The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-07
IT'S OPENING NIGHT
A COMMUNICATION That Was Not Read
to the New Council.
INSTANCE MEMS REQUEST
The the Powder Magazine Cues
ito Comes Up in the Same Old
vay-it May Be Prolonged
Routine Business.
INSTANCE MEMS REQUEST

I Communication received by Mayor
Tompson from fire insurance agents.
few minutes before the council adj
surned, Alderman Cook asked the
aayor IL he had not received a COM
lhunication from the insurance agents
Which was addressed to the council.
If1e said that one of the insurance adj
busters had told him that the COM
munication had been presented and he
would like to hear it. With blank
expression of surprise the mayor re-
piled that he had received such a COM
muication, but that he believed 1t was
addressed to himself personally, and
not to the council He sent the clerk
after the communication and 1t was
found that 1t was addressed to the
mayor and council. Another subject
was under discussion when the clerk
returned and the communication was
dropped on the desk. The reporters
started into copy 1t and while they
were so engaged the council adj
journed. Cook forgot about his request
and the communication was not read.
After the meeting adjourned the mayor
undertook to regain possession of the
communication by main strength, but
he was not strong enough. The COM
munication is as follows:
For some time ii has been patent
that a radical reform in the manage
ment of the affairs of this city was alb
solutely necessary IL the citizens are to
receive the protection which the pay
ment of taxes gives them the right to
expect; and believing that the citizens
would demand a change we have here
tofore refradned from taking similar
action. Representing, as we do. in
surance companies of unquestioned re-
sponsibiiity, who have issued to the
property owners of this city insurance
policies approaching ten millions dol
lars, we feel that we have more than
ordinary reason for viewing with APP
prehension the condition of the fire de-
partment at the present time.
1T now becomes our duty to call the
attention of the companies represented
by us to the present condition of the
fire department, and as the existing In
surance rates were based on the eff
cheney of the department as ut existed
in July, 1894, we must record that the
risks will be increased to the prop
erty of the companies unless the pres
emit chief is removed from Office and
person of experience, reliability and
good judgment appointed in his stead,
thereby restoring the department to its
former condition; and we would rec
ommend that any persons appointed
: be given full discretionary powers in
the management of the department
and that the selection of a chief be de-
cided entirely on his capabilities OF
properly managing said department
We hope you will give this matter a
careful and favorable consideration
that lit may not be necessary for US to
recommend a general increase in the
insurance rates"
The communication was signed by
the following agents representing the
number of companies denoted: II. f..
owens, IL; Mogan Bros, s; Richards q
Lewis, 81; Lawler G. Smith, g.; Dugan 81
Jones, Z; w. f. Cobban & Co., 6; w.
McC. White, s.; w. II. Winter, 2; j..
Reinhart, 2; j.. Kehl, 2; Perry d
Boardman, 2; p. A. Gamer, L; o. N.
Perry. L; Passmore & Co., s; total rep
resented, So.
Although the council failed to hear
the above communication, 1t disposed or
a good deal of important business. Pro-
lessor Clinton II. Moore was reappoint-
ed one of the citizens members of the
public board of library trustees for an
other term of four years and received
the unanimous vote of the IA aldermen
present Montgomery and Rowe were
the absent aldermen.
A petition for an electric light and
fire plug in East Quartz street was re-
ferred to the proper committees. A pc
tition from c. L. Tomas. asking that
some action be taken TO prevent the
surface water on Covert street, from
Broadway to Park, which has not yet
been opened for traffic, from running
on to and damaging his property, was
referred TO a committee and the city
engineer. The sprinkling committee was
instructed to bring in a sprinkling or
dinance at the next meeting of the
council, in accordance with the express
ed wish of the council.
The following report of the street
| commissioner showing the expenditures
of his department during April, was
received and filed:
| Labor on streets....... ...... 81 1863. rs
Tool sharpening and repairing. 2s1s
| Hardware and new wagon
wheel. .......... ....... ....... 7O.7e
| Lumber. 9,213 feet at $1.5O....... 1920
Lime....... ...... ...... ........ o.
| Feed for horses .. So IS
| Harness repairs. .... $50. 300
| Total expense on streets. $500. 1853. 80
Street Commissioners salary. 5000
Total expense of department. 81 ,843. As
The oft discussed question of the re-
| moval of the powder magazines 10
| some safe place was again discussed
with the result that definite action was
| taken in the matter. Knowlton started
| the discussion by expressing the opin-
| ion that the powder companies need q
! stirring up. 1t appeared to him from
| the last letter of NJ. c. Harris, that
| they did not propose to move the mag
| zines at all. and he moved that the
/ MAYOR be instructed to see the railroad
/ companies relative to building switch
| selected by the powder agents. the
/ members of the powder committee OF