The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-04
WILL Be A BUSY SESSION
A Mass of Work Cut Out for the
City Council.
NEW FIRE STATION PLANS
Aldermen Discover That a Mistake
Has Been Made - Sewer Business
Coming Up-Phase OF the
Jacobs Case

! The city council will have a busy
session next Wednesday night 1t has
come to the attention of the aldermen
that mistake was made in the plans
| OF the new city fire station. The plans,
| 1t appears, were drawn to conform to a
lot 10 feet deep. The house was to
be so feet deep, with space of 20 feet
in the rear and 10 feet in front. The
| rear area was to be utilized as turn
way for the trucks. The space of 10
| feet between the street and the house,
| the chief says, is necessary to insure
a clean breakaway, as the street is
| narrow and there is a double street car
| track. Now. since it is learned that
! the lot is but 100 feet deep, something
| will have to be changed Either the
| house must be set flush against the
| sidewalk, or 10 feet must be given by
| the rear area or the building must be
cut down to 20 feet. In any case noth-
| ing will be done towards active con-
| struction until the matter is straight
ened up by the council The matter
was suggested when, at Wednesdays
meeting of the council, the clerk sub
mitted the contract and bond for the
councils approval. The bond is no
doubt gilt edged; the contract is evil
| IDENTIFY all right; but the bond could
| not be approved, because 1t is prob
able that the wording of the contract
! may be changed. And there you are.
| The contractor had already begun to
do excavation work in contemplation
| of the councils prompt approval of the
bond and contract. His representa-
tive was in the chamber and asked if
the contractor should cease work. This
question was answered by City Attor-
ney Lamb, who said:
He should not have begun before his
bond and contract were approved. This
thing of contractors beginning work
| before all the legal details are ar
ranged should not be countenanCed.
What he does before these essential
matters are settled, he does at his own
risk
There will be much sewer business
at next weeks meeting. A sewer must
be built in time so that connections
may be made with the new Atlantic
street school house in September Bids
| for this work must be in the clerks
hands by next Wednesday night. The
motion of Alderman Knowton to in
struct the engineer to prepare resolu-
tons directing the construction of a
sewer on South Colorado street will
also be a subject of debate.
The unfortunate Jacobs episode, in
| which the city treasury lost much,
| came up in a new aspect at Wednes-
day nights meeting. Expert Account
ant Halves, who balanced the books
of the lamented treasurer in reply to
a letter from City Attorney Lamb,
stated that he was working in a Cali
fornia town and that if he were re-
quired to come to Butte to testify at
the trial of the case of the city VS..
Jacobs bondsmen, he would charge the
city so a day and expenses, which
III
| There was much debate upon this
question. 1t was suggested that an
other expert be employed, a local man,
to go over the books. This suggestion
suggested to another alderman that the
person who should again expert the
books might find it convenient to leave
the city and when the case comes to
trial require $40 a day and expenses to
come to Butte to testify. It is case
says the city attorney, in which depo-
stion of the expert does not answer
| The argument was made that in any
event the city must go to great ex-
pense to secure expert testimony as to
the books. The case will come up
probably in October.
Another interesting issue was raised
the other night, and it will be the cause
of establishing precedent Alderman
w. NJ. Page and Messrs. Hayes Can
non and Thomas Rowan were at pre-
vious meeting of the council appointed
to appraise certain property affected by
the opening of Thornton avenue and
other streets. At Wednesday nights
meeting the appraisers put in bills of
$50 each for their services as apprais-
ers, seven days work at S. per day,
$56. The bills We're ordered paid.
Alderman Noyes, before the motion
was put, asked the mayor if he in
tended to sign warrants for the pay
ment of special duties performed by
aldermen. If so, he said, he should not
discriminate. but approve of the pay
ment for all special services performed
by committees. Mr.. Kelly suggested
that he be paid for the time he spent
in assisting the city attorney in pre-
pairing an invitation to President Nc
Kinley to visit Butte on his Western
itinerary. Other members thought thai
if one committee were to be paid for
extra services, all should receive the
same recognition. Mr.. Macarthur
looked at it from a different point of
view. He contended that when an
alderman performed a duty for which
an outsider received compensation, that
aldermen should be considered in the
light of an outsider. All appraisers are
paid certain per diem, and why
should an alderman do the work for
nothing, when his co-workers are paid
for doing the same work?
Street grading came in for a good
share of talk. At present there is con-
siderable grading being done. and as a
consequence not a little complaint is
heard from property owners who feel
that they have been injured by reason
| of the grade The engineer under Or
ders from the council, establishes the
grade, and then the owners with Their
grievances make their wants known to
the council. 1t is at times suggested
that the council change the grade. The
argument was advanced that it would
be wiser to proceed in these matters
very cautiously. Lawsuits are not
profitable membranes at any time
of the year or at any stage of the pro-
ceedings.
If you are looking for a centrally To-
Gated. pr0perlY conducted. conveniently