The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-09-14
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Special Session Called to Order the Work
of Paving Commenced.

Special Session Called to Order the Work
of Paving Commenced.
The council met last night in special
session, Aldermen Young, Jocelyn, Sulli-
van, Fitzgerald, Mcdonald, Hansen and
Williams being present. As the mayor
was absent, Vice President Williams
presided. 1t was stated that the meet
ing was called for the purpose Of order
ing the work Of paving Central avenue
commenced, the mayor having declined
to sign the contract until an order Of this
nature had been passed by a two-thirds
majority, in order to comply with the
law, as he understood it. A motion to
this effect was made and passed unani-
mously.
The city clerk was authorized to pur-
chase an abstract of the property abut-
ting on Central avenue, in that portion
to be paved, and to notify each of the
property owners as provided by the
statute.
The city treasurer called the attention
of the council to the fact that the tele-
phone company had never paid any city
license, although the ordinance provided
for a license of 80 cents for each instru-
ment. He said that he had notified them
that they would have to pay license and
desired instruction from the council as
to how far back he should collect.
The city clerk stated some former
council had taken action on the sub
iect and related the license in
consideration of the fact that the city
used their poles for the fire alarm wires
Alderman Hansen pointed out the fact
that the ordinance granting the COM
pany their franchise stipulated that the
!, city should have the privilege Of putting
up fire and police alarm wires on their
!, poles and said that they were entitled to
no exemption for that.
, The matter was finally left over to
, give the city clerk time to investigate
, the old minutes and see just what action
!, had been taken in the premises, after
which the council would be in a position
to give the city treasurer intelligent in
struction IN the matter.
Alderman Young said he would like
r the city attorney to state just what
rights the city had in the matter of
ordering water mains laid. and if there
was any way of compelling the water
. company to lay down mains ordered by
, the council.
City Attorney Largent stated that the
! ordinance compelled the company to lay
mains when ordered by the council, and
1 that there was two ways of enforcing
! their orders, one was by applying for a
: writ of mandamus and the other was by
: bringing a suit to forfeit their charter.
: He was ready to 40 either when ordered
: by the council. Alderman Joscelyn
! said that he saw no use in agitating this
= matter. The council knew as well as
: the water company knew that the city
; had no money with which to pay for the
! work after it was done. The water com
/ pany, he thought. had been extremely
= fair about the matter. They were will
\ ing TO proceed with the work ordered il
a the council insisted, but would expect
Z to be paid for it il done. In the mean
= time they had offered to furnish the pipe
free if the residents would pay for ex'
, cavating the bitches, and make nc
a charge for the hydrants to the city till
such time as the regular Mains were put
in. He thought this was a fair PROPOSE
tion, and if the parties who were so
anxious to have water were in earnest
they would take advantage Of it. There
was no use of ordering mains built wheu
it was a well-known fact that tho city
g was without any means to pay for them.
A motion to adjourn was made at this
point and further argument on tho sub
iect was cut off by its being carried.