The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-13
A Hat Box,

the Mayor retired early calling Mr.. Din
neen to the chair.
Mr.. Dinneen took up the gavel as grace
fully as the weather would permit and hav'
ing declared motions by Messrs Armstrong
and Williamson relative to cigars and beer
out of order, proceeded to search copy Of
the ordinances for the order Of business.
Mr.. Maher said that he had decided to
gravel Christie street at a cost OF about two
hundred dollars. The council gave its con-
sent.
When the clerk arose to intlict choice
assortment Of sidewalk. ordinances upon the
council a vigorous kick was raised by a
half dozen gentlemen, who managed to ex-
press their disgust in chorus. But never
theless the ordinances were read, forcing
the owners of certain lots on Columbus st..
south of the bridge to construct walks.
Col. Hapeman and Mr.. Ballard remained
out in the cool July air Of the alley awaiting
the action of the council on the lighting
question. MIR. Perkins remained invisible.
The bonds of the city employees, Jones,
Beck, Downey, Hoban, Esterline, Lafferty,
and Smith, in the sums of $500 were ap.
proved.
As Mr.. Fox was not present the street
lighting committee made no report.
City Surveyor Wilson handed in profile
of fifteen inch sewer on Poplar street,
fifteen hundred feet long with fall Of three
feet. Thirty-two inlets for lots and ten
from streets were provided for. He said
that the pipe would be amply large and that
no cement would be needed. He had made
no estimate of the cost of construction as it
would make mark for bidders. He furth.
er suggested that it was absolutely necessary
that grade be established for sidewalks.
Mr. Taylor wanted the plat Of the sewer
referred to the sewerage committee to re-
port at subsequent meeting. The city had
no system of sewerage Sewers had been
scattered here and there without regard to
where they began or where they ended. 1t
was time for the council to pause in its
granting Of sewers upon the petition OF a
half dozen citizens, who desired the public
to do draining which they should have done
themselves. What the city must have was a
system of main sewers into which all small.
err sewers might lead. The sewer proposed
would lead into the west side ravine, already
a threatening nuisance to the health Of the
city, and it was much more important mat
ter than the sewer on Poplar street.
MIR. Porter endorsed Mr.. Taylor's senti-
ments. The town was full of useless sew
ers, which had been constructed loosely and
without head or tail.
Mr.. Armstrong was highly in favor Of the
Poplar street sewer. 1t was an old ques-
ton and an urgent necessity. 1t was half
mile below the Pine street sewer and FIVE or
six blocks west Of any sewer from the canal
to the ravine. 1t was in fact, nearly half Q
mile west Of the old State ditch and flows
south east to the ravine. Every time a
hard rain came up the people in it's immedi-
ate vicinity were drowned out, the water
standing FIVE or six feet deep at the head Of
Poplar street. This sewer would drain the
whole territory about the glass factories and
the north west end. To cover the ravine
would cost $4,000. II could not be done
this year as it was much too expensive. We
had taxed ourselves all we could now.
Mr.. Williamson said that it was illegal to
build sewers promiscuously and he could
not vote for the Poplar street sewer.
Mr.. Dinneen said that the committee had
no intention Of building the sewer this month
as they did not think Mr. Wilson would be
ready.
Mr.. Taylor moved that the sewerage COM
mittee, in conjunction with the city survey
or make sewerage plan for the entire city
and report at a subsequent meeting. He
considered this absolutely necessary and the
care of the west side ravine matter not to
be overlooked.
Mr. Fox seconded the motion saying that
after an epidemic had swept two-,hirds OF
the city into Ottawa Av. Cemetery, the city
would probably fix that west side ravine.
Mr.. Taylor's motion prevailed, Messrs.
Armstrong, Alshuler, Kelly and Williamson
only voting in the negative.
| Someone wanted to know when the long
suffering north side could cross the Chestnut
street bridge.
Mr.. Maher said that Capt. Leighton, Of
the canal, would be in town on Wednesday
and if the water was let out of the canal, q
Golfer dam would be built to turn the water
while the pier was building.
Mr.. Maher called for the petition of the
South Ottawa Water Works Company but
the clerk had left it home under his mahog-
ony dressing case.
At this announcement James Milligan jr.
who had been an attentive listener went
away in disgust.
A gentleman Of the council called for &C.
ton on the printing bids, but the law and