The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-09-12

The city fathers met in monthly session
Tuesday night and the meeting was not
without its ludicrous side. The first petit
ton read asked for 1915 to defray deficit
in the encampment fund, the cost of fitting
up the grounds and entertaining the Sol
diers Home commission being about
81 700. The amount asked for was granted.
A petition of taxpayers represented that
the alley running east and west from La
Sale to Columbus streets, between Main
street and the canal basin, was damaged by
water from the platforms and dumps used
formerly for dumping grain, which water
runs into the cellars on the north side of
the street. The petition requested that
these be removed, and the water drained
into its proper channel. 1t was referred to
the street and alley committee with power
to act.
Petition No. 3, from residents and tax
payers residing in or near that portion Of
jefferson street lying between Sycamore
and Pine streets, represented that that por-
ton of the street was at certain seasons of
the year almost impossible, and at all times
difficult of travel, and it was asked that the
street be improved as demanded. 1t was
referred as above. Hoban stated that the
trouble was too much sand and that the
street was already being improved.
Another petition, asking to repair or re-
construct that part of the city sewer pass
ing through block II in Ottawa center adj
dition to the city, was presented. 1t was
stated that drain which had been cut
through the lot by the city prevented its
occupancy and was an obstruction. Thomas
championed the rights OF Frank Ford in
the matter and urged that the city tile this
drain. The mayor stated that he was most
emphatically opposed to the granting of
any such projects until the matter had
been referred to its proper committee and
Investigated. Thomas took the floor a
number of times, but Hoban at length
raised point of order included in a former
resolution offered by McDougall when he
was n member, and the mayor ruled that
the part was well taken. The matter was
referred to the sewerage committee to in
vestigate and report cost at next meeting,
The next request was for lamp-post at
the southeast corner of Mulberry and La
Fayette streets. Aid. MacKinlay face
tiously moved that the matter be referred
to the gas committee to investigate cost
and report at next meeting The motion
prevailed.
Petition No. 5 came for n lamp-post at
the corner of State and Van Buren, streets
This petition was not friendly received,
with power to act, The mayor here inter
posed mild objections to the granting of
more lamp posts, which he said was being
run in the ground. Atevery meeting there
were number of new lamp-posts erected,
and he thought the city had about reached
that point for the present when no more
lamp posts should be granted. Aid. Skinner
of the First ward, said that such view
was an injustice to the residents of South
Ottawa. They had but six lamp posts in
his ward and his constituents were entitled
TO at least as much consideration as those
of the other wards. Hoban here arose and
pointed the finger of scorn at the two alder
men of the First ward, when Skinnercame
to his feet and said that he did not want
himself or his ward insulted. He thought
that he lived in as good a ward as the gentle
men from the Fifth ward-if ii was as bad
as his he would move out of it. The
mayor attempted to quell the racket 10y
saying that he knew no north, no south,
no east no west, 50 far rs the city was con
cerned. To cut the matter short some one
moved that the matter in contention be re-
ferred TO the gas committee 10 estimate
cost and report at next meeting. Hull
here arose and took exceptions at the
mayors ruling on point of order made by
Hoban The resolution was read, and
though 1t was plainly evident that Hull
was right, the mayor would not or could
not see II, and the matter that could and
should have been settled then and there
was delayed month by being referred to
a committee.
The bridge committee, through Its chair |
man, Hull, announced that the bridge was
about complete. He presented plans and
specifications for the improvement of the
approaches, sidewalks, &c, and, after a
'ecess of five minutes had been granted to
ook the matter up, the council unanimous
y voted the raising Of ten bonds at $500
zach to complete the work. This will in
Jude repairs on one OF the piers. !