The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-09
! BUILD ON HELENA AVE.
Hhs Helena Street Railway Company
Win Build Double Track
Thereon.
Work to Begin aoon-Electricitv
May Be the Motive
Power.
ments ON the Broadway Grade
Busy Council Meeting,

Tho city council met in regular session
Last night. All aldermen present and the
mayor absent. President Steele presided.
The monthly report of the police magis.
trate showed 1874 cases tried and $685.
collected in costs and fines. Marsha
Cronin reported 202 arrests and 1O2 days
Of labor performed on the streets by pris-
0neIs.
The water committee, reported favorably
on the petition of D. II. Montgomery and
others for water mains on Idaho and Butte
streets, and adversely on the petition of C.
y. Shane and others because there are only
four houses in the vicinity. The reports
we're adopted.
The cemetery committee having in charge
the proposition of the Cemetery association
reported having visited the cemetery and
were favorably impressed, and recophhehd-
ed the acceptance Of the proposition of
Peter Winnie as the ggouhd is suitable
in every respect for buSiAl purposes. and in
view of the fact mat the city finances
would not ,warTaut the purchase of new
ground5At THIS time. The matter was tenn
poraT2G tabled.
HE street and alley committee recon-
mended the adoption of the ordinance
granting additional street railway privileges
to the Helena Street Railway company.
This franchise gives the company double
track down Helena avenue to the Northern
Pacific depot. Work must begin within GO
days and the road completed by January !.
1881. Any company may use the track on
equitable terms, but under no circumstances
shall more than two tracks be permitted on
Helena avenue, nor shall any side-track or
turn-outs be permitted, and the johnson
ryir1 or roil h01 ha .,oo1 Rev
vote the ordinance was passed.
The fire committee was instructed to pur-
chase a span of horses from Alderman
Spencer which he recently brought from
Deer Lodge. The price is $685. the horses
weigh 2,SO0, are years old and we'll suited
The auditing committee presented the
usual monthly list of bills. Among these
were $3.50 pay roll for the fire department;
engineers office, $4s9. rs; $779. 20 for electric
gaas; watsE company be * ssnha hoard of
ketchum d Denoielle was cut down $40.
A bill Of $50 from Battery A for horses on
the Fourth was presented. This was S15 in
excess of an appropriation made by the
council. Alderman Dunn thought this
piece of immaculate gall. The city coun-
the battery. They could not get any money
from the state, but were told to go ahead
and the legislature would allow the bill, but
the council helped them out. The battery
will no doubt get the money from the state
and the council will get nothing. The
though by what right it made an arpropri-
alton for the purpose is what is puzzling
some taxpayers.
Hereafter no bills will be allowed by the
committee unless they are presented during
business hours. The electric light bill was
hold kI~no 20 rvs.y
auditing committee opportunity to investi-
gate the police report.
The total bills presented last night
amounted to little over 1880.
Ordinance appropriating $1,b5o.01 to the
water company was passed.
not yet produced his title to the ground
and he has not been paid for it. As to the
cemetery the clerk reported that Mr.. Col
bert told him he never said he had 500 inch
es of water and had given government
deed for 12O acres.
avenue petitioned for an electric light,
which was granted and the committee in
structed to order the light at once
In the matter of the Rodney street rail
way franchise the clerk was granted further
time to investigate.
dents of Broadway was read, asking that
Broadway be graded from jackson street to
Montana avenue. They want the street
grade cut down three feet from Main to
Rodney and graded proportionately.
Alderman Dunn said the petitioners evil
IDENTIFY did not realize the amount of money
this would require. 1t would be necessary
to lower the water mains, gas mains and
sewerage pipes and the same would have to
be done on the side streets. The mains are
laid in solid rock and the whole object is to
cater to street railway to give them an
easy grade and he wanted the matter laid
on the table.
The city engineer said it was difficult to
arrive at the cost and at a rough guess he
would place the cost at $4,000.
Alderman Richards said the property
owners would bear the expense and he
wanted the matter referred to the street
and alley committee.
Alderman Thompson said there was no
statement in the petition that the cost
would be charged to the abutting property
He was in favor of Alderman Dunn's mo-
ton to table. Alderman Theme thought
the petitioners should be definite. If the
cost is to be borne by abutting property the
petition should SO state it. The city's
finances do not warrant the undertaking.
Alderman Thompson said he represented
300 feet of property on the street but would
not sign the petition because he could not
ascertain what the expense would be.
Alderman Richards said he had no inter-
ests in the vicinity whatever, but he thought
the property owners would pay the expense
and he was not in favor of the city assum-
ing the liability.
Alderman Dunn said it would be neces-
eary to lower all the side streets; if the peo-
pie interested will stand the expense he is
with them; otherwise he is not in favor of
it.
Alderman Connolly said the owners of
the fine business block at Broadway and
Davis street would sue the city for damages
If the grade in front of the building is
raised. They secured grade from the CITY
engineer. Aldermen Hartwig and Connolly
wanted to see majority of the property
owners sign an agreement that they will paw
Tor the work before any action is taken, |
Alderman Steele said it would be an i'm |
provcment if Broadway was a business
street the entire distance. He did not think
his constituents were willing to have their
property damaged, much less pay the ex-
pense. because the Improvement would be
Tor other peoples good and che property
owners detriment. Alderman Dunn
amended his motion to refer the petition
back to the petitioners and to present II in
more dennlte shape. This motion pre-
vailed,
The time granted Wallace & Thornburph
TO build sidewalk on Broadway having
expired, the street commissioner was an
thOrized to build the walk and guard rail
around the excavation. E. w. Toole and
Beattie Bros. were ordered to lay sidewalk
in front of their building on Main street-a
portion of the Merchants National Bank
building.
Thos. Conner and H. W. Brooke offered
fifteen aores of ground for a dump (the
old grouhdl for $500. This is the ground