The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-11
The Electric Company Wants to
Increase the Rate to Ten
Cents.
Cannot Make Any Money on
the Five-Cent Basis,
They Say.
The Steam Motor Line-What the City
Fathers Did at Last Nights
Session.

terested in, principally the steam motor
question. The approaching elections we're
also considered. The first will be held
Monday, March %, for the purpose of sub
hitting the amended charter to the vote of
the people. The other will be the regular
city election. 1t is probable that only seven
polling places will be provided for the spe-
cial election. 1t will not be necessary to
register this year. The selection OF judges
and clerks of the election has been left to
the aldermen from each ward who will re-
port at a special meeting OF the council to
be held Thursday night.
The mayor and all aldermen we're present
last night.
The usual monthly reports Of officers
were read. The street commissioner re-
ported 1868 worth of work done on the
streets during the month Of February.
The building inspector collected 81 for
building permits during the same month.
The city clerks report of warrants drawn
during February showed &c. 59.45 drawn on
the general fund; 81, 1856 SO on the fire fund,
and $156. 10 on the sewer fund. During the
month $73, 170.75 worth of warrants were
returned. The total warrants outstanding
March l, according to the clerks accounts,
amount to $13S,O13.06.
Inspector Beary's report was interesting.
He measured 663 loads of wood during Feb
ruary and 1,479 loads to date. He found
over 200 cords short, and estimates he has
saved citizens 81, 100. II people were more
exacting about demanding a certificate, he
SAYS, the saving would be still greater.
Of the twenty-five milk dealers in Helena
he finds only ten whose milk M up to
the standard. Chas. Stanchfeld and Mr..
Anderson, he says, sell a mixed milk in
which the largest portion has been skim
med. In a number OF the tests filth has
been found, and if it occurs again Mr..
Beary will name the people IN his ne1t re-
port.
He prepared some statistics on the milk
business. The number OF cows MIXED
daily is 563, and the daily consumption of
milk in the city is 1,0oS gallons. The fol-
lowing items of feed show the amount fed
daily by the Helena milkmen: Hay, s,575
pounds; bran 5000 pounds; swill 1890
pounds and manure $500 pounds.
The figures were obtained by
the inspector for the milkmen.
The manure Is gathered from livery stables
throughout the city. 1t is this kind of
filth the inspector has found in some OF the
milk. which may be seen in glass tubes at
his office. The report was received.
Judge Sanders reported having heard l56
cases during the month and collected
$253.35 in fines and costs.
A large number of bills were submitted
by the auditing committee. Among them
was 1885,. 20 to Marshal Cronin for board of
prisoners, 1915 for hauling garbage and
300 for the new hook and ladder truck.
All the bills read we're allowed.
Marshal Cronin reported 1911 arrests and
SIG worth of work done on the streets.
A resolution which nobody would father
was found on the clerks desk and read by
him. It was to the effect that the Helena.
Hot Springs and Smelter Railway company
(the steam motor line) be compelled to run
a train every thirty minutes from Sixth
avenue to the Northern Pacific depot and
every hour from Main street to the west
side limits of the city. and if not complied
with their franchise will b. revoked. Al
derman Wilmer moved its adoption.
Theme amended to refer it to the city at
torney to see if this would conflict with the
franchise. Alderman Thompson moved to
s s%sna further on the 0y table,! laying wi.,i shs
Wallace, Jr., attorney for the receiver
in charge of the property. addressed the
council and made a long plea against the
resolution. He said first that a number of
laborers had liens on the property aqere-
eating $4,000, and to destroy the franchise
would be to deprive them of any hope of
not think it q right way to treat the eastern
people who invested $4,000 in the line. He
also said that cars were not run only one
day-and that resulted from the snow
storm. The line was in charge really of the
United States court. The old company
resolution could not be served upon the
company. He did not think it wise or ex-
pedient to pass the resolution, and prom
Used that the receiver was doing everything
in his power to protect the property and
give good service. and weather permitting
he will run cars as regularly as possible.
Thompson asked who was the father of
the resolution and looked hard at Connolly.
Alderman Richards knew it would be intro
duced but was not the father OF it. Alder
man Connolly was not the author either,
but for the sake of argument he would
father it. He knew the road was a great
source of annoyance to the people and it
was the duty of the council to do some
thing in the premises. The road always
has been a nuisance, he said, and will al
ways continue to be, until it is differently
equipped.
Alderman Thompson made a strong plea
for the RAILROAD. Connolly told him he had
switched in a few hours. Thompson ad-
nitted this. He said he was liable to change
any time after hearing both sides of a ques-
ton. He did not take a position and stand
there like an ass, he said.
The motion to lay on the table carried.
The Helena Electric Railway company
stated in a communication that it's road is
complete and cost $23O,O0O to equip the line.
The company said 1t was not making money
and could not on a hve-cent basis, and
asked that the council give the company
the right to raise the rate to ten cents.
They will sell sixteen tickets for ST., seven
for 80 cents and single fares 10 cents.
Alderman Thompson amended to fix the
fare at five cents from six to eight a. m,
and five to eight p. M, in the interest, he
said, of laboring people. Alderman Rich
ards said he was noS running for office.
neither was he interested any longer in any
railroad. He thought Thompson had taken
another switch from his position of a few
minutes before.
resolution and was in sympathy with all in
vestors. And he did not think because his
name was mentioned in connection with an
Office that any slurs should be cast upon
him.
Alderman Theme moved to refer the
matter to a member from each ward. Con
molly moved to amend by referring the
resolution TO the street and alley commit.
tee, which prevailed. as it is composed of &
member from each ward. This carried
after Thompson withdrew his amendment
BY a vote of eight to six the printing Of
the new charter for ten days was awarded
to THE INDEPENDENT for a sum not to ex-
coed $500.
A petition from residents Of the Lenol
addition asking for water mains was re
ferred back to the petitioners.
The clerk was instructed to advertise TO
bids for hauling garbage. Ihe presen
contract has expired and Mr.. Hughes doe
not care to continue the work.
The State Against Mrs. Mary Squirting.
The HaIana lad Ofica usa apoaoad yaota,