The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-15

the amount of So, 800.
At present in bridge fund. ......... s13,S0O 90
Estimates on Robert and Wabasha
street bridges for painting, not
Fort Smelling bridge contract -. 4,504 50
Robert street bridge repairs, bent. $50 90
1886 90
Balance in fund 1854 10
Comptroller McCardy stated last
evening that he should certainly oppose
the increasing of the estimate to the
amount suggested by the city engineer,
or any other figure than that given in
the estimate. The increase as asked for
by the city engineer would make the
tax levy rate about three mills larger
than in 1897. 1t was now 21.40 mills,
and this was all the taxpayers could
stand.
Present at the session yesterday, were
Mayor Doran, City Engineer Rundlett,
President Bement, of the water board;
President Wheelock, of the park board;
City Treasurer Horst, Comptroller Nc
Cardy, President Freeman, of the~fir
board President Zimmerman, Of the
school board; President Kerwin, of the
board Of control; President Copeland, of
the board Of public works; Aid. San
born, chairman of the ways and means
committee from the board of aldermen;
Aid. Shepard and AssemElyman Kirke.
The first matter taken up was the
item as to the fire department fund,
given in the estimate as 100000. It
was moved that it be adopted. Presi-
dent Freeman thought the amount was
all right, but there was a need of a
new engine house and engine in the
Merriam Park district. Aid. Shepard
wanted to be heard on the question OF
fire protection fer the midway district,
but the comptroller asked that he be
allowed to first ask President Freeman
several questions. In answer to ques-
lions by Mr.. McCardy, President Free
man said it would be impossible to
close up the Broadway engine house
and move the steamer to Merriam
Park. Mr. McCardy thought it would
be a good idea not to increase the ex-
penses of the fire department for 1898.
The engine house ana engine at Broad
way, the comptroller thought, was of
no practical use in the present location.
President Freeman explained that 1t
would cost $1,000 to purchase and put
the engine house in operation. Inc
engine would cost $4,000 After the
first year it would cost $500 year
to maintain the engine house.
Mr.. Bement thought it would be I'M
wise to remove any Of the engines from
the wholesale district Aid. Shepard
presented an argument in favor of the
placing Of an engine in the midway
district The property in the district
was valued at $5,202, 600, including one
of the largest lumber yards in the city
There were large barns and other
buildings beside several large educa-
tional buildings. The city owned i've
school buildings in the district There
was the experimental farm and the
Cot
he said for the nearest engine at Selby
and Mackubin street to reach the dis
trict in winter in case of fire before
the structures on fire were DESTROYED
The people had in the Tenth and EleN-
enth wards been paying taxes FOR ten
wears, and demanded some fire pro
lection. If a fire should start in the
district it would destroy an immense
amount of property.
Aid. Allard said the owners of the
property in the two wards paid large
amount in insurance rates each year.
and if there was an engine located there
the insurance rates could be reduced. =
The comptroller inquired if the hre
department could get along with the
same amount as last year. President
Freeman said it could. Mr.. McCar;dg
then said the est mate submitted by MN
for the fire department was too h1gh.
L.
+partment did not expend all Of the
5000 900, and had enough to spare 4tc
put in a fire alarm system that cost
100000. His idea was that If 1T was
decided necessary TIC put in an engine
at Merriam park the department could
take the 0,G00 which was used in 1897
for a fire alarm and purchase the
steamer President Freeman admitted
that if the taxes came in as we'll In
n,I1I bO ann JC
to put a steamer in Merriam park. The
committee agreed with the comptroller
that the department could get along
with 5000 900, and the item was adopt
ed as submitted by the comptroller by
a unanimous vote of the ten members
present.
The item allowing $1S5,O0O for the po-
lice department, was adopted without
any discussion. -
On the item for lighting purposes, the
controllers estimate was $114,000 As
semblyman Kirke stated that the coun-
ell committee on gas had figured 1t out
that $120,800 would be needed. The
comptroller took q shot at the Wells
bach burners by saying that he
thought there was no return for the
extra money expended. This came up
on the statement Of Mr.. Kirke that it
was the plan to put in 1000 Of the
Welsbach burners at an extra cost of
So more than the regular gas lamps. In
the discussion that followed the comp
troller said at Columbus, O., he had
been informed by the WelSbach people
that their intention was to put in the
lamps and pay the gas company for
the gas used. This, the comptroller
said, would make the city pay a double
cost, one to the gas company for gas
and another to the Welsbach company
for the burners. The comptroller advo-
Gated the establishment of a municipal
electric plant. President Zimmerman
said the Welsbach burners did not
save on gas, but they gave a much
better light for the gas burned for the
same money. He had made practical
experiments with the burners and
knew what he was talking about MIR.
Zimmerman advocated the city hay
ing an electric light plant of its own.
He did not favor the Welsbach burn
ers, as 1t was but a question of time
when the city would have its own
plant. Mr.. Kirke said $4,000 more
would be needed than the comptroller
estimated Mr.. McCardy thought the
council should go on record If there
was to be any increase in the estimate,
and for this reason moved the adoption
of the item as fixed in the estimate.
City Treasurer Horst said he was OPP
posed to putting in 1000 new burners
for the reason that they would not be
distributed impartially in the various
parts Of the city.
Mr.. Bement moved that the appro-
priation be raised from $4,000 to $780,
900 in order to allow the placing Of
1000 Welsbach burners, of which 800
were to be put in the Seventh ward.
President Kerwin, of the board Of
control, said the city hospital had tried
the burners and they saved no gas,
although the agent for the burners said
they would
Ar. a1aCto,I-. -a.5 -. Ii