Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

cerning claims we're not settled in a gentle
manner
Board Of Aldermen" was the dignined
name given 10 the first council. The coun-
try was a little new for dignihed airs In
those days, however, and at the second
meeting OF the council the recorder was
instructed to write the names of the city
fathers without the prefix alderman
They Make More Onlccs.
Among the first acts Of the body was the
creation Of two additional city Offices, city
engineer and city attorney. Charles Grant
was elected city attorney March II, and in
June he resigned and was succeeded by
James NJ. Woolworth. a. s. NJ. Morgan
was Omahas first city engineer.
On March 13 the council met with the
county commissioners and ratified a con-
tract which decided to the county portion
Of Washington Park, on the condition that
a court house be erected on the land and
that the city officers be allowed the use Of
part OF the building. The county building
was erected on the ground which is now
occupied by the Paxton block, at the cor
ner Of Sixteenth and Farnam streets.
1t also fell to the lot of the first council
to foster a plan for the construction Of a
good hotel in Omaha. The city needed a
hotel and had nothing to offer to prospective
builders but land. Many offers were made
by capitalists who we're willing to UNDER
take the building. DR.. George l.. Miller
offered to erect a $7j, 900 hotel for a smaller
bonus of land than any OF the other bidders
and he was awarded the contract which re-
suited in the construction Of the Hcrndon
house, which now forms a part of the
Union Pacific headquarters.
The council was also confronted with the
task Of erecting a capitol building on the
site now occ ed by the High school. All
the money that came into the city treasury
was expended on the capitol, lands were
sold and every available means of raising
money was resorted to. Appropriations were
made from time TO time until $4,000 had
been put into ;he new state building with
the understanding that the government
would refund the money to the city.
Forced TO Issue scrip.
Finally the council was forced to issue
scrip. June % was the date upon which
$50 600 worth of the city money was put
into circulation. In all 100000 worth OF
scrip was issued. The panic of 1857 had a
depressing effect on the money market and
the scrip was practically worthless. In
December of 1857 an election was held at
be issued for the redemption Of all scrip.
Two members OF the pioneer council, A.
d. Jones and w. n. Byers, were surveyors
by profession. Mr.. Byers went from Omaha
to Denver, where he established the Rocky
Mountain News. e. II. Downs was captain
of the ferry boat which was in operation
at that time and was member of the
original town site company. II. II. VisscheI
and Thomas Davis were carpenters and Mr.
Davis afterwards went into the saw mill
business. G. c. Bovey was brickmaker and
contractor.
Omaha has never had a council which
devoted so much time TO the city's affairs
as did this pioneer body. For months tn,
councilmen held meeting every day ant
spent most Of their time in devising plans
for improving the frontier city. And wher
the personnel of the body was changed al
the end of the year a new hotel. a county
building and capitol had been secured foi
Omaha.