The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-19
AS TO CITY LIGHTING
The Council Agrees Not to Operate a
Pant of Its Own.
NOT TO SUBMIT TO A VOTE
Salary. Appropriation and Loco
motive Whistling Ordinances
Pass Fire Business and
Franchises-Petitio
NOT TO SUBMIT TO A VOTE

ple to vote at the ensuing election on
the proposition of the city owning it's
own electric light plant. The commit
tee which had been asked to furnish
information on the feasibility of the
scheme reported as follows:
I'VE, your light committee. to whom
at the last regular meeting was re-
ferred the matter of securing informa-
ton bearing upon the subject of voting
upon the question of municipal owner
ship of an electric light plant at the
coming spring election, beg leave to
report as follows: From answers re-
ceived from more than three-fourths OF
those municipal electric light plants
whose cost for arc lights was submitted
to the council at their meeting Jan. 10,
we find that the conditions are so
much at variance with those existing
in Butte that ii is difficult to make an
intelligent comparison. We find that
some of the plants referred TO use
water power, others cheap fuel and
that the average rate of wages paid in
all cases is about one-half Of the
Butte scale for corresponding work. we
have, 70 the best of our ability, made
an estimate of the cost of operating
plant for the city of Butte, consisting
of 10 arc lights and 200 incandescents.
itemized as follows: Electric light
plant, first cost, $4,000; interest on
tendent, $500; two engineers, $500;
two firemen, $3.50; electrician, 81, 400;
assistant electrician, $1,095; lineman,
$1,277; helper, s1,O95; machinist, 1,462;
clerk and bookkeeper, $1,000; globes,
lamps and carbons. $3.50; oil and waste.
1865; fuel, s6.132; water, s64S; insur-
ance, $1,000; depreciation of plant,
$3.50; total cost of operation, 32,302.
According to which the cost to the city
would be $2,691.S712 a month or 32,3O2
per year. The present cost to the city
for nearly the same amount of light is
0taking theaverage for the past three
months) S1,460 per month or $17,52O per
year, making a difference of $1,231.S71a
per month or $14,7S2.50 per year. We
believe that this is a very important
matter and should be carefully investi-
gated before taking any decisive &C
ton.
1--WE recommend that the resolution
passed Jan. 16 submitting the matter
to a vote of the people be rescinded
and that the matter be referred back
to the committee for further investiga-
ton and report before being submitted
TO a vote"
There was a long debate on this
matter, but it was finally decided to re-
scind the provision for making the peo-
pie vote on this matter. Aldermen
Knowlton and Byrne alone voting for
that proposition. The following report
of the judiciary committee was adopt
ed:
THAT C. B. No. 1s6, a bill for an ordi-
nance making annual appropriations
for the city of Butte for the fiscal year
ending the first Monday in May, 1897.
as amended, by fixing the salary of the
librarian at the sum of $4,000 per an
mum, and c. b. No 81, a bill for an
ordinance fixing the salaries and COM
-. ,V.IA
of the city of Butte, as amended, by
fixing the salary of the librarian at the
sum of $1,000 per annum, and c. b. No.
1888, a bill for an ordinance prohibiting
the blowing of locomotive whistles
within the city of Butte and requiring
the ringing of bells on locomotive en-
gines at street crossings, be passed and
lawfully published, Concerning the
offer of Carroll & Leehey, attorneys
for Caroline Brobank, to accept the
sum of $3.50 in full settlement of the
case of Caroline Brobank VS.. the city
of Butte, we recommend that said offer
be refused. In the matter of the rent
due the city for the basement of the
library building from the various mill
tia organizations we recommend that
| the mayor be authorized to collect such
rent for the city for the term of the
last fiscal year and to take such steps
| in the name and on behalf of the city
| for such collection as may to him seem
necessary and proper"
The salary and appropriation ordi-
nances were then passed. The ordi-
nance against blowing locomotive whis-
| ties in the city limits was passed by
| a vote of 9 to g.
The report of Mayor Thompson for
| the month of February was completed
yesterday, and is as follows:
"I herewith respectfully submit to
| your honorable body my report for the
month of February. 1885, containing
| the receipts and disbursements and a
comparative statement of the months
| of February, 1895 and 1896. showing the
| increase and decrease in Expenditures
| for the city.
II find from the report of the City
| treasurer that the amount OF surplus
funds accumulated in his hands al
present and a fair estimate OF the
amount which will be collected in the
months of March and April, warrants
| the ways and means committee in rec
ommending the further redemption Of
| warrants at the end of this officia
year, to the amount of all surplus re-
| naming in the treasury not otherwise
| appropriated. This is a wise recon-
mendation and should be complied
| with.
since my last report all arrange
/
commissioners and the police depart.
ment to work the prisoners in tn,
stockade on as early a day as posi-
/ BILE, which. / believe, will save tn,
4 county and city a large amount Of
money each month, in reducing th'
number of arrests and convictions Of
| the worst element of our community
| Who have become 50 bold that they
| have shot down officers in cold blooC
| without cause or provocation. Some
| thing must be done to put a stop q
| such occurrences. l. has been the in
! tention Of the present administration
10 adopt rules for the governing of tn,
| police department, and in accordance
| with this intention we have secured a
| different times for the last eigh
| months copies OF rules governing tn
| police departments of many cities IL
| the East and West. ! have assigne,
| the duty OF compiling the same TO tn
| heads Of the department and theI