The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-02
The City Council.

The court house on last Thursday evening" which
was attended by all the aldermen exec pit Por
tex and SAule-. 1t was called to hear the report
.sf the committee on the rebuilding Of the city
hall, and to discuss the ACCESSIBILITY OF a change
Of site
Mr. Logan, chairman of the committee on city
tall, reported the examination Of the walls by the
c9Elmittee, who found seine cracks in them and
t@o of the walls sprung, though probably not en-
trcly lrom,tLe fire. In repairing it is necessary
20 take down the cornicc as far as the windows
and rebuild Of brick, and put in a window or two
In Tie second story. Inside, the center brick
7TaE will be taken down to be replaced by iron
columns throwing all down stairs into one room.
Eae committee had made plans and specica-
lions and had advertised, receiving bids ranging
from 81, SGD to $500, for carpenter and mason
.vvGrk only. Bids were also received for the
i1aaGng. The committee had delayed the letting
q Re.contraet for the reason that propositions
AnG been made for making change Of location.
Individually he believed the city was cramped
's0s room, and he thought the only remedy to be
IN change Of location The purchase of the
eastman property was by no means certainty
Gu6 Mr.Egan held his 10, GOxl00 feet at $4,000, or
west 80 fee, and standing walls at 81 800
On motion of Bowman, the bids offered by con.
tractors were ordered read. Mr.. Logan read
ehem.
ny alderman llOban: seeing that he is the low
.esz bidder, moved that the contract be awarded
70 Mr. Jekyll for 81, $50
This was the signal for an animated discussion,
faitc interesting in its way and laughable in it's
results, The pc opc generally let the council
uzeetiag 20 by default as rather stale amusc.
m&Ht, but in this discussion the councl, redeem.
e. Itself
1l-. Phelps, FIRST, stated that Mr. Eames had Of.
sersd to sell his property, 90y00 feet, corner of
C G&rmbu- and Jefferson sts for 81, 800 taking in
exchange the present city hall property at $500
DIR. HDssay.i, also, sent in a proposition to sell
bis BOT cor. Nan and Clinton SIS, G0xljO feet,
I12o two c,crenths interest IN the artcsan well
tdr $4,000 aud the present city hail property.
He offered also to sell land on the dock ut $40
Icr foot, or rent at 81 per foot per annum.
Logan was not willing to go on and repair the
tNlding uatl he could be sure the city could
0atain more land at fair price. 1t is foolish to
ca 50 otherwise, for the city is In bad fix now
ana condition will be worse in the future. The
sDunci who built the city hall had been ccnsur.
m for building as they did-occupying all their
.aHi; wha; can this council expect who recon.
r4lt this same error The sewerage Is bad even
Z land eHough was had, and the water supply
wgrse than the sewerage. He considered these
-wo Items aioae worth the standing walls. Walls
which have gone through a fire are always un.
certain no matter how they look, and always
st!l &c. He thought, too, that a hose tower was
altogether unnecessary, and even detrimental to
tie citya .ntcrcs.. II would cost several hun
arcR delllrs and would not preserve the hose as
intended. Hose could be dried in other ways
'aaa hanging up-should be, in fact The rot
.isg OF hose from water is fallacy. He had en-
CURED where hese generally burSted, and found
4 was jus: behind the female coupling, which
DC explained in this way: rubber is not affected
by water, but Oy heat aud light; its strength is
.H cross section, not in the length So, in hang.
iRE hose .n the tower, suspended By u string
fastened below the female coupling as Is the Gus
-1u the weight is on that point and ii stretches
aHd ia consequence is weakened at that point
being strained at its least capacity. Hose should
De dried on inclined racks If it is necessary TO
remove the water which Is dOubtfuD ard kept
- ? dark, cool place II 1attoning by laying up.
IA tae racks destroys hose, it should not DC reel.
I'd upon the hose carts.
The mayor suggested that if the motion nre
vailed all power would he taken from the com
mit,ee and it would IN fact be discharged: toI
wsic Mr.. Hoban disagreed.
ar. jackson said 50 far as he had enouired bc
lad found tax payers in favor u rebuilding on
she Old site making the expense AS light As nos.
sale- There was no need Of building on a large
Aue lot such hall would be necessary ON
such lot. In the last five years the town had
rdt gained a soul and business being dull the
eitY could not afford il and tax. payers would no,I
Sand H. The cost OF the lot in itself would be u
riding expense, but after that the building
Sould still be necessary II the city desired 10
c2atract debt for Improvements, let some other
.sro5ect for the improvement of the business Of
toe city be undertaken, 9. o. the freeing OF the
Illinois River bridge. His remarks on this sub.
5eet We deem worthy Of special mention, which
81! be found in another place.
3ir. TrImble moved to amend the motion by
moving that TIE committee be directed to per.
scet the plans and proceed at once TO complete
stc contract.
20 perfect the plans meant to look after the
hase tower, allowing the committee to use their
sgn judgment in the matter, and include in the
plans one or two items omitted. and Of motion to
secp he matter Of rebuilding still in the hands
sf the committee.
THIS was follow by lively sparring all around
suE was finally voted down.
Mr. Jackson moved That in the drawing up Of
f.ts cozfrSct, the views Of Mr.. Jekyh aud the
xsc1niitee coincide.
The council. believing the whole matter
should be left In the hand Of the committee
voted this down; and afterwards the original
n aston also.
GU a.oiica Of Hobsn ssjcurned