Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
FIND A WAY TO CUT WEEDS
Council Will Put City Prisoners to Work
with soyttss
PROPERTY OWNERS URGED TO ASSIST
Each asked TO Clean Up in Front o.
His own Doorstep Mercer
Plans for n Paving RE-
pair Fund.

At the regular meeting OF the city coun-
Gil Tuesday night President Bingham
brought up the subject Of cutting weeds on
the streets. He said be had talked with two
Of the heaviest property owners in the city
and both had agreed to cut the weeds in
front OF their property. He thought that
IL the matter were only brought to the
attention Of properly owners in the right
way the city could be relieved Of a serious
nuisance without expense. The individual
expense would be slight
Lobeck agreed and pointed 10 the example
OF a large property owner who had Eve
men at work cutting weeds in the streets
adjoining his property.
stuht introduced a resolution directing
the Board OF Public Works to put the city
prisoners at work cutting weeds along the
sidewalks. The resolution prevailed.
Water Hydrant Rent.
According to the weekly custom the coun-
ell got into vrsngle over FIRE hydrants.
Stuht objected TO an item in the report OF
the fns.se committee for the rent Of a by
drant at Twelfth and Mason streets which
had been out OF service for some time owing
to the grading Of the street He demanded
an explanation from the committee and the
city comptroller. who had passed this claim.
In the course Of his re-Barks he got around
10 the question OF hydrant ut Ninth and
Homer streets and raised a laugh by refer
ring TO fourteen families Of ten persons
each. making 1,400 persons in all, who are
forced to walk half mile for their water"
Stuht closed with his favorite assertion
that there was a Niger in the woodpile
somewhere"
Comptroller westberg explained that IL
the city did not pay the rent for the hy-
drant during the time it was out Of service
Ii would have to pay several times as much
for the removal OF the hydrant and two
blocks OF mains, disturbed by the change OF
grade. Assistant City Attorney Scott also
gave as his opinion that the water company
would make the city pay for the removal
OF the hydrant and mains. The item was
allowed TO remain.
To Tax Vehicles and Wheels.
An ordinance was introduced by Mercer
to provide for the establishment Of a paw
ing FUND and to ley tax on all vehicles
and bicycles for that purpose. II was read
the first and second time by title and re-
terred. II provides for an annual tax levy
on vehicles drawn by one horse Of 81, by
two horses OF 81 and on bicycles Of 81. All
money SO derived is to be expended by the
council and mayor for the repair Of paved
streets. Tags will be issued which must be
carried on the right front hubs OF vehicles
and somewhere OF the frames OF bicycles.
fine Of SIS is imposed on violators OF the
provisions of the ordinance.
4 permit was granted the Peoples Furni-
ure and Carpet company to extend its
show window eighteen inches into the al
ley. A resolution previously passed requir-
ing the company to give bond TO hold the
city free from damages was rescinded be-
cause, in the opinion Of the city attorney
the entire proceedings were illegal and the
bond would therefore be worthless