Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-17

been said last year yet it carried loads last
year such as had never passed over It be-
fore aud 1t did not iall. lie asserted too,
that The railroads will be compelled to put
IL In safe condition.
Veto Is overrIden.
None Of the other councimen cared TO
talk and the matter was put to a vote.
The mayors veto was overridden by unani-
nous vote, STUNT voting in the affirmative
in order to fall in line with his colleagues.
An argument made by President Bingham
in support of his resoluton-and the same
statement is made in the resolution Itself
is that the action taken shall not be con-
strued as extending the time in which the
viaduct shall be constructed according to
the stipulation" entered into between the
city and the railroads. As a matter OF fact,
there is no such stipulation" in existence.
The roads verbally agreed to build the new
structure as soon as possible, but up to
date they have failed even to respond to
the request Of City Engineer Rosewater 10
sign a written agreement to this effect
This fact was called to the attention OF
President Bingham and Just before adjourn
ment he introduced resolution calling
upon the railroads to file the plans and spec
incations of the new viaduct before June
the structure by September 1. The resolu-
tion was adopted.
During the course Of the meeting Mount
introduced a resolution, which was adopted,
calling upon the city engineer to report as
speedily as possible the plans and specfca-
tions of the proposed Twenty fourth street
viaduct over the Burlington and Union Pa
cifc railroad tracks The ordinance declar-
ing the necessity for such a structure was
passed some time ago.
In answer to his own request the city
treasurer was directed" instead of "au-
thorized," to enter into a contract with
George H. Stillman for the collection of de-
linquent personal taxes. The terms of the
contract will also be modified in accordance
with the city treasurer's suggestions. In
stead of being paid a commission in proper
tion to the age of the delinquent taxes, Still
man will be allowed 45 per cent of the in
terest that is due on all taxes he collects,
except the 1899 delinquent taxes. He will
also be required to furnish a satisfactory
bond in the sum of $500. With these
changes in the contract, it is said that City
Treasurer Edwards will be willing to enter
into the contract.
Repair Florence Cycle Path.
The Florence bicycle path will be repaired
at cost not to exceed 5000. The Board OF
Public Works was by resolution directed to
do the work. The necessary money was
appropriated pro rata out of the allotments
set aside for the use of the COunCilmen for
street repairs in their wards. This is one
of the consequences of the little visit that
the city fathers paid the Omaha Wheel club
on invitation a week ago, at which time
the club members did a bit of missionary
work.
A petition signed by about $50 bicyclists
was received asking the council to repeal
the bicycle lamp ordinance passed a week
| ago, because it is unnecessary. 1t was as
| serted that no serious accidents have ever
resulted from the lack of such an ordinance
| but solely from the gross carelessness OF
| inexperienced riders. Among the petitioners
| were u number of bicycle dealers. The pc
| titon was referred
Councilman Karr resurrected this old
scheme to have the rotten wooden block
pavement torn out of Twenty-fourth street
| from Lake to Spaulding. He introduced a
resolution declaring that the thoroughfare
| in its present condition is dangerous and
| instructing the Board of Public Works tc
| remove the blocks in the most economical
way possible. After talking over the mat
| ter for time, the council laid the matter
over for a week, in order to receive re-
port from the city engineer on the condition
! of the street.
City Electrician Schurig was granted five
days leave of absence.
Councilman Mount introduced resolution
that the Board of Public Works be in
| structed to use no stone for curbing or other
public works until the same has been tested
and a comparison made with a test OF othei
stone now on file on the office of the board
| The complaint that has been made regard
| ing the peddlers who stand about the post
office building was placed on file by the rec
| ommendation of a committee.
Land for boulevard.
The ordinance declaring the necessity OF
appropriating the necessary land for the pro-
posed boulevard that is to extend from Hans
| com park to Twenty-seventh and Burt
streets and appointing three appraisers tc
assess the damage and benefits, was intro
duced, read first and second time and re-
ferred The following other ordinances were
also introduced: Creating improvement dis
| trict for the paving of Ames avenue from
Twentieth to Twenty-fourth; changing curl
lines of Howard street from Twenty-seventh
| to Twenty-eighth; declaring necessity OF ap-
| propriating land for widening Twenty-seV'
| enth street from Ames avenue to Fowler
! avenue and appointing appraisers to assess
| damages; changing the curb lines on Wool
worth avenue from Thirty-second avenue tc
Thirty third street.
| The regular appropriation ordinance and
| onnthnr vacatinp FOrty-SiXth street from