Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20
BAKER IS GIVEN SURPRISE
Retiring Chairman Of the Board 0
Supervisors Gets q Watch.
DISPOSITION OF EXPOSITION WGwAM
hoard Agrees 20 Assume h Debt Due
and Take Full Charge Of the
Building - De SOLD
Or Renewed.

AZ the closing session Of the Board OF
County Supervisors yesterday morning the
chairman, Colonel W. r. Baker, was made
the recipient Of Q handsome testimonial
from his colleagues on the board and county
officers. The testimonial was In the form Of
. valuable gold watch and chain and was a
small token Of the esteem felt for him by
his official associates and a recognition OF
the faithful manner In which he had per-
formed his Official duties. County Attorney
G.. @. Saunders made the presentation soon
after the board convened and the gift came
as . complete surprise to the colonel. In
making the presentation Colonel Saunders
said to Colonel Baker that every time be
wanted 10 know the hour Of the DAY be
would be reminded that he had not rer-
formed bis duty In vain and that he retired
from the county board with best wishes and
esteem Of those with whom he had been
oficially connected.
The whole affair was such q complete sur
prise to Colonel Baker that for a time he
was overcome. but he pulled himself to-
gether and heartily thanked his associates
for their kline remembrance.
The most important matter before the
board yesterday was the question OF the dis
position Of the Pottawattamie Wigwam on
the exposition grounds. President Graham
Of the Council Bluffs Exposition association.
who has had entire charge Of the building
during the entire time Of the exposition. ap-
peared before the board and asked that
SON disposition be made Of the matter. He
gave 1t as his opinion that II 1t was de-
cided to hold another exposition next year
the building could be sold either to the
new exposition management or to some
rl,,on> loAtx,iA,nS anA thai a. v,a,tfd ~ al.
lowed to remain where It was. He Informed
the beard that he had been notified BY the
management Of tho exposition that the
building would have to be removed by Jan
uary 1 at the latest, but he believed that he
could get the time extended for another
month.
Mr.. Graham presented q bill for the main
tenance Of the Wigwam during the month Of
August, which had never been settled, and
requested that the board order It paid.
George F. Wright appeared on behalf Of the
Council Bluffs Exposition association and
guaranteed the board that II Il would pay
the bill, which amounted to about $140.
that the association would lay no claim to
an equity In the Wigwam and that the
board could make such disposition Of the
building as 1t saw At. The board, after
considerable discussion, decided to stand
good for the amount Of the bill.
The matter Of the 6nal disposition Of the
Wigwam was left to q committee consisting
Of County Auditor Matthews, Supervisor
Baker and President A. G. Graham OF the
exposition association with instructions to
either sell the building as It stands, " the
exposition Is TO be continued another year.
or else to have 1t torn down and the lum-
Der brought to this city to be used on the
repairs to county bridges.
The balance Of the session was occupied
in disp- sing of q number Of bills, after
which the board adjourned. The next SEES
sion Of the board will be held On the nrst
Monday in January. when County Auditor
John Mstthews will succeed Colonel Baker
as member from this district.