Wichita eagle., 1886-11-23
WAS IT THE BIG CROWD
That Frightened the Member OF The
Railroad Committee out OF
his Former Position.
The City Library Gets the Black eye and Ia
Lent out for keeping.-nore Cas-
Maple Street Bridge.

City council met last night in council
chamber with all the members present and
his honor, the mayor in the chair. There
was large crowd present, the hall scarcely
affording standing room. The general belief
that the council had allowed large amount
Of business to pile up and as result many
questions OF Importance would put in an ap-
pearance seemed sufficient to cause no little
interest to be manifested by the public in the
meeting.
Before the mace fell, calling to order, the
councilmen were heard questioning each
other in order to find out how many had
brought with them midnight lunch as it
was expected that lengthy session was on
hand. The cause for alarm was however,
over estimated. The railway ordinances be
ing knocked summarily back into their &C
customed resting place allowed the members
to return nome by an honest bed time and
be fresh for the ball tonight" as one OF
them expressed it.
The public improvement committee ropre-
sented by Mr. Eealy commenced report.
He first estimated the cost Of the
work in the different departments
of the Topeka avenue sewer The entire
cost OF the sewer is s4,09O07 which makes
each foot cost $1.31]z.
Mr. Healy then referred to the river bank
question He said he had investigated the
question and one of the gentlemen who had
been making town lots for himself said that
both the county commissioners and the coun-
cilmen Of the Fifth ward had given their
consent for him to extend the bank Of the
river Mr Healy had asked both parties
and they seemed to think that the gentlemrn
was mistaken in his assertion.
His investigation had caused him
to believe that the channel Of
ths river is now four hundred
feet narrower than it was in 1877, the year
of the last disastrous flood. The building of
the street car bridge had taken about seventy
five feet Of the river channel. He said he
believed flood no larger than the one men
toned would do great deal of damage.
The parties who have filled in haye no title
to the land, as any one can find out by going
up to the U. s. land Office.
Richey moved that the matter Of placing
the banks of the river where they should be
be referred to the street committee and city
attorney with power to act.
HarriS-By request of many citizens would
ask that crossing be put in on First street
opposite the G. A. r. building. Was so or
dered.
Hoff, as chairman Of tho gas committee,
seven gas lights on North To-
peka and Emporia avenues. His report was
adopted, and three gas lights ordered on Wa
co avenue, the same number on South TOpe-
ka avenue ard the same number or South
Emporia avenue
Up to this point Of the proceedings there
had nothing happened that seemed to com
mand especial interest, but an
intense interest was manifested all the
time thinking that when the railroad COM
mittee was called out there would be no time
for catching flies or playing with ths watch
chain. The call for the report OF the rail
road committee brought the chairman, Mr..
Carey, 10 bis feet. He commenced by mar
rating his failures so far in getting the Santa
Fe road to improve its crossings in the city.
He then stated that he had notified some en-
ploye of the street car company three times
by telephone to repair some places along
their line, but no attempt at the same had
been commenced. He did not know whether
the employee had told Major Powell or not.
lie then referred to the ordinances grant
Ing the right OF way to motor lines and the
Wichita & Winfield bond ordinance and said
that he had Intended 70 make a report on
same until since the council had convened.
One of the members Of the committee had
asked to have the matter postponed two more
weeks and he consequently asked that amount
OF time.
The report was adopted amid no little
noise and rustic, while some looked as though
they wanted to say rats Ii was intimated
that the crowd was too large for any action
Oh the subject.
Upon motion of Healy the fire department
was instructed te flush the sewer two times
per week.
Mr. Healy ga chairman of the library
committee recommended that when the time
Of the present librarian expires all books be
given over 10 the i. Ii. c. a, which associa-
ton had agreed to take care OF the books
and return them to the city when desired.
Mr. Richey submitted a minority report
asking that the library be kept by the city
but if shut up the books should be returned
to the old library association. His report
failed and Healy'S was adopted.
Mr.. Healy said that he had been asked by
q number Of individuals TO assist in getting
the city to build the approach to the
Maple street bridge on the east
side He said that it should be
piled about three hundred feet We. and not
filed in as that would narrow the channel
of the river.
Mr. Kenyon asked that the city make the
approach on the west side. It vas finally
agreed that if the company would pu5 N
one hundred and fifty feet more riling or
the east side.
The clerk then commenced OF al or,ii-
nance which proved to be from the Wichita
Mining and Investment company, asking the
privilege 20 lay gas mains on the streets Of
the cisy. The company proposes 20 bore for
natural gas at an early date and
will furnish the city gas Ugh, II the
enterprise proves successful The company
wanted the ordinance passed before cor
inencing work on the well At frs: there
seemed to be disposition on t1e g>-rV ca
some 10 suspend rules AMI pass the ordinance.
but some hesitation on the paI> of one or two
caused action 20 Is deferred until TIE noxt
resulsr meeting.