The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-06

The regular meeting of the cltp council
was held on Tuesday evening. The busi-
ness was formal and unlmportant save to
the auditing of $2,310,4S worth of bills;
and undressing save tor the following
message from his Honor the mayor, which
will commend itself to al thoughtful citl-
Zens:
Gentle,aen Of tie C0uncil:-I have been
requested to call your attention to the mat
ter of public library and reading room
for the use and benefit of the citizens OF
Ottawa. The laws Of the state give the
council the power to organize and main
tain such an institution, with authority to
levy tax tor that purpose not exceeding
one mill on the dollar annually, on all the
taxable property IN the city There have
been for several years public library and
reading room organized and supported by
the generous and selfsacrlticing labor OF
the Young ladies of this city, THE LADIES'
Library and Reading Room They have
accumulated, by donations and otherwise,
some 400 volumes. The gentlemen also
have subscription library, with some ooo
volumes. Both Of these institutions, l I'M
derstand, are willing and anxious to trans
fer their books and property to library
and reading room organized under the aus.
pices of the city. Such transfer and con-
solidatlon would give city organ cation
some 1000 volumes-a nucleus for an
eventually strong library.
None of US will question the power for
good of such an institution In our city.
There is no better educator of the people,
particularly the young, not only lntelectu-
ally, but morally, Such rooms, properly
managed, with such pleasant surroundings
as they may and should have, would make
an agreeable resort for not only our young
people, but for those of maturer years. The
many benefits OF such an institution we
must all admit. But just here comes IN
the question of adsisability at this time.
The city is in debt, consequent high taxes,
and 1t is for you to decide whether now is
the proper time to entertain the PROPOSE.
=. ton. Nothing can be realized by taxation
under about year, the tax estimates being
made about midsummer and the collecting
during the coming winter and spring OF
1884 If your decision should be favorable
to such organization / should not recon-
mend tax levy for year at least, and not
until our financial condition Is materially
improved, only such as would be necessary
for the actual current expenses OF the IN:
stitution. Gentlemen, leave the matter
in your hands for consideration.
| would also call attention to the danger
from fires, the accumulation OF cOmbusu-
BILE material in cellars of the business
houses of the city. The experience OF this
warning in the Hoxle fire warns US OF the
necessity OF adopting some plan of protec
ton. Many hours of laborious work was
the result of the fire of this morning and II
was only by the most persistent efforts OF
the fire department that it was extingulshec
and what might have been a disastrous firt
3 averted.
There should also be limit in amount
of storage in buildings of oils and othei
extra hazardous goods. In the adjoining
cellar to the fire Of this morning there were
s stored ten barrels of oil. 1t appears to mi
there should be no such amount allowed
by the city. The insurance companies al
low only five unless by special permit. III
/ this case the insured we're allowed ten or
:. az understand, all they might wish. I'M!
=, should not be, and l would earnestly cal
the attention of your honorable body Il
both these evils. Some authorized au
thority say the city marshal, should D.
1 delegated to once or twice month vlsl
all cellars and places where 1t is possible
tor such accumulations or storage, VIII
power 10 enforce such proper restriction
as You may eeem necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
= ED. {. ALLEN, Mayor.