St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-14
NO ACTION TAKEN.
A1dermanic Committee Refers I'M
pOrtant Matters to DarraGh.


The meeting yesterday afternoon of
the committee on streets of the board
of aldermen did not result in definite
action upon any matters of import
ance. The committee referred all the
important questions to the corporation
attorney.
The first matte- taken up was Aid.
Milham's ordinance providing for the
appointment of an inspector of all
electric wires in the city. The pro-
posed ordinance originated with the
local board of underwriters. It is de-
signed to secure more care and a
greater regard for safety from fire, in
wiring the various buildings in the
city. Among other things the ordi-
nance makes it compulsory upon any
person or company operating an cleo
trlc wire to obtain permit from the
inspector before extending their wires
or changing the system in any way
involving connection with any build
ing.
TWO concerns objecting to the ordi-
nance-the Western Union TELEGRAPH
company and the Northwestern Tele
phone company-were represented by
their managers, w. A. Rudd and Mr..
freely the general manager of the
telephone company. Mr.. Rudd asked
the committee to vote to amend the
ordinance by excepting the Weston
Union from it's provisions. inasmuch
as its wires did not carry current
enough to ignite the most infiammahle
material. Mr.. Rudd also explained
that it would be a hardship to require
the company to hunt up the inspector
OF wires every time they received
orders for the construction of tempo
rary loops. The telephone companv
likewise asked to be relieved from the
operation of the ordinance. The com
m1ttee referred the ordinance to the
corporation attorney.
1t made similar disposition of the
proposed ordinance granting the
American Hoist and Derrick compapv
fifty-year lease, with an optional
| tWenty-hVe-year lease in addition. of a
| block of land on the levee, 200 feet in
| width. The company wants the land.
which is near the west end of the
| Robert street bridge site, for a, new
| building and a railroad track.
Chairman Timer was opposed TO piv-
ing the company practically a seventy
fVe-year lease of the city's property
! without receiving in return a sub
stantial guaranty that the company
would make improvements within a
| year. nd. Hare favored the ordinance
and contended that the land desired
was worthless to the city. The com
mittee, as indicated, referred the ordi-
nance to the corporation attorney.
The company agrees to make $50. O0o
| worth of improvements in five years if
granted the land.
| Assemblyman Parker's smoke ordi-
| nance received setback. Aid Mark
ham said he believed in it and would
vote for it when it came before the
board, but Chairman Timer and Aid.
Hare had no faith in the existence of
effective smoke consumers, and there
fore wanted to Indefinitely postpone
the ordinance. But they compromised
upon Aid LindahPs motion to lay over
| the ordinance until the next meeting
of the committee, two weeks hence.
The committee recommended the
| adoption of the resolutions declaring
Como avenue from Union street to the
boulevard and Ryde street, from
Union street to Lake Como, parkways,
! and therefore subject entirely to the
control Of the park board.