The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-07-05
THE COUNCIL MEETING.
The Westinghouse People Fail to Get the
Contract.

Armstrong, Cotton, Dwyre and Cor
coran were ready. 1t seemed that the
gentlemen had decided among them
selves, without asking anyone in par
ticular about it, that IT would be
good plan TO give the Westinghouse
Electrical company the contract for
an electric light plant for Ottawa,
and that, to do this decently and in a
proper manner, they would build
NICE little railroad through the cOun-
Gil and run their little Westinghouse
train over it at good lively gait.
The little railroad was all ready,
steam was up in the ''biler," and just
as Mr.. Haight was about to let her go,
Mr.. Dan Maher and Mr.. Louis Hess
rolled little log over upon the rails
and the alternating arc wouldn't go.
The ball opened when Mr.. Corcoran,
chairman of the light committee,
arose and presented report favoring
the Westinghouse system and recon-
mending that contract be closed
with that company. He also reported
that the Thomas Electric Light and
Power company had agreed to furnish
power and manage plant of 100 lights
for 5000 per year. Mr. COrcOran
stated that the other member Of the
committee did not concur in his re-
port.
Mr.. Lunney, also of the light COM
mittee, stated in a report, that he
would recommend the Excelsior light.
Five miles of extra wire would be
needed, and as the Excelsior bid was
7 50, 300 and the Westinghouse $4,000,
when the cost of the extra wire was
considered the Excelsior 1900 and
the Westinghouse 81 1907 the Excelsior
was 800 cheaper beside furnishing a
much superior light and light which
was not an experiment.
Mr.. Haight here arose and moved
that the report Of the chairman Of the
committees Mr.. Corcoran, be &C
cepted and that the committee let the
contract for the plant to the Westing-
house company and tor the power to
the Thomas Electric Light and Power
company.
Mr.. Dinneen stated that such pro-
ceeding was manifestly perilous to the
interests of the city, as the Westing.
house light was an experiment and had
not been in successful operation for a
year or even six months.
Just then something dropped
MessrS. Haight, Armstrong and
Dwyer were smiling but the smile
ended in a tear All the Westing-
house people in the room wept bitter,
scalding tears: Twas time for
grief This was Occasioped by MeSSrS.
Maher and Hess arising to question
of privilege and requesting that the
consideration of the report be laid
over until the next regular meeting,
as by statuatory power they had a
perfect right to do.
A large, moist chunk of wrath gath
cred upon Mr. Haight's whiskers and
dropped upon the floor. He arose and
denounced the arrogant and unwar-
ranted interruption of the progress Of
scheme to delay the action OF the
council and even said that Mr.. Nah er
was no gentleman.
Mr.. Maher said that he was just as
much of a gentleman as Mr.. Haight
every day in the week and that all he
wanted was to have full council
present, Mr.. Simon being absent. As
far as obstructing anything was con-
cerned, Mr.. Haight was more OF an
obstructionist than any other man in
the council and he, Mr.. 'Maher, was
willing to 90 on record upon any OF
his acts.
Mr.. Hess then stated that, through
illness in his family he had been I'M
able to look into the light matter and
could not vote intellegently until he
had seen the several varieties OF
light.
Then with great, swelling sob, the
light business went over until Aug 4.
Other business
The mayor stated that he had APP
proved the several ordinances passed
but that he wished to inform the
council that the expense to the city
with the 800 limit on contracts, at
least for the present year, would be
greater than it would have been un-
der a 5000 limit.
In relation to the appropriation bill,
the mayor said:
Having been elected by majority
of all the voters in the city, think |
should have had something to say in
regard to items in the appropriation
ordinance of June 80, 1890. but as it is
very we'll known that no item in said |
ordinance is in accordance with my
wishes, nor are said items distributed |
over the whole city, as the aldermen
and the people of this city know |
WlSlItu Ullty bC. JilCiNlolC
think | can justly say that the alder
men of this city must assume the re-
sponSibility of the items in said bill |
and that the mayor should not be
charged by the people of this city, for
any derelction of duty in signing said
ordinance, which he has done as mat
ter of form only, and that he is ever
willing and anxious to do his duty"
A petition for the improvement of
Hardin street was referred.
The Globe Well Anger company was
granted the privilege of using water
from the fire hydrant on North
Superior street.
Mr.. Landors. of the Canton Bridge
company, had examined the Fox river
bridge and pronounced it unsafe in its
present condition. He recommended
that the rods be re-adjusted, the posts
renewed, seventeen iron floor beams be
placed under the jOiSt, new rods be
placed over and under, and entirely
new woodwork. He estimated the cost
of such Improvements at $4,000, and
stated that if the Improvements be