Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-05-14
IN STYCIAN DARKNESS.
Condition of City Unless Funds
Provided by Special
Means.
From Wednesdays Daily

Dai MIS- was Wllilu idSL DlR0J Out reg
gotty took umbrage and the suit WAS de-
clared off indefinitely. 1t was expected
that when the city council met last
evening action would be taken toward
lighting the streets of the city. The
aldermen want lights, and the electric
light committee reported unanimously
in favor of making a contract with the
light company for the ILLUMINATION OF
the streets. But depleted fund ont of
which the cost of lights must come said
otherwise and, unless the city can raise
money by a special license on avocations,
or something Of that nature, it is proba-
BILE that the city will remain unllghted
until September 1st, the beginning of
the fiscal year.
Manager Masters of the electric light
company submitted the following prop
position: He will light the streets with
l3 1900 candle power arc. c.lignts-located
as heretofore-from dark to one O'Clock
a. ~. on all dark nights, for $96
month; provided contract is made
for one year and the company is allowed
the use of water for the plant as at pre-
sent. The company will guarantee good
service and does not ask pay unless the
guarantee is made good. Lights can be
put on Immediately if contract is auth
orized by the council.
The committee, consisting of Alder
men Bensch, Gaffney and Moses, recon-
mended the Icouncil contract with the
company for lights according to this
agreement. Alderman Bensch said the
amount of the contract was less than
heretofore and he considered it quite
reasonable.
City Attorney Baldwin said that the
council had 500 deficit in the general
fund, out of which fund lights are paid
for. Engineer Loweth's bill OF $500 is
also to be paid from the same fund and
the amount Of revenue to be derived by
the city from the public resort places
may be diminished in the immediate
future, rather than increased, especially
il there are prosecutions Of these places.
Beside this the general laws Of tho state
make it the duty Of the city auditor to
make estimates OF all the expenses Of
the city, and IF before the first day Of
June of any year the amount expended
or to be expended chsreesble to any city
fund, adding thereto the current ex-
psnses estimated for the remainder Of
the fiscal year and chargeable to such
fund, shall be equal to three -fourths Of
the tax authorized to be raised or rev.
enue estimated for such fund, he shall
report the same ut once to the city coun-
oil, and he shall not counterslgn any
contract chsrgeable to such fund until
the amount OF taxes actually collected
10 sscsrtained; and during the remand
or Of the fiscal year he shall not counter
sign any contract, the expense Of which
shall exceed the revenue actually COL
lected for the fund to which such ex-
psnses are properly chareeable."
Before the council entered into q con-
tract with any one be deemed it advis-
able and according to law, to ascertain
II the city would probably have funds
sufficient to meet the payments for
lights. Accordingly the matter was re-
ferred to the finance committee and city
auditor and instructions given to report
at the next regular meeting Mr..
Masters ut this juncture withdrew his
proposition-the entire 1natter was ended
and the council proceeded to the
transaction of business of less moment.
Chief Ross of the fire department was
instructed, on petition from the Artesian
hose company, to purchase hose nozzle
to be used in speed contests. No one
seemed to be aware of the cost of the
article, but it was ordered purchased
The street and bridge committee Will
look up the matter Of renewing the
sprinkling contract with kelleran &
Past.
A list Of n names was selected for
jury duty.