l.75 received for license
$40; auctioneers and shows, $12; received
from Police Magistrate for fines, S4S.45; making
the total amount received by the board, $151242
On petition Of large number of citizens, there
was road laid out running east to the town.
ship road, there having been no regular laid ont
road heretofore, but simply travelled on suffer-
ancs through gates and bars. This cost the
town ever four hundred dollars Of which $500
was paid one democrat, and $S5.7O to another
democrat, and $50 to a republican for the land
taken up by said road. (The republican was
satisfied, the democrats were not, but one threat
ened suit for heavier dsmages.) Tho damages
were assessed by two democrats and, of course,
were not too high. t25.5O was also paid dem.
osratic surveyor from Ottawa for the survey of
said road. The amount paid for grading,
bridges, Sc, makes the sum total over $500.
There was new bridge builtlover small stream
in the northern part Of the town. The stone for
abutments cost $40; masonry, grading, &c.,
$143.25; lunbsr, $8l.13; lime. $3.50; total
cost, $370SS. The old bridge cost nearly $500
in the last three years for repairs The new one
is built with good abuthents of Joliet stone,
and will last for years with very small expense
ter plank. Tho grading and graveling Of Main
street, between Williams and Douglass streets,
two blocks) cost some $500. This il right in
the heart of tswn, and heretofore has often been
almost impossible for teams with empty wagons.
The gravel cost at the bed 5000, hauling gray.
ell S4Ssso; the grading, spreading gravel, &c.,