Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-12
REMOVING SNOW.
.Clty Government Acts Regard
ing Contract With Railroad.
Lively Discussion Held in Common
Council Over the Order.
conference Committee Necessary-So Solicitors
Report on the Health Law.

std common council had a dis
'ussioh, Thursday evening. 1t is some
lIlihs TO which the CITY is not ac,.rs-
t"illeu when the common council ~
""y branch. for that matter. take;
| 50 great interest in local mai
! torS that discussions and lie votes
r"h'e III, Where the presiding officer has
! =" east q vote, yet that was what was
witnessed at the regular meeting.
AGAIN II was case Of disagreement
between lhe aldermen ana the council.
thlhS 'hat IS not SO surprising. con
| SluetlhS lhe several disagreemcnts that
nave beeh known in the past year. A
committee OF conference, the first one
ia thfee Years 1t is said. was appoint
ed anu alter time and about two
hours delay, the two bodies came 10
an agreement.
Ii was all over the snow claa,iro, CON
tract between the city ana the t,14c.
tric Railroad CO., or at least oy,r j
proposed contract. though nothing has
been definitely agreed upon bv the
railroad 60. Not long ago a committee
consisting Of Mayor Lane and Alder
men Carver and Purinton was appoint
- - t-i' ol'I1i VI dlltsll 10 see lfle ltdll-
read Company about the renewal of
"" STOW clearing contracts. relative to
Nal"r street and Rines hill. The may
or and others did not believe an equal
division 0f expenses ought to be borne
as the city should pay lass than the
other.
This committee reported, Thursday
evening. advising that the mayor be
authorized to make a contract with tho
Railroad Company whereby the latter
would pay 50 per cent. of the expenses
the work to be under the direction 81
the street commissioner and he to MAKE
returns Of bills To the city every month
or to the Railroad Company as often
as they requested.
This report in the form of an order
was adopted and sent down by the al
dermen for concurrence. The council.
al the suggestion Of Councilman
Fletcher. refused to concur and indefi-
nitely postponed the order. Alderman
Sewall made a motion that the order
be insisted upon and asked for a COM
mittee of conference. on this commit
tee We're appointed Aldermen Carver
ana SeWall. together with Councilmen
Nesser. Fletcher and Webster.
These gentlemen adjourned to the
committee room. threw open the win
dow for fresh air and began their talk
that lasted for a half hour or more. As
they began to talk the snow began to
fail on the window sill adding argu-
ment toward immediate action, as il
showed how liable the snow was to
come at any time and then some action
would he necessary % clear Water
street If the snow properly, but neither
party. in case no agreement was reach
ed. would be in charge and each would
indeucndontly 20 to work on the
streets.
At the end of the conference it was
voted, four t. one. u agree upon the
passage Of an order changing the 50 per
cent. mentioned to be paid by the
Railroad Company Ia S. p per cent.
and also to prohibit the use If any salt
Or sand or compositions on the tracks
in any part Of the travelled sections Of
Augusta.
This passed the aldermen and went
down for concurrence. councilman
Fletcher made an amendment striking
the Rines hill part from the order ana
leaving Water street alone. President
Hichburn. leaving the chair. made an
able argument in favor of treating the
railroad and the city fairly and look
ir.. unon the Sidr that would br n
hrneGt to the city streets ana hoped
th. order would be passed as it stood.
The amendment was made by a vote
If xix tp four.
Councilman FIrtch cl moved further
amendment substituting - per cent. "a
thn railroads part in place Of what i
,yas in he order. This resulted IN
IL vote. Fletcher. Couillard. Groves
and Haskell voting for the amendment
ana Messrs Webster. Mason ana
I<rnwIes voting against. The president
tel against the amendment. breaking
th. tie. The original order minus the
riues hin part was then adopted.
Councilman CnulIilrd said ne had
made I misunderstanding Of the Zines
hill matter and asked that the vote re
rrscindcd. whereby it was struck "u''
This WAS carried ana l;ines NIL was
then adopted with the rest of the or
der.
,rbe raports Of the city assessors ana RI
~ inspcctor Of Kennebec bridge were re-
farrsd 10 the auditor for approval
Alderman Edwards introduced an "rd'r
relating to the uncovered electro hr'
alarm, wires on Front street. Here o"
every storm the city is troubled ny
crossed wires often burning OUT IT
fusas N some Of the boxes. the order IT.
troduced provided for the replacing ''
,bes, wires by covered wires. Inc cos
!. MAJ I'd exceed $15. 1t will be DONE ou"-
dav at which time the kenneDec lAEhi
&. Heat co. will erect the wires ol
,hermostat system connecting the Nt"-
nehec Journal building and FIRE Sta'io"
No. l. ,.,+,d
Additioual telephone service was vote"
nv the way of an order directing W.
n,avor l, procure additional service lof
IA civ Offices, especially for the Guy
I treasurer and poor Department. Ne"
! tcIanhoncs or a system Of calls VII -
.,rr,nred according u the discretion =
! the mayor. ,:.,..,, a.
Tho bond OF Charles +. Grlthth as
| nound keeper was approved ne oruc'
| .,I,Iad at the last meeting approving ''v
! I,,,tiou Of the Electric railroad on hln'S
lin was taken from the table ard pasSe''
,-i,h thc understanding that The coIflpahE