St. Paul daily globe., 1885-04-14
Bids for the Mississippi Street Bridge
Opened-Other Matters Pertain
ing to Public Works.
A Surprise Party for Saloon Keeper-A
Field Day in the Police Court
Other Items.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
1t Discusses Sanitation, Street Sweeping and
the Fire Department.

of st. Paul, but that he had failed 10 discover
that it was true. He regarded st. Paul as a
very healthy city. As to the sweeping of the
streets he could not see that that was sani-
tary matter at all. He stated that the chair
man of the committee on sanitary affairs,
Mr.. Hodgson, was not in town and the com
mittee had not held a meeting, consequently
had no report to make.
Mr.. z. F. Drake spoke of the filthy condi-
ton of the streets of st. Paul and said he
had noticed while he was abroad, and other
gentlemen who had been abroad had also
noticed the difference in the cleanliness OF
the streets in foreign cities and at home.
The streets of st. Paul were in very bad
condition, and he expressed the opinion that
some cheaper mode of cleaning the streets
oupbt to be devised than that of scraping g
them.
II. P. Hall asked Mr. Drake how the streets
of Chicago compared with those Of st. Paul
for cleanliness.
Mr.. Drakc-I do not know as to that.
II. ?. Hall was in Chicago two or three
weeks ago and the streets Of Chicago were
then ten times more filthy than those Of St.
Paul.
Capt Blakely moved to adopt the three
resolutions.
DR.. Day desired to know what the pro-
posed measures were going to cost. He un-
derstood that it would cost 800, 900 or more.
He wanted TO know something about that or
he should vote against the proposition.
Mr. Murray answered that the chamber
proposed to go of, as usual, half cooked.
Capt. Berkey referred to the immense cost
of such a sweeping change. We always
seemed ready to vote one thing or another,
just as it happens. He thought, however,
that it was best to take little time and con-
slider matters, and get some information
upon that that is to be voted on. We have
a fire department that wants large expen-
diture, not less than $65, 900, for engines
and houses. Our fire department is just as
good as is that Of Minneapolis, and their de-
partment does not cost near as much as ours
does. IT is time to stop and consider before
we sanction such an expenditure of money
as is called for by these resolutions. Where
is your money to come from! The county is
out of money. Your school board is out Of
money. The city council is out Of money.
We have got no money. Now, under these
circumstances, would it not be better to stop
and consider as to this new departure.
Mr.. Seabury explained that the resolutions
only sought to find out what it would cost to
do the work.
II. P. Hall declared that he had recently
been in Chicago, Cincinnati, Rochester, To-
ledo, New York and a number OF other cities
in the East, and he could. not see that the
streets of st. Paul were in any worse condi-
tion than those IN the cities named.
Gen Bishop said it was useless to talk of
sweeping the streets as long as we had so
many side streets running into the paved
streets. Two-thrds Of the money spent in
fIn 10 hn
Mr. Delano offered the following, which
was adopted: That nothing in these reso-
lutions shall be construed by the city council
as a recommendation 10y this chamber to fill
or make water tight any priyy vault or cess
pool that shall not be declared by the board
Of health public nuisance.
DR.. IIoyt explained that he was not propos-
ing to fill the vaults now in use or seal them,
but 10 watch over all that are to be built
hereafter. Finally, on motion of Mr.. Som
ers the matter was laid over.
THE WEST ST. PAUL LEyEE.
Mr.. Delano called attention to the West
St. Paul levee. The inside line of the levee,
he said, had been fixed the whole length of
it next to the property, except for small
space near the bridge. He favored the es-
tablishment of a similar line on this side and
the passing of an ordinance to protect it from
squatters and jumpers. He had examined
the surveys of tue United States, and thought
It would be good thing to fix the line so as
10 be ready TO receive all the benefits to be
derived from the improvement of the harbor
Df St Paul, along with all the other harbors
On the river.
Mr.. McClung insisted that the city ought
70 so TO work and build the levee.
Mr.. Oppeuheim declared that that could
not be done. 1t would amount to confsca-
hou. The dirt would all wash away and you
would not have any levee.
Mr.. McCluug proposed to rip-rap p It.
Mr.. Oppenheim wanted TO know where the
money was TO come from. IL you assess the
property it's coniiscatiou.
The matter was dropped without anything
being done about It,
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Z. +. Drake, from the committee on
buildings and FIRE department, reported in
regard TO the communication from George
W. Hall in reference TO enlarging the fire
department, that il was not advisable 10 en-
large 1t to the extent asked for blythe gentle
man, but that it ought to be increased some,
rs follows:
First, purchase lots, erect houses and fully
equip three chemical engine companies in
West St. Paul, st. Anthony hill and on Rice
street; second, purchase lot erect house
aud fully equip one steam engine company
near the plow works in the Fifth ward; third,
purchase steamer and hose carriages and
fully equip one steam engine company and
locate the same at headquarters, corner Of
Eighth and Minnesota streets; fourth, erect
addition TO No. house on Wacouta street,
so as to accommodate Chemical No. l, now
kept at headquarters.
This will give an increase Of three chem
ical engines and two tirst-class piston steam
ers and hose carriages aud 1900 feet OF hose
for same. The estimated total cost Of the
above, ready for frst-class service is Sos, 600.
The Gre commissioners thought this was all
the city could stand in the year 1885, and
that IL should satisfy any insurance demands.
The report closed with resolution 20 the
effect that the chamber of commerce request
the council TO grant the request OF the fire
commissioners 10 the amount Of Sos, 900,
and the same was adopted.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The communication of the board OF edu-
cation that was read at the last meeting of
the beard, explaining about the bonds that
were issued many years ago for school pur-
poses, was read and fled.
Mr.. Clssson of the s.. Paul & Milwaukee
road appeared and stated 10 the chamber thst
on the Goth, s7tb, aSth aud 29th the conduc-
tors OF the United States and Canada would
be in Minneapolis, where they would be ban
quoted. he desired to present the matter to
the chamber so that the conductors could ee
well treated In ST. Paul. He also stated that
the Northern PSci6c bad rendered them
train tc take them to Yellowstone park.
Mr.. D. d. Merrill reported in regard 70 the
Mississippi river convention held az New
Orleans. Everything was harmonious.
A Strike.
About forty men. employed by Terence
O'Bricn IN the work OF extending wahashs