St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-08


cised in order that the year may be gone
through with without having unpaid
claims outstanding against this fund.
This being the case, there is nothing to
spare from this fund, with which to
make up shortage on sewers.
Why is the sewer fund exhausted?
The Weide avenue sewer in the east
ern part of the city. in the vicinity of
Burr street, cost S56.23S. There were
Sc, 400 feet front benefited by this sewer,
which, at 10 per foot, would have
more than paid the expense of this i'm
provement. The board of public works
has let contract for this work at less
than S1.50per foot; 81. rs was the amount
charged elsewhere in the city. yet the
council appropriated S15,2S5.2l out OF
the ''sewer bond fund" which reduced
the assessment to be paid by the prop
erty holders benefited by this Improve
ment to Sl.10 per foot. Practically the
same proceeding was had with the Mid
way sewer, So-called; where S43,9 25 only
should have been taken from the sewer
bond fund" there was actually S61.-
991. 60, or So, 500. 65 too much; which re
Guced the assessment to SLIP per foot.
Still, these two districts are the first to
ask appropriations from the general
fund.-" where there is no money T0r such
purpose.
On Nov. +, 1892, the board of public
works entered into con tract with John
LindQuiSt to construct a sewer Oh Burr
street, from Whitall to Farquier, for
81, 1872, to be completed Dec 5, 1892. Ghe
contract did not reach this office for APP
prevail until Dec. IS, 1892, twenty-three
days after the work was done. ii done
on time 1t has been discovered that
there was not enough property benefited
to pay the contract, hence the adoption
of Board File No. 1884. attempting to
appropriate the balance out of the
general fund" The contract had not
been signed, nor the account audited
and adjusted as required by law. 1t is
said that this work "had to be done"
If any one in the city government has
authority to thus order work, it should
be made known where such authority
comes from. The board of public works
inform ne that they have repeatedly
forbidden grade stakes being given con-
tractors until the contract was signed.
The charter requires that all claims
and demands against the city, before
they are allowed by the common cOun-
Gil, shall be audited and adjusted by the
comptroller.
The proposed change of theater and
intelligence office licenses is not per-
missible under the charter. 1t is eX
presSly forbidden on page 126 in the
amendments of 1891, which says "The
amount of said fees flor licenses) and
charges shall remain as now liked by
law" Hence all license fees must re-
main as they were on April 20, 1891.
The contract between the city and
Robert Seeger for lighting the city with
gasoline lamps for five years was sub
mitted by the city attorney. accom-
panied by bond in the sum of 81, 800,
with Joseph Jockey and John A. Seeger
as suretieS. The board, by vote Of 8
to l, ordered the approval of the con
tract and directed the proper city Off
GERS to execute the same. Aid lnger-
soil appeared to be the only member
who took any stock Ill the action OH
communication from the comptroller.
A WoInan's letter.
Lydia B. Angler. aresident of Marion
street, again called the attention of the
board to the proposed sewer system i'll
the Eighth ward in the following unique
letter:
Getlemen: Nearly five years ago
MI. Rundlett told me he was working
on the system and would give the At
water and Marion street district sewer
IN the spring. Being woman, |
dropped the subject, and suffered for it
last summer. Our aldermen and engi-
neer promised that we shall be taken
care of next spring. | don't see any
notice of sewer or regarding yet. This
glorious winter weather will soon be
over, and, unless the men get to work,
we shall be in the soup again in 4 very
few days. With a hurrah for reform
and three cheers for Jim Burns, l hope
you will take action at once.
The ordinance granting the East Side
Electric company the right TO erectpoles
and wires on streets in the Dayt0n'S
bluff and Arlington hills district was
read, and under suspension OF the
rules, passed. All rights of the COM
pany under the ordinance are to cease
unless mile OF wire shall be in opera
ton within six months from the pass
age of the ordinance. A bond in the
sum of $1,000 is to be given to save the
city from damages. Other companies
are to be allO we'd to use the poles of the
company by paying a proportionate
share Of the cost of construction.
An ordinance regulating the bill post
ing business was read for the first time
and referred to the committee Oh streets.
By the ordinance no bills, pictures or
Autographs are to be pasted or posted
unless the consent of the owner of the
building or structure is obtained. A
violation of the ordinance is punishable
by fine of not less than s., nor more
than S25.
Concerning Railroads.
The cross town railway ordinance
came from the committee on streets
with a recommendation that the entire
matter be referred to the special COM
mittee on street railway matters. Be
fore the clerk could read the report
Aid. Copeland asked to have the matter
recommitted to the committee, which
was done. Before the session closed
Aid. Ingersoll presented an ordinance
for a cross town line to be constructed
on Dale street, and asked that ii be sent
to the committee on streets. This was
done, and, as Mr.. lngersoll expressed
it, the matter will be fought out there.
The ordinance of AsSemblyman DOran,
providing for forty-fOOt right OF way
on the West side levee, was also sent
back to the street committee. The
same committee also will consider the
ordinance allowing the Edison Electric
Power company the right to lay steam
pipes on Tenth, Eleventh and Minneso-
ia streets and Summit avenue.
The contract between the Edison
Electric Light and Power company and
the city for heating and lighting the
high school Tor term of five years was
presented. President Pyle, of the board
of education. explained to the members
the saving to the city in having
the building heated and lighted by
the company. At the present time
the cost of heating and lighting was
nearly $1,000. Uuder the terms of the
proposed contract there would be Il
saving of nearly $1,000 for the first five
years and 800 for the second five
years. The contract fixes the cost at
$3.50 for the first two years, $4,000 for
the third and fourth year, and s., 600 for
the fifth and each succeeding year. The
matter was referred to the committee OH
streets, but later in the evening was
recalled and the proper city officers
directed to close the contract.
The city engineer was directed to pre-
pare plans for an IRON bridge across the
Chicago, Milwaukee u st. Paul railway