The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-04-04
THE CITY FATHERS.
Sundry Weighty Matters Disposed
Of on Tuesday Evening.
But Very Solemn and Earnest Resolves "
Economize Especially in Cas-


heedcth," but it is otherwise in our CITY couhc
room, where the admonitions OF wisdom CON
mand the profouLdest Difference Arrays IL wa
so at the meeting on Tuesday evening.
All the aldermen were present except Mates
and the Mayor occupied the chair. The minute
Of last meeting were read in ezfe''so ana approved
Street Supervisor Norris reported that the cit
team had worked 3716 days since the oth oil Jan
nary ast-something less than hall the timc, IN
dicatinr that the city team and teamster have
good many holidays.
Mr. Carey. from the street and alley committee
20 whom was referred the matter OF recommend
ING to the council suitable persons 10 DC employ
ed as bridge tenders during the current year. re-
ported the following named persons as offering
10 attend the Columbus street bridge at the
prices named;
las. Archer for S45 per month; JAS. Murphy
for so; Patrick Bradshaw $40; Dennis DWycE
saj. Rolf Sanderson S35; Thos Murray 500 JUS
ten Doran s34; Alex. b. Lowe S4. Lowe be'hS
onc of the lowest bidders was recommended Oy
the committee and received the appointment.
B,5isoa Street Bridge-MMoody offers to attend
it for SIS per month Owen Cook for Sl', and W.
O'Connor for SO, Moody being the "highest ana
hest bidder the committee recommended MS APP
pointment.
Hooks Moody the lowest bidder
Carcy--No sir.
stout don't like ITO object TO the recommen-
daton of the committee, but it don't look well.
The recommendation OF the committc was ap.
proved
CHESTNUT Strld B,idgc-Pcter Sullivan offers to
attend it for $50 month; Peter Wclch for 49,
Welen, again beng the highest and best bidder
received the appointment.
Mr. Stout, from the law and ordinance com
mittce, reported on the bids for city printing
Osman Il Hapcman's bid, he said, was the lowest
en- iob printing, Cullen Il Sopp'S was lowest on
puhlishing ordinances, advertisements, DC. rs
much the heaviest item was OF the latter sort he
thought Cullen Il Sapp'r bid was lowest and
moved they be the city printers. Carried by Ii
ayes 10 , noes Brown and Mct;unis voting in
the negative.
Smith, from finance committee, reported on
,undry bills referred to that committee at last
meeting, mainly bills of judges and clerks Of late
election and for use Of room for holding elections.
some Judges had charged So per day and others
for more days than the law allows, and in somcs
cases IS, $40 and $l2 had been charged for use of
hall or room and in others from s. to s., All
of letter bills s. were cut down to s., and the
iuagcs and clerks slloyed 81 day, according to
law.
Jack son. from committee on fire department, |
reported hills Of Morris d. Smith, so, and {. j.
Babbage, S40forprofessiona services in doctorng
,Ao ctys horses The committee recommended
The payment Of Smiths bill in full and $50 in
stead NJ so TO BaUbagc, on condition that both
sign q receipt in full TO date. Adopted,
The committee on gas and gas light being
called TO report, had nothing to say.
Alderman Stout thought the time had arrived
when the council ought to do something to cur
tail expenses. A few years ago the city got
along without any gas light Then we started
lighting the streets to the dcpOts, Gradually il
extended until now over 100 lamps are lighted,
lie moved to instruct the committee to have the
lamps lighted only on the bridges and streets
10 the railroad depots
Alderman Jackson said tax payers looked
10 this council to relieve them from their bur
dsns, He had lived 20 years in Ottawa, 10 Of
which he had game to his home o nights without
g4s. II was time to lay the axe to the root Of
oar Indebtedness. The citizens were willing to
deprive themselves Of many things to reduce the
debt. He was willing to light the bridges, but
no more. 1t was all very nice to have gas lamps
and night police, and all that; but where shall
This thing stop: We had no more inhabitants
low than five years ago. People were leaving us
property depreciating in value. One Of these
days il we don't take care OF our indebtedness,
Adermen.may find themselves in the situation Of
The Macoupin county supervisors.
Alderman Hook said the gas committee had
had no consultation yet on the subject OF gas for
the coming year. lie knew taxes were high
Lad paid double the tax this year that he had
paid last year, yet the levy was no higher Much
81 talS complaint Of high taxation was the fault
oil the legislature. As TO lighting the bridges
sI'h gas, he would as soon cross a bridge in the
dark as walk a dark street Certain aldermen
lad opposed lighting the streets to the depot,
5dS were quite anxious to have gas away on the
south side Mr.. Hook was in favor of more gas
fAIher than less II we are u CITY let us be one
1 heavy part Of the expense was to light the
N'0N nv mutt W lpul IUU tnun ,.
sat Inc committee woul take the matter in hand
Ina report at next meeting.
Alderman Smith moved TO refer s,ou,'s motion
I" Inc saseommitiee. If any gas was shut off
ne would shut of all. If the streets raust be
Ash'ea 10 the depots for the benefit of strangers,
would be cheaper to send men with torches on
Ahe arrival OF trains. As to the high taxes. and
Inns TAX OF bankruptcy, the city was no nearer
bankruptcy now than at any former time. Our
axes were no higher than in many o,hor cities.
taxes were higher in Bloomington than here !
yt' 'hat city Wac prosperous.
Nd' sIout-That sort Of talk Is all buncomb. |
"1aV u Bloomington pays higher taxes than we
'ne has The means to 90 it, while we haven't |
nave the supreme court here and for their
7'Ae Tue gas was iirst lighted But we hare RIM
into extravaganza
alderman Miller had word TO say in reply 10
A.a' HOOK He (Miller) had been in the canncl
y years and during that time, thi, Gas matter
VS. run economically. Two years aro Gas cost
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