Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1901-02-07
City Council Renews Contract With
John Masters for Pumping
Water.
Ordinance Raising Salary of City
Attorney to $3.50 Per Year
is Passed.
Alderman Chapman Thinks Taxpayers
Should See Statement Twice
aYear.

Mayor Rose, Aldermen Kurtz, Crum,
Wonnenberg, Chapman, Bensch: Will
der and Klaus were present at the
meeting of the city council Monday
night. A proposition from John Mas
ters of the Electric Light company
for the renewal of his pumping con-
tract with the city was received. Mr..
Masters agrees to pump water for the
city in case Of fire at the rate of $500
per year. In case the city obtains
water from an artesian well the con-
tract to be null and void, but other
wise remain in force. This means
that in case new company comes in
here Masters will still hold the water
contract for any part of the year yet
remaining. Mr.. Masters explained to
the council that he had made a low
rate, $25 per month, for the pumping
and that if he made less than yearly
contract with the city would be
obliged to ask $50 per month. He also
stated that he wanted yearly con-
tract so that an alderman or someone
else could not come around kicking
and threatening to have the water
shut off at the end of every month.
The council decided to accept the con-
tract and the mayor was instructed to
sign the necessary documents.
Alderman Klaus introduced an
amendment to the ordinance relating
to salary of city attorney. The
amendment raises the salary from S1OO
to $3.50.
Shaw & Shaw of Nebraska were in
evidence in the shape Of communi-
cation asking for data regarding the
artesian wells sunk here and promis-
ing to give figures on the construction
of a new well after due consideration
Of the logs of the old.
Alderman Chapman called attention
to the fact that the Code provides
that statements of the city's financial
condition should be published by the
city auditor within 80 days after Mar.
l and also after Sept. of each year.
He expressed the opinion that the law
should be complied with. Action in.
the matter was deferred.
A rough draft of a proposed electric
light franchise was submitted by the
electric light committee. Messrs.
Klaus and Wilder stated that the
plan was to submit copies Of the same
to the jamestown, Hughes and other
companies, have them fill out blanks
regarding rates and other matters and
return to the council. The company
Offering the most favorable terms
should then be granted the franchise.
1t was agreed that it would be proper
to have public meeting at which all
interested might express their opin-
ions concerning the ordinance as
drafted. If at that time they failed
to express themselves they would have
no kick coming later on. The COM
mittee will proceed to submit the Or
dinance to the various companies.
Water Commissioner Moses report
showed collections of s266.92, a fine
showing which caused much favorable
comment among the members. Alder
man Wilder explained that he had at
tempted to adjust the difficulty with
Captain Ingraham over the payment
for water which the Captain claims he
did not get. The matter is now in
the hands of Commissioner Moses.
Treasurer Durkee's report showed
cash on hand of Sl,505.O5 of which
amount s7.l9 is in the general fund.
1t is probable that enough money VIII
be received during the month to in
crease the funds sufficiently.
Alderman Crum said there was con-
siderable complaint over the OdOr from
the point where the sewer enters
into the river. 1t was decided to pro-
vide some means of abating the nui-
sance which prevails only when a wind
from the south is blowing.
Some of the coal bills were laid over
and the matter of where all the coal
is going to will be looked up.
Bill from Sheriff Eddy of 81 for.
boarding prisoner for seven days was
received and will be paid later. The
prisoner was sent to the county Jail
because it would be dangerous to lock
him up in the city Jail and leave him
there with no guard and fire in the
next room.