Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-09
SEWALL SHIELDED.

An Intellectual Effort to Elect a City Engi-
neer, but the Present Incumbent Re
tired.
A special meeting of the city council was
held yesterday, under the. act OF the late legis-
lature, for electing city engineer.
Present: Aid. Allen, Dowlan, O'Connor,
Otis, Ringwald, Cornish, Griggs, Brennan,
Minea and President Grace.
THE COUNCIL.
The council called to order, Aid. Griggs
moved that committee of three be appointed
to wait on the board of public works and in
form that body the council was ready to meet
with it in Joint convention.
JOINT CONVENTION.
The motion was adopted and the president
appointed Aldermen Griggs, Cornish and Ring
valid as such committee.
After short absence the committee return
ed accompanied by Messrs. Becker, Earring
ton, Koch, of the board, President Becker oc-
cupying seat beside President Grace, of the
Ouncll
The joint roll was then called, after which
the clerk read section of the new act under
which the joint convention was held for the
selection of city engineer.
Aid. Dowlan moved the convention pro-
coed to the election of city engineer. The
motion was adopted, whereupon Aid. Dowlan
nominated L. W. Rundlet for the office.
Aid. Allen seconded the nomination, for the
reason, in the first place, that Mr.. Rundlet
had been in the employ of the city for nearly
nine years, superintendent of sewers, which
gives that practical knowledge of grade lines,
character of sewers, ETC., so essential to
a city engineer. Of Mr.. Somers, who was to be
urged, he had no word of disparagement. He
was an excellent and competent gentleman,
long connected with the department, but his
duties had been in one office and did not give
him the practical knowledge so essential
Aid. Minea nominated W. A. Somers, which
was seconded by Aid. Otis. Mr.. Somers has
been connected with the office for some ten
years, during which time the responsibility of
the details of the Office devolved upon his
shoulder. Ee had nothing to say against
Mr.. Rundlet He was every way competent
for the position, and he trusted both would
remain in the office in some position.
A ballot was then taken, resulting as fol-
lows:
FOR RUNDLET.
AID. Allen, Dowlan, O'Connor, Cornish,
Griggs, Brennan and President Grace-7.
FOR soMERs.
Aid. Otis, Ringwald and Minea, and Messrs.
harrington and Koch, of the board-5.
FOR SEWALL,
President Becker of the board, l. 1t requiring
two-thirds vate to elect there was no choice.
Upon Aid. Aliens motion recess was
taken for ten minutes to hear from Mr.. Rund-
lett as to the retention of Mr.. Somers in the
office in case of his election.
Called to order, second ballot was then
had, the only change from the first being that
President Grace joined President Becker in
voting for Sewall.
A third ballot resulted precisely the same as
the second.
President Becker moved to adjourn, but at
the suggestion of AID Griggs he withdrew it.,
and another recess of ten minutes was taken.
Upon coming to order the roll was called
for the fourth ballot, resulting exactly the
same as the first.
Aid. Griggs moved to adjourn to 1880 CLOCK
to-day, and the convention adjourned and the
council resumed its session.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
The pay roll of the street and sewer force
was ordered paid.
The matter of opening Grant street from
Summit street to Bluff street was referred to
the board of public works for report.
The plat for the Strengthening Of Mississippi
street in front of Edmund Rice's Trout Brook
addition to st. Paul was adopted, and the
board of public works was instructed to give
the necessary advertisement for the work. Ad-
iOurned