Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-20
DISCUSSES Tnr SEWER QUESTION.
Council Makes Another Effort to Set
tie the Dtsuutc,

| Council Makes Another Effort to Set
tie the Dispute.
The city council last night took another
whack at the sewer problem that has arisen
over the controversy between the contractor
and the property owners at the juucture OF
Graham and Madison avenues and South First
street. The council has held a session or
| two considering the matter and endeavoring
| TO fix 1t up to the satisfaction Of all con-
cerned. Attorney c. NJ IiRrl was present to
represent the property owners last night and
the city attorney looked after the interests
| OF the city. The contention OF the city is
that the Madison and Graham avenue sewers
are a part of the First street sewer and
should be assessed with the other property
! in the sewer district according to the new
law. The property owners contend that these
are separate sewers, and that II they are con-
structed they shall only be taxed for the
actual cost of construction. These pipes are
only eight inches in diameter throughout
| their entire distance, while the lower end
OF the First street sewer is much larger and
more costly. The residents along the two
avenues have stopped the contractor by
threatening him with injunctlons II he goes
ahead, and the action OF the council at pre-
vlous meetings has helped the delay until
the contractor has demanded that something
| be done or that these two short streets be
eliminated from his contract.
The aldermen discussed the problem for
| an hour and half last night, and finally
| decided to refer IL once more to the commit
! tee of the whole and the city engineer and
| attorney to investigate today and report at
a special meeting for the purpose this even
Ing.
| Tho contract and bond OF N. w. williams
| for furnishing the city coal was filed and
| approved
| Bids for paving the alley between Bryant
| and North Main street were opened. J. j.
| IL
| top and bottom, Sl.49 cash. all Council Bluffs
| brick. sl.S4 cash, with 10 per cent added for
certificates Frank Cooper bid s1.36h on all
Council Bluffs brick and $1.4Sh on Des
| Monee repressed paving brick for top and
! bottom courses. E. A. Wickham submitted
proposition to do the work with all home
| brick for $l29 or S1.43h for Des Moines ma
| terlal payments in certificates, with per
| cent discount for cash. The bids were re-
| ferred to the engineer for tabuation.
Mrs. S. r. Woods asked to have the taxes
| on her property for the past year RENTED
| for the reason that she was old infirm and q
widow and unable to prevent her property
| being sold for taxes. The request was re
| ferred to the judiciary committee with in
| structions to report at the meeting next
Monday night.
! Neghbors of James snodderly and An
| drew Peterson Of 119 Madison street notified
| the council that the fence in front of the
property had been moved into the street
about six feet to the serious damage OF the
street and the residents. Referred to the
| Judiciary committee.
| Just before the council adjourned mo-
| tion from Alderman Brough called attention
| TO the condition of Indian creek from Nine
| teenth avenue to Broadway II was shown
| that 1t was necessary to complete the eXca-
vations begun last spring. City Engineer
| Tostevn estimated that $4,000 yards OF earth
must be moved IN order to complete the
/ work and that the cost would reach 80 200
on motion of Alderman Brough the engineer
was ordered to go ahead and do the work
at once and give employment to men and
teams in sufficient number to work advan-
tageously. The council then adjourned un-
| til this evening