The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-04
A FIVE DOLLAR NIGHT.
What tho City Fathers Did Last Even
Ing to Earn Their Princely
Salary.
Tho Inspector Reports an Improve
ment In the Quality Of
Milk Sold,
r. w. Ellis SECURES tho street sprlnkling
Contract-Report Of Outstanding
City Warrants.

City Warrants.
The city fathers remained in session a
little moro than an hour last evening.
During that time Alderman Spencer was on
his feet exactly eighteen times, and his
colleague, Alderman Hartwig, spoke At
least five times. Al Alderman Connolly
stated, 1t was Third ward night. but with
all the eloquence Of the two Woodworking
representatives from that ward they failed
to make their point. For more than a year
Alderman Spencer has been working to
have Clore street widened from Wall street
to Edwards street. This necessitates con-
domination proceedings and the matter has
been in the hands Of the city clerk and
street and alley committee about half q
dozen times. Some time ago a committee
of appraisers was appointed to fix the value
of the property. The appraisers made q
report last night. Three of ths
property owners along the street
Marcus Lissner, Mr.. Chumasero and
Mr.. Ksssler-are willing to deed the strip
on their ground, necessary TO widen the
street, free of charge. The others want
pay for their ground and this would require
about $1,000. The present depleted condi-
ton of the city treasury gave the PROPOSE
ton a black eye, however, and on motion
of Mr.. Gallagher the motion was referred
back to the street and alley committee.
Inspector Beary submitted his monthly
report which was received and filed. Dur
ing January he measured 816 loads of wood
-or about one-thlrd OF all the WOOD SOLO
during the month.
He says that there has been a marked i'm
provement in the quality OF milk now being
sold. "but l am satisfied" he continues,
that some adulterated milk is still being
sold. In making 100 tests with the lacto-
meter the general average shows 1O6 de-
grees. This shows one Of two things:
Either the night milk has been SKINNED
and then mixed with the morning milk, or
the milk has been skinned and then re-
duced with water to bring II down to the
s ssoss dnro m degrees e stand lh st 100 1so dsnssss'
but a lack Of cream will change
the gravity five to ten degrees.
SKINNED milk stands at 100 degrees"
The inspector says the lactometer is a fail
ure 80 far as making an accurate test. He
has received the Babcock milk tester with
which he made about 100 tests and finds
the general average of milk to contain 3.8
fat, which analysed woul show: Fat 3.S,
caseine and sugar 8.2, water S8; total, 100
parts. The standard of pure milk should
contain: Fat AZ. caseine -, milk sugar
"a, water SO; total, 100. This comparison
shows that the milk tested is four-tenths
per cent. of being standard.
Accompanying the report is a tabulated
statement Of the tests made from milk fur
nished by sixteen milkmen. The milk sold
month for selling adulterated milk, showed
an average of 100 degrees.
City Clerk Smith submitted the follow
ing statement of outstanding warrants
drawn during the month of January:
Or. the general fund .......""..... 1882 s5
On the sewer fund ........"...... 1898 rs
Total outstanding February /, 1891:
!IeneEnl tund sl6S'ssi 90
a fare Isna find 4 7sa4 -
Total ...... . ..."...... ......... S2ll,183 u
The police magistrate reported having
heard NO cases during the past month and
collected in costs and fines $492.25, which
amount was turned over to the treasurer.
The city marshal reported 211 arrests-195
city cases and sixteen for state ofenseo.
During the month prisoners performed 122
days work on the streets, valued at SPA.
The street and alley committee recon-
mended the acceptance of Mr.. F. W.. Ellis
ensuing year, and that the city clerk draw
up a contract with him. The report was
adopted On a divided vote of seven to
four. Lissner and Connolly declined to
vote and Thompson was absent.
A petition from property owners in the
Easterly addition asking permission to
Open an alley in block 531, agreeing to bear
the expense and deed the alley to the city,
was referred to the street and alley COM
mittee.
reqted to Investigate and report on a petit
tioh from the trustees of school district
No. / requesting the council to give them
a quit claim deed for the vacated portion
of Eighth avenue, now enclosed as school
property, where the high school now
stands. y
A,bill from w. @. Dougherty for eighty
seven feet of sewer pipe, amounting to
5000 was allowed.
J. H. Boucher presented a claim of $22.8 2,
the amount discounted from a warrant paid
to him some tim ago on a sewer contract.
the table. He said Mr.. Boucher made an
amicable settlement with the city but
thought he would take advantage of the
situation because the city allowed one or
two men . rebate, whose contracts called
for cash. Boucher, he said, was a member
of the charter commission, and looked
upon the aldermen as thieves and salary
%Rrabbers, and it i'll behooved him to try to
work the city out of a few dollars when he
was not entitled to II cent. Alderman
Spencer took the same view and said Mr..
Boucher had added 10 per cent in his con-
tract to make up for tho value of the war
rants, which he sold for five per cent dis
count.
Alderman Steele did not care what any
outsider said about aldermen. That was
their privilege, and probably the aldermen
deserved criticism. But ne said it was rank
f~oolishness for the city tc Le allowing Tom.
Dick and Harry a rebate ON warrants. and
it should be stopped somewhere. Mr..
Boucher's claim was referred to the audit
ing committee. Alderman Steele then
offered a resolution, which was adopted, to
the effect that no more discounts will be
allowed on city warrants.
The street commissioner was ordered to
fill a well IN the old site of Blake's barn.
The city engineer was ordered to survey a
street in the north end of town, which II.
r. Reeder will give to the city if this is
done, when the council adjourned.
DIR. Meyer, French optician, at Mer-
chants Hotel.