Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-04-21

be divided into districts, and sprinkling let
to the lowest responsible bidders.
think it highly important to have some
relaDle person sleep in the waterwOrks plant
to guard the valuable machinery now left
unprotected during the night and would
| recommend immediate attention to this mat
| ter.
PUBLIC SERVICE.
The extended powers and jurisdiction given
to the chief of police and justices of the
peace are producing good results.
recommend that the electric watchman' 8
time detector be repaired and placed into
service, These are the only means available
to keep track of the mghtwatchmen's where
abOuts during duty hours.
Many complaints are made by residents
living on the outskirts of the City about the
compulsory dog tax, claiming dog indis
pensaDle TO guard against intruders, and
therefore ask discrimination thereof, on
the ground that they are obliged to pay their
share toward supporting the police depart
ment, or so little use to them. Their reason
ing is very logical and | would therefore
recommend discrimination Of the dog tax
outside OF bounds the council may decide on.
believe 1t would be very desirable to adopt
by ordinance Chapter 139 Of the Laws Of the
State of Wisconsin passed at the biennial
session OF the legislature of 1897 which pro-
videS for Board OF Water Commission, to
have management, control and supervision
of the waterwOrkS Of the city OF Watertown
to elect one or L1Ur- assessors ana also alder
men In eluatc sections, whereby a least
one-half would be versed in The routine of
city affairs and familiar with the work in
progress.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
A question that SET ms to be foremost be-
fore the public spirited citizens of our city is
the permanent Improvements of streets, a
class or work very much neglected and very
much needed. Bur, before this idea can be
entertained, it is absolutely necessary that
the road beds intended to be niacadamized or
paved be provided with sewer gas aud water
service pipes, and the disturbed earth pro-
parly tapped and given one to two years
time TO Settle before permanent covering
Is put on. Main street., uuGruat1t4r viii be
The first street TO be paved. il SO, would re
commend the laying of water main and sew
| er from the I" est end of Main street bridge to
! Water street; a sewer from the east end of
same bridge to First street; water service
| pipe, house drain and gas connections from
| street mains from the curb line Of either side
/ of Main street, from Church street east TO
/ Ninth street. Also sewer traps to be con-
/ Structed on Main street from corners from
| First street t. Mint street.
| The frequent discoveries Of hollow streets
| are alarming; should be thoroughly examin-
| ed and filled up to avoid accidents, litigation
| and the paying of heavy damages.
1t seems 20 me some ways and means
| should be found TO macadamiZe streets in
| condition for it, and discontinue to a large
extent the yearly shoveling of earth from
sides of street to center, question that has
| been discussed number OF times in the last
| council If your honorable body will find the
| means, l will suggest the ways: namely, have
| the city buy three or four acres of suitable
| real estate with an inexhauS-ible deposit Of
| llIll6 SbOHb. lDlS Cdu De EtQ WlInlu TWO IDl6S
| of Main street; then a stone crusher and
| other necessary implements to operate the
| quarry. By using nine to twelve inches of
| this crushed stone, well rolled With a ten ton
steam roller, a road bed will be produced
| which will resist the weight of the heaviest
! loaded wagon and last for many years. The
| whole outfit L estimate will not cost over
| $1,000. L commend this question for your
! earnest consideration, for there is nothing
more important in city OF this size than
/ good streets.
- n he n :
| plant should be graded, seeded down and d
| few trees SCI out; also sidewalks and cutters
| az the same place, are necessary on Mtlwau-
! kee Streetaand FirS street
| 4 catch basin connected with sub sewer at
corner OF First ard Milwaukee streets should
! be constructed TO carry off the surface water.
Our bridges should be carefully examined
| and necessary repairs made: it is my opinion
| that some of them are bad in need of paint.
which must not be negleC c3
The city hall should be provided with steam
| heating, water connections and sewerage.
! The present system of heating requires eleven
stoves is more expensive. Troublesome and
unclean. Building drain should be made to
! connect with First street sewer instead OF
| flushing into the river, and the different
| floors supplied with water for closets, wash
! basins and dt1nk1ng purposes. necessity
| and convenience very much needed. Two
| windows are needed in the south wall to ad-
| init daylieb BIT to stairs leading to basement,
and more light to hall leading to Clerks and
/ TreaSurer'S Offices The river side of the lot
| could be greatly improved at little expense,
| by discontinuing its use as dumping ground,
! and weekly display Of miscellaneous append
! ages TO q stationery clothesline, by seeding
! or sodding the plat.
A very import ant question to be considered
| by this council is the lately adopted curb
! line ordinance. This consider very serious
matter, from the fact that if not amended,
/ the curb lines and cutters Of adjacent fronts
are apt TO run at right angles, and also in
| terfere with the natural flow of surface wa
/ ter. 1t wonld be wise to consult the city at
! tOrney on this question, and If he finds the
| expense of widening the bouleyardS to the
new curb lines ward charge, would re-
| commend the change be made as soon as pos
| sible, and continue as each ward fund will
! permit or amend the ordinance, and reason
| ably enforce the widening of all bOuleYardS;
| Tor 1t is absolutely necessary to have cutters
! in a parallel line Ill front Of each block.
The total length of sewer built in 1896 under
| the 10y & COnnor contract was 4l48 feet at a
! total cost of Sl780.69.
Sewers to be built this year:
On Fourth street from Vi ain street to Dodge
! street.
! On Second street from Main street to Dodge
| street
On North Second street from Main street to
| Madison street.
On Fifth Street from Jefferson street to
Dodge street
On Elm street from North Montgomery
! street to Church street.
! On North Montgomery street from OCOn-
nell street to Elm street.
To be paid when completed or IN three
annual payments
| FIRE DEPARTMENT.
With the present thorough system OF water
| works our city is well prepared to combat
| with the elements of fire, and do think pro-
perty owners are entitled to a lower rate of
| insurance.
wish to call your attention to the impor-
| tance of establishing an electric fire alarm
system This would facilitate rapid trans
mission of fire alarm and gain OF time for tie
| firemen to reach the fire.
The discipline of the department is at a
| full standard.
The total membership Of the fire depart
ment consists of 102 men. There were two
| hose wagons three dozen pairs OF rubber
boots aud three dozen rubber coats bought
| for the depSrtrae ent the past year.
An effort should be made to sell the Ahrens
| engine and also the OLD wagon now stored IN
| the old engine house.
| IN COURT.
| The Mccain & Mcclellan case was tried last
| NOvemher before Hon. j. j. Dick, and is still
| under his advisenent.
| The Harlow PeaSe case has not yet been
tried but Is now pending in the circuit court
! of Jefferson county:
I According to the final decision of the su-
oreme court in the j. w. Cole case. the fol-
| lowing named property will revert to the city
of Watertown after the decease of Mrs. Eliza
| Cole and Oscar A. Cole, for the purposes
named in will
John w Cole block on Main street;
John w Cole homestead on Cyman street
/ Occar a Coles corner building on Main