Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-24
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
CLAIMS ALLOWED AND REFERRED
The Railroad Company Appeals-Ths
citys Artificial Light-The Ward
Boundaries.

van, OF Jzf NOftn lOnld Street, III a pct1iioA
said that pile of lumber owned by the Oriel
Cabinet Company threatened 10 fall on his
house, and was so near as TO cause cancel
iation of his insurance policies. Referred 10
Committee on Fire Department. Adrian
Rens aud thirty one others asked that the
Detroit. Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad
Company be required TO place hagman al
the College avenue crossing The Comp
troller's report, recommending the payment
OF claims and accounts aggregating $3.50,
was accepted and the claims ordered paid,
except the claim of Prof. l.. III. Streng, Sll,
for recording rain falls for fourteen years,
which was referred TO the Committee on
Claims and Accounts. The claim of Smiley
& Earle for $50, balance due for legal ser
vices in the case of the City VS.. Perry Il Rob
bins, was referred to the Committee on
Claims and Accounts. The Street Railway
Company asked that committee be ap-
pointed to confer with representatives
of the company with view OF
framing suitable ordinance for
the regulation of street railway COM
panies. The marshal was granted further
grading roll. The City Attorney reported
that the Grand Rapids il Indiana Railroad
Company had appealed from the decision of
the Superior Court in the matter Of opening
and widening First street, and was instruct
ed to defend the city in the Supreme Court.
The Secretary of the Board of Police and
Fire Commission reported that large num-
Der of gas and naphtha lamps were not
lighted regularly, and that in some cases
electric lights did not burn properly. Aid.
Gilbert said that he did not take much stock
| in the reports because they were not correct;
that he presumed that Aid. Nester would
observe that great many gas lamps were
reported not burning. He would say that
owing TO the extremely cold weather, last
week was the hardest on gas in the history
of the company. He asked the Council to
remember, however, that when gas lamp
was reported not burning the city does not
pay for the light for that night, but in the
case of naphtha or electricity the city has to
pay whether the lamp burned or not. Aid.
Nester was glad to hear the report read, and
was pleased to observe that the electric
| lights little more than held their own as
usual.
The Aldermen of the Fourth Ward offered
a resolution, which was adopted, ordering
the d., G.. III. & NJ. Railroad Company to
! place flagman at the College avenue cros-
sing. Owners of property on Lane avenue
| appealed from the assessment roll for build
ing sewer in that street. The appeals
were referred to committee, consisting of
! Aldermen Launier, Albright and Parmalee,
who are to consider the appeals at the Coun-
Gil rooms on Wednes day evening, the roll
being laid on the table for one week.
Aid. Killean offered resolution (it was in
Aid. Gilbert's hand writing,) instructing the
representatives of the city in the Legislature
at Lansing to oppose all legislation propos
ing change in the boundaries of the wards
of this city. Aid. Nester moved to lay the
resolution on the table. Lost.
Aid. Nester SAID that all had heard great
deal about the city not having just repre-
sentation on the Board of Supervisors, and
to increase that representation was one OBJ
| ject in dividing the city into large number
! of wards. But other reasons existed, and
he was free to say that he was in favor Of
changing the boundaries and dividing the
city into ten or twelve wards. Such
| division would do away with the two-story
business which now exists in the Second and
] Fourth Wards, where one Alderman is inter
ested only in the upper or hill district, and
the other only in the down town part; or
where if they both live on the hill. or in the
upper precinct, the lower part is neglected.
J Aid Killean said that the only force in the
| proposition was in the representation ques-
I ton, and that would not amount to any
thing, because the proposed increase would
not give the city majority of the Board of
. Supervisors.
! Aid. Brenner would oppose any alteration,
because it would necessitate additional of
ficers and consequently additional expense.
Aid Gilbert said that the time would come
when some of the wards would have to be
! divided. but IL ia not necessary
now. To make new wards out
| of the Second and Fourth by
the proposed arrangement would put
great deal Of the property on Monroe and
Canal streets under the control of people
/ who lived in blocks and had no interest in
the welfare of the property, while the owners
I living in other wards would have no voice in
the management of the down town wards.
Many of the owners Of Second Ward prop
+ erty now live in the Third Ward aid. Nes-
ter: Il thought most of them lived in
Boston,. and the proposed new arrange
ment would make such matters worse.
/ The resolution was adopted. Aids. Laun-
iere. Nester and Saunders voting NO
A resolution by Aid. Yates was adopted in
structing the City Attorney to find ont and
report whether the Council has the authority
I 20 compel the several railroad companies 10
+ place and maintain hagmen at street cross
+ ings. Adjourned.
II NJ (~.~oI