Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-12-10


street commissioner Grim present.
DR.. Bloomfield, the successor of Julian
Tyler, resigned, received the oath of Office
from the Mayor and entered at once upon
his duties as one of the finance committee.
The bills investigated by this committee
and allowed by the council are:
O. F Beard, filling cisterns .... 81 90
do repairs rs,.................... Z 40
Beard Electric Light Co.,. lighting for
October. .................l4 l4l 81
John Ramus, gravel. el................ II 60
JAS Shay, engineer er................3 35 90
s Davis, sprinkling one year in front
of engine house e...-............. 30 81
g Tanner, filling cisterns. .......... l 80
s Davis, hauling engine ............. l so
y Higgins, coupons s..................21 210 90
Demokrat, printing g............... 3 70
Geo Fate, taking care of hose, etc.,. l 30
Jos Grim, work On streets .... So 35
L Overly, 800 ft crossing stone. ....... "a 45
O W jackson, clerk. rk.................. 20 90
L j Burns, marshal l................ 45 90
Jos Shaft, gen'l repairing one year. =. 81 15
@ Davis, work at gravel pit. t........ 90
@ H Mann, pump for south side .... 90
Of the above bill none we're cut save that
of the electric light company, which was
originally for $l46,97, receiving cut of S5,
Jas. Shay presented the usual bill of $40
for janitor's salary certified to by W. o.
Hudson and Dan Honeck, foremen. Hon
eek was called in and asked his reasons for
signing the bill. Said he did it under pro-
test and would hereby withdraw his sane
tion, as Shay had not done the work. Chief
Roller addressed the council to some length
in which he charged the janitor with an
outrageous and willful neglect of his duty
"The apparatus" he said. lis in a deplora-
BILE condition, the engine is-not at all SER
viceable, while the rooms are actually
disgrace for want of proper care. l have
visited many fire departments, but have
never seen any to compare with this'
Clerk Jackson also entered complaint for
the failure of the ianitor to attend to his
business in the council chamber.
The finance committee laid the bill on the
table.
A petition was read signed by twenty
property owners in the lower part of town
praying for the construction of sidewalks in
front of lots 81 and SO, owned by Allan
Scribner. Street commissioner was Or
dered to advertise the same for sale, and in
case of no buyer, to construct the walks
and have the cost charged to the property.
Complaint was also made against the
walk abutting the Shoemaker ice-house,
but on the promise of these parties to pro-
ceed at once and repair the same, the matter
was dropped.
Mr.. Cahill, as chairman of the COM
mittee. created to confer with the
Beard Electric Light Co., repDrted that the
company was willing to continue the light
Ing of the city for three months at the old
rate and submitted proposition to this
effect.
Mr.. Groschner expressed himself as un-.
willing to accept the proposition at The old
rate He thought that, considering the
poor condition in which the lights had BEEN
to his knowledge, Sl25 per light was too
much.
Both Mr.. Shelf and Bradley, partners of
the firm, addressed the council in explana-
tion of why they could hot supply light for
less than The old rate. The most promil ent
reason WAS the small humber of lights,
which must necessarily be- Increased whe
new contract wes made, and that then tI.ey
would be prepared to make a drop in price.
Mr.. Wilson thought that 800 per light
was enough, and moved that H proposition
be submitted to the company to this end
this to be in tho nature of an amendment.
The amendment was put and carried The
question of the proposition of the company
was submitted and lost
Messrs Shelf and Bradley both declined to-
accept the proposition. Substantially they
said that the company was comforting a
favor4n the town by agreeing to light at
the old price.
Mr.. Cahill in defense of the council said
that it was not looked upon by them in that
light, in fact, quite the contrary. If the CON-
pany could afford toreduce the price at the
end of three months when new machinery
would have to be purchased, repairs made,
etc., it certainly could run three months for
the price offered when the expense would be
comparatively small. "Our street light
ing," he said, lin round figures amounts to
two Thousand dollars each year, this would
be interest at per cent on plant valued
at in the neighborhood of $35,000.
Mr.. Shelf asked if they should continue
the remaining 15 days of this month at the
old rate in as much as the most of the light
ing had been done, the moon being now
nearly full. The council signifed an un-
willingness to pay more than the price pro
posed, and thus the matter rested at the
adjournment. The prospects are favorable
for quarter or so of darkness or the re-
sumption of the old method, "a lantern
apiece"
The subject was further discussed, but the
action of the council was not rescinded,
hence the city will be in darkness for an in
definite time
"Christmas and New Years Greet