Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-02-08
THE CITY DADS IN COUNCIL
A Proposition to Purchase the Water
Works by Arbitration Tabled
Attorneys Recommendations.
The Owners of Park Island Have Tired
Of Their Bargain-Want the
Property Back.


Property Back.
The city council met Thursday in spe-
cial session, all the aldermen being pres.
emit.
The police magistrate reported fines
amounting to $122.5O collected during
January.
The receipts of the city scales for the
same month were S5675. The sanitary
policeman reported the expenses of his
department for that period at Sll.39.
The quarterly report Of the fire depart
ment showed four box alarms, and
twelve telephone alarms during the last
quarter. Three thousand three hun
dred feet of hose were laid. Endan-
gered property was insured for 1884, 200
and SCI, 773 losses were paid. The total
expense of the department, including
salaries. vas 81, 799.01.
When the city poundmaster made his
report Of CANNES iinpounded Aid. Sulli-
van from the committee on tails and
scalps stated that it was rumorsd that
one tail was lost. The poundmaster set
the alderman's mind at rest by stating
that the tail was mot exactly lost, but
went with the dog
Petitions from Matt Dunn to erect a
building on lots II and ID, block 313;
from Harry Shlpkey and James B. Shaw
each asking to be made city o herder,
were referred.
The petition Of l.. q. Phelps to build a
crosswalk along the alley between Cen
trail and First avenue north was unani-
mously refused. A petition from Police
mar Luke Currie asking Sl95 wages for
time lost by sickness in January, 1894,
was referred.
A petition signed by r. S. Ford, Paris
Gibson, Nate Wertheim, Strain Bros, f.
W. Webster, Lapeyre Bros. and others
was read. They ask that, whereas, the
Great Falls Water company has proposed
to sell its plant to the city, the same
be purchased by arbitration. One arbi-
traitor shall be appointed by the council;
a second snail be chosen by K. S. Ford,
A. M. Scott, Ira Myers and +. w. Web
ster; and that these two attempt to
choose the third. If the two fail to
choose a third, he shall be chosen by the
supreme court. The price agreed upon
shall be binding when it shall have been
confirmed by the votes of the taxpayers.
Alderman Roberts said that the signers
comprised the men who had routed
aldermen from their homes one Sunday
to attend a meeting of taxpayers, at
which it was unanimously decided that
the city should institute the pending lit
igation against the water company. Now
the same men ask that the litigation be
abandoned. Hanson sid the water com
papy had never proposed to sell. City
Attorney Largent denounced the signers'
course as unbueinesslike and ungentle-
manly. Assistant counsel had been en-
gagged and could claim their fees. Other
aldermen spoke in the sar 9 strain, and
by a unanimous vote the petition was
laid on the table.
Attorneys Largent. Shores and Veazey
submitted a communication stating that
they entertained no doubt of the right
of the city to own lite own water works,
notwithstanding the company's fran
chise. The city cannot oblige itself to
receive water from the company, nor need
it pay for rental under the franchise. In
the pending litigation the court would
not decide upon the validity of the fran
chise, but simply upon the legality of
the transfer of monies from the water
fund. They recommended that the
ordinance making the transfer be re.
pealed, in order that the vital question
of the validity of the franchise might be
tested.
aiCounty Attorney Freeman officially
notified the council that be had received
from the attorney general an opinion,
which was published recently in THE
tribune, that the city must repair the
First avenue north bridge, although it is
owned by the county. City Clerk Clark
stated that the opinion assumed that the
bridge was purchased by the county
when without the city limits, which was
not a fact. The mayor stated that in
due time the matter would be taken into
court.
George H. Stanton, agent for the
former owners of Park island, which the
city purchased over a year ago for a park,
appeared and rendered to the city the
warrants the owners had received, and
asked a quitclaim deed. His proposition
was referred to in sarcastic terms by
Alderman Sullivan, and Mr.. Stanton
explained that when the owners accepted
the warrants they believed them to be
secured by funds in the Merchants
National bank. The bond securing this
money to the city he now considers OF
doubtful validity, and he prefers his
property to the warrants. No action
was taken.