The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-06
CAR LINE And WATER
These Subjects Occupy Most
of the Time of the City
Council,
NO STREET CARS YET
Action NS to Granting Franchise Is
Postponed = Mills Platform
Mattcr--Other Business.

Tho city council held regular ses-
sion Tuesday evening, On the roll call
every alderman was found in his seat
The usual tiresome routine Of reading
the minutes Of previous meetings was
gone through. by the clerk. 1t heing
the first m0tthly meeting, the usual
reports Of Ulcers were Risen. The
city attorney rendered biSo opinion az TO
the legality bl the sfAinanoe proposing
to grant toU.@ George franchise
for aM electric street railway, The
. opinion III substance was to the effect
that the oouAoil did not have the power
to grant the franchise according to the
ordinance, but ha Thought a general
ordinance could be arranged In con"
formity with the law, The report
caused silence to pervade the council
chamber fork time, which Wa~6Token
at last BY clement, who<hoved that
the opinion bf the st,Afhey be accepted
an the Sen0e 0lSFhe council. 1t was
seconded bS~SFrixelle. Before being
put to 4 vote, Attorney W. NJ, Johnston
made q few remarks III favor OF the
franchise, stating that he thought the
opinion Of the city attorney was most
remarkable and unhenId of. He spoke
further, to the effect that Mr., GeurRe
wanted nothing but what was right
aud expected no exclusive franchise.
Spear moved that tho ordinap0e@bH re-
fered back b the oompist6e. to con-
for with tho IhriginatetS aud CITY attor-
ney aud pleAare, ,sd ordinance that will
he aooeptahl6fo all parties concerned
and in conformity with tho laws,
which was seconded by Sxitniok.
Clement said he would withdraw his
motion II acceptable to his second. AT
this point Frizelle arose and stated that
he was not In favor Of withdrawing
the motion, as 1t was hardly faiE~torthe
city attorney after asking .1s opinion
A vote Oh thg first queSss0n being called
for resultedf In its6eing. carried, al.
though onlt shout three aldermen
voted aye, while the others were silent.
Spears motion to refer back was also
carried. John y. Losekamp had hand.
cd In q communication, which he told
The Gazette reporter oontaipsdFR prop
osition to gjve the 0ityaW bonus for
street railw4y fgNWohise, but on the
council referring the ordinance back to
the committee, he requested the clerk
to hold the communication In abeyanoe.
The council WINS petiti0ned to extend
the water main four blocks on Thirty.
fifth street north, from Montana ave-
Aue. The committee recommended
that In view Of the fact that there was
no honsas to justify such al extension,
IL only be extended two blocks, Ben.
Aighoft moved the recommendation he
accepted W, b. George made q speech
favoring the extension AZ a~ked for IN
tho petition, He stated >that number
OF people oontejhplatp6 building on the
premises which We're to be benefited
by the extension md were only waiting
to see II they could get water. Mr.
George made very urgent appeal, but
1t was In vain. Clement and Withaln
both spoke OH the proposed extension.
They were NOT In favor sf extending
water mains Until tbst6 was demand
In order TO SUPPLY, ,xhd protect property.
When tho houses are built tho city will
be found ready TO do its duty IN grant.
ing extensions, but they did not be
lieve In axten1ing the IApihA on the
prospects OF buildings gsthg up. Friz'
ellie said that lhe eStshsion recommend
cd would aeoohasnbdate all the build
ings az present going up. Mr.. George
said that II II was a matter OF economy
which was keeping the council from
granting the pftition, he wollapay the
extra rental one hydy&6t for year
In order to h1ve II gQpshe four blocks.
Connolly seedhded lsennighoff's motion,
but the lutt1 withdrew IL and the pc.
tition was finally referred back to the
water committee,
A sidewalk was ordered constructed
On the south side Of First avenue north.
from Twenty. seventh street to Thirtieth
street. While the matter Of sidewalks
was up tha mayor stated that there had
heen considerable talk lately relating
to having l4-foot walks on Montana
and Minnesota avenues. instead Of H.
foot, AZ at present, O0nnelly said that
II ought to be no and that " wouldshe a
great Improvement, He moved that
the sidewalk committee prepare q side
walk ordinance, ar the CITY has none at
aud that l4.foot walks bs al
lowed on the avenues mentioned, II
carried unanimously,
A water main was ordered laid from |
First avenue north, to Third avenue on
Thirty fouyth street.
The Billings Wholesale Grocery |
house platform matter came up In q