Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-08-13
WEEDS, WALKS and SEWERS
City Council Last Night Discusses
Several Matters of Interest
To the City.
Arrangements Made to Cut Weeds
In Streets and Alleys-The
Sewer Question.
New Sidewalk Ordinance Presented
Repeal OF old Liquid Drink
Ordinance.

IhSSSAA5 RooI AAShN CANA -
number of matters of interest to the
city. Weeds, sidewalks, sewers and
other questions anne up for discus
sion and action. Steps were taken to
have the weeds along the streets and
in the alleys cut by the city. A new
sidewalk ordinance was presented and
the first steps were taken toward wip-
ing from the ordinance books the old
liquid drink" ordinances, which have
fallen into disuse and which the coun-
Gil will repeal at the next meeting.
Aldermen .Smyth, Slattery, Bartron,
Reade and Lovin and Mayor Register
were present at the meeting.
The official pond of William Cook as
night policeman, in the sum of $500
with George Gussner and Henry Tat
ley as sureties, was filed and approved
by the council.
The matter OF a sewer easement from
the Northern Pacific road went oyer
until the next regular meeting.
A communication from City Health
Officer Quain was received, stating that
fences had been built about the water
company reservoirs, and the result
had been seen in purer water. 1t was
suggested that if the high weeds grow
ing about the reservoirs were cut, it
would be beneficial. Another import
ant matter brought up in this COM
munication was that of sewage. 1t
was stated that complaint had been
made that the sewers discharged sew
age in the vicinity Of several resi-
dences on the south side of the track.
An investigation had been made and
it was recommended that steps be
taken Immediately to abate the nui-
sance. DR.. Smyth reported verbally
to the council that at the outlet of the
Third street sewer there were several
pools of sewage, and that it's presence
was dangerous to health and should
not be tolerated by the council for a
moment. If the sewers were private
concerns the owners must abate the
nuisance and If they belonged to the
city, the council must take steps to
remedy the difficulty.
There was a question about the own
ership of some of the sewers. MIR,
Reade said he thought the city owned
the Fourth and Fifth street sewers,
but he didn't believe it owned the
small sewer on Third street. Mayor
Register said the council had paid for
it and Mr.. Reade said he thought il
the city did own it, it would be better
to give it away. Alderman Smyth
said he thought the Fourth street
sewer was a private property. City
Engineer Harold stated that the Fifth
street sewer was ordered by the city,
1t Was finally decided to request the
city engineer to examine the sewers
and devise a plan for getting rid Oh
the sewage. The question of flushing
was brought up, but it was claimed
the water company under it's contract
could charge $1,000 a year If any water
was used for flushing sewers.
Next came Up the question of weeds.
Alderman Smyth said he doubted
whether the board of health could de-
clare them a menace to health and
sustain it's position in court, if an at
tempt were made to. force property
owners to cut the weeds. Mayor Reg
lister suggested private cooperation
with the city, in removing weeds from
vacant lots. 1t was stated that a re-
quest had been made OF the N. p. to
have the weeds along its right OF way
east of the Northwest cut down. Fin
ally a report of the city treasurer was
received, showing a balance of ss75 in
the contingent fund, and it was moved
that $$25 of this be appropriated for the
use of the chief Of police in having the
weeds along the streets and in the al
leys cut down. The chief said he
thought it could be done for that
amount. -
City Attorney Gage filed an opinion
with reference to the complaint OF Olaf
johnson, stating that the contract OF
the water company with the city made
lit obligatory upon that company to
bring water from its mains to within