Omaha daily bee., 1894-04-03
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS
Mayor 0leaver Addresses the City Council
on Interesting Municipal Points.
NICHOLSON ANO SCANLAN ARE CHOSEN
Fire and Police Departments to Have Their
old Heads Again-Other Offices ruled
without Delay or Friction
Routine Business.

The city council held an important meet
ing last evening. The council chamber was
full to overhowing, the audience being largely
composed Of candidates for the various posi-
tions that were to be filed. The mayor was
in tho chair and Aldermen Brewick, Gleason,
Grahl, Keller, Nicholson, spetman, Rishton
and White were present. Mayor Cleaver read
his message.
MAYOR CLEANERS MESSAGE.
In the opening clauses Of his message,
which was brief, Mayor Cleaver thanked the
heads of departments Of the city government
for the assistance they had given him. He
discussed the low figure at which the assess
ors have valued the city-S5 100000, about 40
per cent % the actual valuation. and the
small amount of the city's indebtedness, $2iS,-
900. which is within 500, 0O0 of the 5 per cent
limit under the low assessment. The present
revenues are very satisfactory. The lO-mill
levy for the general fund raises $50, 900, and
from the marshal's office and other sources
the deficit of $i5, 900 in this fund is easily
supplied. He advises the finance committee
to look into the nature Of outstanding bonds
for special Improvements and take needed
steps to secure their refunding at a lower
rate Of interest. If the matter of special inn
provements is to be continued the mayor
suggests that the system Of payment in tax
certificates be given a trial. This has worked
in other cities and has given satisfaction.
On the matter of improvements he says:
There are plausible reasons why our i'm
provements should go on. The property
owners along certain streets have bur
dened themselves in order to advance
the expense of putting in sewers, grading
and paving streets, curbing and placing
sidewalks in front of their property, many
of these people neither needing paving nor
sewer themselves, but doing 1t for the best
interests of the city, and they simply ask
in return the continuation of this line Of
improvements, and now, after wasting
years of time and thousands of dollars of
the peoples money experimenting with
1t has been demonstrated that we can pro-
duce at home the best material. everything
considered, yet tried, for paving purposes,
! refer to vitrified brick.
We should have at least a paved or pass
able outlet the year round In every direc-
ton to the suburbs of the city-IGast Broad
way, East Pierce, North Eighth, South
Eighth, Sixteenth avenue from Ninth to
High, and from there a connection to and
including South avenue, also Union avenue
to the transfer.
The question of improving public high
ways is one that is commanding at this
time the attention of the general public,
and it might be well to investigate certain
gravel beds already in possession of the
city with the view of utilizing their con-
tents for this purpose.
The Indian creek question is one that will
biiity of enclosing same, as ali sewers
should be, should attention, and
instead of bridging at necessary points
complishing the same end, continuing this
line of Improvement as needed and as the
city can afford.
Our sewer system is one of vital import
ance. and the question of suitable and eff
ficient outlet to the river, controlled. by the
city. requires our immediate attention.
RELATIONS WITH CORPORATIONS.
1t is to be hoped that the controversy
between the Council Bluffs. and Omaha
Motor company and our citizens may be
soon brought to a satisfactory settlement.
The people demand that this company as
sumo their legal share of expense of the
their tracks, and that the customary
nickel fare is in force over similar lines
be charged. In. granting this the company
shrewd financiers claiming the increased
travel would more than compensate for
There is little question as to the advisa-
bility of municipalities owning certain
franchises from a business and economic
and requires the expenditure of vast capt
tai. 1t is questionable, whether our city's
financial condition would admit of n move
ment of this nature at the present time.
The proper controlling of them probably
Interests nress t1d us ,n more o and w in this seS age m Of pre-
improved appliances, convenient and econ
omical, are constantly taking the. place of
contracts, with their restrictions and legal
technicalities, are apparent to all.
The construction Of the proposed motor
should meet with encouragement, as this
would afford us direct communication with
our possessions over the river and give us
another route to Omaha. Our interests at
Cut-Off should be looked after. 1t is to be
regretted that the proposition submitted at
our recent school election to vote a small
building was defeated. This portion of our
been expended in it's behalf, and it should
be seen to that proper facilities for caring
for their school children be afforded.
Lack of money will hamper the park COM
missioners during the year. No levy for
park purposes was made last year. I'm
provement of the Mlssouri's banks, the estab-
lishment of a local weather bureau and a
government fish hatchery are some Of the
many things the mayor urges the citizens
and council to look after, in addition to the
manifold interests of the city already estab-
lished.
The mayor announced his appointments
to the police department as follows: Chief,
j. NJ. Seaman; captain, ID. Maltby; patrol
men, e. b. Gardiner, j. NJ. Murphy, ID. l..
Wier, Fl. v. Slead, j. N. Wolf. H. Peterson,
+. Covalt. c. L. CLAIR, G. L. Martin, L. b..
Cousins, f. Easdale; patrol driver. John
Sandel; specials, w. G. Vanderburg, ]. A.
Watt.
AFTER THE MESSAGE WAS READ.
The mayors message was received and 700
copies were ordered printed in pamphlet
form, together with the reports of city
officers. and his appointments to the police
force We're confirmed. After allowing the
usual batch of bills and hearing the re-
ports OF city officers the report of the COM
mittee favoring the remission of the taxes
of Kimball Bros. was read and concurred in.
Chairman Keller of the special committee
on rules reported the same rules as those in
force last year, with the addition of another
providing that any one who wanted to be
heard by the council on any subject should
be allowed to speak upon the request of one
alderman, seconded by two others, and that
such speeches should be limited to five
minutes, unless the time was extended by
unanimous vote of the council. The rules,
as amended were adopted,
The clerk was instructed to advertise for
bids for furnishing meals to city prisoners,
bids to be opened April l6.
An ordinance was read twice, prohibit ing
the Offering OF any meat for sale unless the
animal had been inspected by the local meat
inspectors, and referred to the judiciary com
mittee,
L., zurmuehlen, jr, was unanimously
chosen city clerk.
ID. X. Dodson, NJ. G. O'Connor, II. J. Neil
sen, c, Wesley, A.. Lorenson, Charles j.
Shields and G.. w. Dalton all had applica-
tions in for the ONCE OF street supervisor,
but A, L. Avery was unanimously elected.
For chief of the fire department Charles
Nicholson was nominated by Alderman
Keller. Alderman Grahl nominated ]. l..
Templeton and Alderman Gleason nominated
James Bradley. On the first vote Nicholson