Omaha daily bee., 1888-06-06
SOUTH OMAHA NEWS.
To Light the City.

Monday night an ordnance was sprung on
the council asking that the South Omaha
electric light company be granted an exclu-
sive franchise for twenty years. 1t did not
state the nature of the lights to be used, or
the price they would cost, only that they
would charge no more than in North Omaha
In Omaha a single arc light costs SIS per
month, and as the city would require about
thirty of them, the bill would be a steep one
OF course reduction might be made where
so many would be used, but the ordinance
did not say so, and probably the directors
would not say so either. The company is
home one and has some good men in
1T, but that Is no reason why an
ordinance should be rushed through without
to put up a bond of s., 900 as a guarantee of
good faith and want an "excusive fran
chlse" for twenty years. The old council
refused to take S25, 900 bond from n gas
company that asked for no franchise at all,
but only wanted the privilege of putting
down their pipes and of erecting the ncces-
sary plant within the limits of South Omaha.
The electric light ordinance has been re-
ferred TO the ordinance committee and will
no doubt be modified
City Council.
The city council met Monday night and
Clerk Hoctor called the roll and read the
minutes. The committee on streets and al
leys reported favorably on the paving Of n
street, and the matter was referred to the
city attorney with instructions to draft the
necessary ordinance. The finance committee
reported favorably on number of bills, and
recommended that they should be placed on
file. They were placed. Then an ordinance
was read to provide the money necessary to
defray the expenses of the city for the com
ing year. 1t called for S12 900, as already re-
ported in the BEE. Councilman Smith sug
gested that outside figures be named in the
ordinance, as, while it was possible that
their estimate might be cut down, it would
be impossible 10 increase them after the or
dinance was once passed. Accordingly the
item for fire plugs was advanced from
$1,000 to 5000, and the ordinance was put on
its third and final reading. III passed. Then
came an ordnance asking that twenty
years. exclusive franchise be granted to an
electric light company TO permit them 10
light the city. COunclmen O'Rourke and
Burke put in n strong protest, ana they put
it in a strong way. Councilman Mcmillan
spoke on the other side, and said it was
home company and ought TO be encouraged,
but he said he was not in favor of giving an
exclusive franchise. Councilman Feuno
said that if any one had right it should
be the home company, and wanted to
know what they had against them.
Councilman Bayliss spoke in the
same strain, and then the ordinance
Another ordinance, No SO, regulating
auctioneers, pedlers and others in that line,
was read for the first time, and led to
lively debate, Of which mention is made else
where. II was finally laid where it should
be-on the table. Councilman Feuno asked
for further time on the question of the city
being allowed the use of the stock yards
sewer as Mr.. Boyd was unable TO give an
answer until the stock yards committee had
met. Mcmillan, Smith, Bayliss and Rafferty,
said that Mr. Her was willing to call a
special meeting at any time TO meet the
council. The probabilities are they will be
called and will meet.
petition calling attention 10 the nuisance
existing at the corner of l. and Twenty fourth
streets, caused by the dumping OF garbage,
led TO the marshal being ordered 10 stop
it. Another, asking for a bridge across
Albright avenue, was referred 10 the coul-
mttee on streets and alleys. The reports of
the police judge and city treasurer were then
handed in and referred TO the finance com
mittee, and the meeting adjourned.