The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-06

OF the gas committee. Each Of these gsntle-
men were wondering what Mr.. Fox wa
about to do, for he and Messrs Porter and
Mahsr had opened the new bids on the
previous evening, finding that Col. Hape-
mans company would give two hundred
and forty.fve incandescent lights or forty
arch and one hundred and forty eight in
candescent for $4,000. Mr.. Billiards.
company would give two hundred and five
incadsscent lights for nearly the same, and
MIR. Perkins company would give gas light
Tor eighteen dollars light per year, or
about one hundred and eighty-fv lights for
%, 400; these lights to run all night every
night. But as one of the committee told
FREE TRADER reporter on Monday, the COM
mittee had little scheme Of it's own and il
did not report on the bids, instead, asking
for further time.
Petitions poured in as usual One from
Martin Kelly ct al, asked for the thing and
grading Of Green street and another from
Fred Hart demanded that q certain lot of
fences on Division street to be placed on the
proper line.
The last petition raised grand kick from
Messrs. Dinneen, Maher, Armstrong and
Porter, each Of whom seemed determined to
fasten the matter ON the others committee.
1t finally landed in the law and ordinance
camp with its pin feathers pulled out.
The reports Of the city officers were re-
ceived and ordered published and recorded.
They are in this issue of the FREE TRADER.
The report of the trustees of the Reddick
Library was read by the clerk and referred
to the finance committee. They report
everything in first class order and no need
of further repairs for the next year or two.
A first class steam apparatus was placed in
the building, six thousand books now on
hand, nearly twenty-three thousand books
issued during the past year, some twelve
hundred partons of the library and expenses
Of over eleven thousand dollars for the past
year, leaving balance Of nearly nine hun,
dred dollars in the treasury.
Mr.. Robert Wilson, city surveyor, made
long drawn protest upon the absolute idiocy
Of the present method of establishing grades
for sidewalks in the several portions Of the
city. All walks are supposed to be just fifty
feet below the feet Of the Goddess Of Liberty
on the apex Of the Washington Park soldiers
monument, but in some parts Of town the
level is less than thirty feet below this
point. Mr.. Wilson asked for instructions.
None was vouchsafed and he is at present
supposed to fix grades at his own sweet will
Mr.. Maher reported that he had decided
to gravel two blocks on Sanger street, Poplar,
Harden, Orleans, Congress, Chapel and st.
James streets, at a cost of about fifteen hun,
dred dollars. He was granted the authority.
He remarked that unless the Mayor saw fit
to sign warrants to borrow money to run the
city he would not put his men to work again
after this work was completed.
Here two Of the aldermen patted black
and tan dog on the back and called him
"nice dog etc.
The Mayor said that he presumed that the
city had enough on hand this month to pay
its employees and the regular expenses. He
also thought that there would also be enough
to meet the July bills as the quarters license
money would then be payable. He did not
think that it would be necessary to issue
anticipating orders until September, and he
would not sign interest bearing orders even
at that time. The ordinance on peddlers
licenses came up again and was monument
ly referred to the city attorney for revision.
No license will be required from homo ped
dlers.
Mr.. Armstrong, who had prepared the
ordinance, said they had cut the old rates in
a "Horizontal Bill Morrison style. Some
body whispered "Horizontal WATT which
elicitated smoker from the reporters table.
Mr.. Williamson said that there was no
especial reason for reducing the tariff on
peddlers. The merchants of the city had not
asked it.
Mr.. Porter said that the Mayor WAS
pretty gritty" and the Marshal gigantic,
and if the peddlers could not be controlled
the council would call out the militia.
The Mayor said that the city had lost
about $500 during the past month because
the license was too high. He would not
feel disposed to order an arrest under the
present ordinance as it was prohibitory and
illegal. In this he was sustained by the city
attorney.
The communication of the South Ottawa
Water Work Co. was laid on the table until
next month. MIR. Corcoran kicked some.
what and thought it should have received
more courteous treatment.
The pay roll was ordered paid. Following
were the
JUNE EXPENSES.
Salaries. .................S ga GA
Health. .................. |oo oo
Police 1O2 80
400 OF