The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-20
Question of borrowing,

a Question of Borrowing.
When the council convened on Tuesday
evening, Mayor Sherwood stated that Mr..
Carl Lutz had refused to serve on the library
board, to which he had been appointed, and
that he would therefor appoint Mr.. B. F,
Lincoln as library trustee. On motion of
Mr.. Maher the appointment was unanimous
ly confirmed, and the Mayor saying he had
an appointment with his family, requested
Mr.. Maher to take the chair.
Mr.. Maher demurred, and the council, at
the request Of the Mayor, elected Mr.. Din
neen Mayor pro tenn.
The petition of the Electric Street Rail-
way for en- extension Of sixty days in which
to complete their road, was granted. The
road people giving sufficient reasons, i. e. the
delay in the rolling Of their iron caused by
the food at Johnstown. They stated that
they had expended 100000 for material to
date, and would push the work as rapidly as
Mr.. Maher Of the street and alley commit
tee, reported tina: work would be commenced
on the Chestnut street bridge today. He
said that from the present outlook the city
would be compelled to borrow money to run
the street department or shut down on all
street work very soon. Money should be
borrowed to pay for this bridge and for the
two bridges on the feeder. The streets
could aot be neglected as this would work q
great injury to the public. He could not
say much about the work unless the council
would borrow money.
Mr.. Armstrong of the finance committee,
said that if money was borrowed it must
necessarily be done this month, as the fiscal
year ends on August lst. The city must
either create surplus each year to pay the
summer expenses or anticipate the tax. Our
tax is but $4,000 and does not come in
until January and February. $4,000 the last
quarters license money is delayed until
September, thus making 500, 900 Of the city g
income arrive at a time of year when the
season is adverse to improvements. The
city must either borrow money or anticipate
tax warrants. They could do the latter ii
the Mayor would sign, but he would prob
ably not do so.
Mr.. Maher said that if $4,000 was, Dor
rowed to pay for the Chestnut street bridge,
he could get along with the remainder Of the
work on his appropriation. He could build
wooden bridges on the feeder at total cost
Of about 81, 500 for the pair. supt. Leighton
Of the canal had signiied his willingness to
accept the wooden bridges.
Mr.. Armstrong said that $623.57 was due
the city from the highway commissioners Of
the town of Ottawa on the road and bridge
tax, and moved that the city attorney be in
structed to collect the amount, as the finance
committee had grown weary Of demanding
its payment. The commissioners claimed
that the city had made them present Of
81 900 Of the tax several years ago, but thin
was not substantially correct, IS far as hi
could learn.
Here Commissioners Thomas and LooneJ
having been granted permission to speak
kicked vigorously against paying the cast
over, claiming that the city owed them, and
as last appeal, that the money could bettel
be placed upon the roads Of the township
than upon the streets Of the city.
Mr.. Armstrong said that the city couldn'
afford it and the motion carried.
MIR. Maher held up new bid Of tho I'LL
nois Valley Electric Light Co. and asked
the council wanted 1t considered with tn
bids already opened. The council so signi-
fed and then the committee asked for fur
Their time, much to the disgust Of the re
mainder Of the gentlemen Of the council.
Mr.. Armstrong reported that the bid OF
man Rose, for the printing Of blanks was tn
lower, and that the bid Of Mr.. Nattinger fo
the printing Of the minutes Of the council
three dollars per column was the only BIZ
submitted, recommended their acceptance.
Mr.. Taylor asked il bids had been sdvsr
tised for the printing Of the minutes.
Mr.. Armstrong said that they had not
but they might - we'll be published.
The bids were accepted.
The bond Of Robt. Burnett Of $500 .
bridge ten der, was approved.