Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-03-21

]
ry tells ua a disastrous fire wis
checked by one Gulliver, through the
judicious and timely application Of
water, he had for the fret time heard
man get up aud say that water
would not put out fire. He iet Ike
hanging his head in shame that he
should live In community where II
would be contended that an insurance
policy was a sufficient fire protection,
and that statement had been male
here tonight. He never knew IL to
be the cas- ). but on he contrary. he
had ho doubt there We're cases where an
insurance policy had csused a building
to be burned up. Referring to the
ststemsnis that had bsen made. that
three foarths OF the citizens would get
no protection from the water, he asked,
Who sre these people? They are the
people who will have TO pay the bulk
of our taxes If the business center
burns down. WHAT will my property
ne worth when these brick blocks are
destroyed? will give anyone q
quit claim deed of I. (Applause).
Mr.. Seyde, r. the only representa-
ti;e Of the insurance interests present,
said the comnsnies were not catering
for business here, aud that they were
raying for the business they are do
ing. The compsnies doing business
here pay into the city treasury an ag-
eregaie Of So 0 a vea-, which by law
goes directly tn the maintenance Of the
fire department. This sum represents
one-sixth 81 the entire amount which
the city will pay f,r water. As to the
QUESTION of reduction of rates, he was
not authorized to make any statement
but II was fair business proposition
that II the companies found they were
making money here they could afford
to do business for less money. just %
those who sold tomatoes here in 'Sl at
25 cents q can, now sold them for l2l
cents, because their expenses OF doing
business were less. As q matter OF
TACT. many companies would have
pulled out long ago but for the persua-
lions Of the local agents, who have
represented year after year that the
town was going to have fire protection.
The insurance companies had built
sll OF our handsome buildinsp. In
one month two agencies had paid out
10 this town $85, 200. and at another
time SIS. 900 was paid oot. Az mat
ter Of fact. after one more disastrous
fire, you will find the town without
insurance.
Mr.. Jordan at this time handed in q
petition, at the same tine reiterating
his former statement, that three
fuurths Of the property owners were
opposed TO the putting in OF water
works. Toe petition was read by the
clerk as follows:
MILES City. Mch. 20, 1890.
We, the undersigned ritizens and
taxpayer, respectfully r'yu--t the
honorable city council Of VI Mil.- City
MT t. enterta n any prop sal for
wsterwo;ks uBi'i our InpulnfiDI and
circumstances Will justly a service
for the whole ciuy.
To thi. was appended the FLOWING
signatures:
Leighton 4 Joroan, Nile, Strsvell
4 Ulmer. Toner Savage. T. j. Rryan.
Jas. Coleman. II. w. McIpiirs, q. r.
Iugersoll, Abrsm Hall. John Csrter
Chss. Brown, r. +. Campbell. X. r.
Clarke. n. p. Sorrenson, Chas. Larsen,
c. J. smith. B. t. Smith, c. +. Gaze,
]. w. Watson, VIM. Court@pay, e. b.
Towers, 3 Fred Gale. J. H. Miner,
Jepp RYAN. w. ID. smith. A. r. Far
mum, Mrs. Mary ID. Ray. Geo. Rhode,
Jno. Brethsuer. r. g.. Morrison, G.
Klugmaun. Louis F. Busch. John
Anderson, 4. Graham. l.. Psyette. A.
II. SwerdHger, c. s. Young, and +. B.
Weirick.
After the reading Of the petition Q
statement was made hy Aid. Moran
that he was authorized by Mr.. Cour-
tensy TO withdraw his name from ths
signers. as he had signed II not know
ing its purport. and that he was In
favor Of wateruo orks. The names os
r. r Clarke. n. p. Sorrenson, c. E.
Case and J. II. Miner were Withdrawn
at their personal request and for the
same request and for the same res-
sons given above. Aid. Campbell
stated that Mr.. c. J. Smith had In.
formed him that he had signed the
petition without knowing what II we
for and that he too was In favor of
waterworks.
Capt. Harmon was sure that II o Pc
,ition ives circulated among the tag
payers for signature Of those In fAvsr
Of vaterworks. 10 would receive ~
signatures Of majority repvsssntaAisn
Of the taxable wealth Of the city. In
asmuoh - there acre several q -
other petition Who had vithlEn0n
and given - their reasoss that 49,
did mot know It, purport, n was ~
snuabls 10 believe that there vuee
many more Who were ma prunnnA ~