Bridgeton pioneer., 1900-07-26
CITY HAS PLENTY OF STONE
CITY Council Provides For Sinking
Fund to Meet the Obligations of
the Paving Board

the Paving Board.
President of City Council Charles
Stevenson, usually in attendance
promptly at the opening of the meet
ing of that body was absent last
night, and Councilman Powell was
elected President pro tenn unani-
mously.
The business of Council then pro-
ceeded smoothly The roll was
called, all the members being present
excepting Messrs. Garrison, Butler,
McMullen and Stevenson
The minutes of the last
meeting were promptly read, and
the annual report of the Board of
Education was presented and read
by the Recorder. 1t showed the ex-
penditures for the year, together
with list of the teachers, etc. The
report was received and ordered filed.
Mr.. Blew for the Finance Com
mittee reported that in carefully
going over the financial conditions of
the city, it was apparent that the
Council would need all the money
necessary, and the committee recon-
mended that the Purchasing Com
mittee countermand all orders for
the purchase of gutter and flag stone
for the present. He explained that
with the taking up of the gutter and
flag stones in the fire district would
give the city all that could be used
for the coming year. Eight or ten
vessel loads of stone would come
from the paved district
Mr.. Blew made the recommended
tlon motion and the matter came
before Council regularly.
The honor of the city was at stake,
declared Mr. Nichols in a debate
upon the question. AS one of the
Purchasing Committee he remarked
that he had the honor of purchasing
nine vessel loads of stone. He made
the purchase verbally but he consid-
cred it a contract ana he felt the
city was bound to take the stone.
He felt that all the stone that could
be furnished was needed in the city.
Mr., Matthews held the same
view.l
Mr.. Powell felt that while the con-
tract made by the Purchasing Com
mittee was undoubtedly binding, yet
he was certain that Ward & Sons,
the stone dealers, would relieve the
city of embarrassment if the situa-
tion was explained. The unforeseen
expenditure incurred in the rebuild
ing of East Lake dam would take all
the money available, and there was
no appropriation possible but the
gutter stone appropriation.
Mr.. Sellers and Mr.. Conner ex-
pressed themselves favorable to the
recommendation of the Finance Com
mittee. Both thought the city
would have much more stone from
the paved streets than had ever
been had by the city in any one year.
The recommendation of the FL
nance Committee was then passed,
and the City Recorder was author
lied to notify the stone dealers that
the contract was rescinded.
The Finance Committee offered a
resolution creating sinking fund
for the payment of the street paving
bonds, and the City Solicitor was
authorized to take the necessary
legal steps to establish the fund.in
conformity with the statutes.
For the Water Committee, Mr..
Powell, called attention to the fact
that the excessive drought, the reser-
voir was down to twelve feet. At
tentiOn was called to the waste of
water, and the public needed the
warning and the water in the well
came back and the reservoir was now
rarryingg about twenty-seven feet of
water, and there was now plenty of
water for all legitimate purposes.
The night the request to the pub
lIO Ndo ihdQC, odlu IIcSluCuU SUcNSu-
son, who had just come in, the city
used but two feet of water from the
reservoir, while during the nights
before five or six feet was being
used. Mr.. Stevenson said that when
the Water Department called the
public attention to the waste, there
was but two who refused to heed the
request. Mr.. Stevenson said that it
was only a question of time when
meters would have to be put in.
Mr.. Powell said that the Water Com
mittee would soon have its specifica-
tionS for the new pumping engine
ready for advertising. He did not
want to frighten Council, but a
pumping engine such as was needed
at the department varied in prices
all the way from $1,000 to $25, 900.
The Mayor and City Solicitor were