The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-02-14

At the called session of the Council.
held at the May ol's ctfiee oD Monday
evening, ths. 4niIuw ing members were
presant: Merits, Andrews, Stillsop,
Stocker, Furry and Thompson.
Fns main suijeeL under considera-
ton was the passing of an ordinance
providing for special election to be
held in the Spring, to decide whether
the'city should own and operate its
electric light plant or not,
The Mayor said that Mr.. Seymour
had been in his f11ae since the last
meeting of Council and told him that
his company had no proposition to
make the city at this time.
Mfr. Mertssaid that Mr. Seymour Ead
informed him that he hsd consulted
with the directors of the Gas aud E!ec
tr,c Light company. and they wcuE'
make q proposition to the city in th'
near future.
Mr.. Andrews then spoke at somt
length, favoring the city owne snip OF
the plant, but advised council to pro
ceed cautiously aud be sure of correei
estimates before comm itting them
selves to the affirmative of the question.
The mayor said that with the pres
ent contract they will be $500 in ar
rears' at the end of the year, and IN
case the city put in e plant about 40t
consumers could be found.
Mr.. Andrews said it was simply .
question whether we eoulddo our owl
lighting cheaper than 81 income elst
can do Ii for US, aud was Inclined tt
think We could. But would inyesti
gate thoroughly, .profiting by past ex
perience in estimating. 2zsaIe 4ights;tt
he sufficient to light the town, wheI
at least 90 We're required. Thoughl
they had better ascertain the approx
mate cost of running both plants, fol
street lights alfd fesf,ience and com
mereial Circuit. ii also favored keep
ing the streets lighted all night, as the
lights. were. better than policemen il
projecting tbs town. Ibis, of course
was not spoken in disparagement o
our police force. but as fact that ii
apparent to verybody.
On motion the ordinance calling fol
special election to be held nj the reg
ular spring election. to decide whethe
the city should put in its own eiectri'
light plant, was then submitted to
vote of council, and was passed with
out one dissenting vote. The peop!
will therefore have an opportunity o
expressing their wishes in the matter
The ordinance pfovidss fofthe issuin.
of city bonds TO the amount OF 5l5 t009
of $500 denomination, two of "hici
will be payable in March and oep,em
ber of each year, the last falling du
in March. 1897, at which time thu
bulk of the schooihouse bonds VIII.
have been paid, and the water work.
bonds tirst maturing will not yet b,
due.
The matter OF sidewalk on Mill St
was continued 10 the next meeting.
The matter of Mr.. Grinnell's salary
as SEQ. of the Water Works Trustees
was then discussed. 1t was shown tina,
since April l.. 1883, $500 had beeL
drawn, indicating aPsslsry of abou
81 200 per annum. The majority OF
the Council thought his salary was
$500, and could understand his having
drawn SO much only. by supposing 1,
n ,rtien of the amount to be for last
year'e salary, but just what bis com
nensation was, see med to be matter
Iost in the mists of conjecture. The
character Of Mr.. CPS services was high
ly c3mplimented and the worth of tn.
first class work furnished by the eff
cient Secretary thoroughly appreciated
but council did not wish to pay toe
hieh price for correctness. The coun
ell VIII know all about it by the next
session.
The Mayor then called the attention
of Council to the fact that the city
owns a team of strong horses that al
standing Idle, and recommended the
appointment of committee to inspe.
the gravel banks adjacent to the city
with a view to council authorizing a
purchase, and utilizing said team in
repairing the streets and putting them
in first class condition. The idea is q
good one and beats the. Tryon bill in
Importance to Ravennians..
Adiuurned