Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-12
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Project to Change Boundary Lines of Some
Of the Wards.
FIFTH AND SIXTH ARE MOST CONCERNED
Popular suggestion IL to Divide
These Two wards by the Union
Pacific TrackE-MaRic City
Gossip.

Now that the fall election is over mem
bers Of the city council are beginning to
talk about the changing OF ward boundary
lines. II is asserted that the Sixth ward
line should be run on a straight line either
up Twenty-third or Twenty-fourth street.
1t will be remembered that at the time the
present Sixth ward was laid out a jog was
made for the benefit Of w. B. Vansant, who
was appointed a member Of the council by
A.. r. Kelly, then mayor. It was the same
with the Fifth ward, when Ed Johnston was
named. Politicians hold that the Sixth
ward lines should be changed and that the
Fifth ward might be reduced in size.
The best suggestion seems to be to di-
vide the wards by the Union Pacific tracks.
This, It Is stated, will avoid confusion and
will obviate the necessity of persons liv-
ing in the eastern part Of the Fifth ward
from going to the lumber yardsin the CEN
ter Of the tracks to register and vote. 1t
is estimated that a large number of votes
in the Fifth ward have been lost by both
parties by having the voting precinct at
the lumber yard, BY a change in the ward
lines the precincts would be altered and II
is asserted that voters would be better ac-
commodated than they are now. The same
is true of registration, as the voting and
registration places are practically the same.
As is to be expected, the democratic ma
jority in the council are looking for the
best of It. However, they represent to out
siders that they will be fair and that II the
ward lines are changed that each party Will
he given representation. Outside OF poll
tics the idea seems to be to shorten the
walk Of the voters to the registration booths
and the polls. Little complaint is heard
from the Third and Fourth wards. As for
the Second ward 1t appears to be all right
and the chances are that no change there
will be made.
Some of the councilmen favor cutting the
Fifth ward and making a Seventh ward, but
It is hardly probable that this will be done
unless there is a change in the present
charter, which provides for six wards.
Underground Wires.
It was reported on the streets yesterday
thai an ordinance was soon to be intro
duced in the city council providing for the
placing Of both telephone and electric light
wires underground. For the last few months
the Nebraska Telephone company has been
engaged in placing the wires in the business
portion OF the city in cables and thus re-
ducing the number Of overhead wires to a
great extent. 1t is almost the same with
the Electric Light company. some weeks
ago The Bee announced that contracts had
been made by the Thomson Houston COM
pany for the laying of conduits across NJ
street. This work is to with the
next few days. An ordinance will, so 1t was
stated last night, not hurry matters any
as there seems to be a desire on the part
Of the companies mentioned to place their
wires under cover.
P~oIicemen's hall.
The ninth annual bali OF the South Omaha
police department will be held at the city
hall building on the evening of Novem-
Der 10. These compose the honorary com
mittee: Frank Koutsky, mayor; William
Queenan, president OF the council; w. p.
Adkins, Mike Smith. Myles Welsh. p. j.
o'Connor, William Frederick. John Briggs,
chief OF police, and John Troutsn. captain
OF police, compose the committee ON ar
rsngements. ohieers Kruger, Upton and
Conway will look after the floor. Johnson.
Z Harris and McCraith compose the reception
committee, while Brugeman. Zelank and
Cushing viii attend to the music. At the
door there will be omcers Kubat. Coulter
and Pierce. The proceeds OF the ball will
go into the police relief fund.
Fire Department Changes.
Chief Etter Of the FIRE department. at the
suggestion Of Mayor Koutsky, yesterday
asked for the designations OF Captain l.
]. Buckley OF hose company No. 3, and
Louis Sandwich, a member Of fire com
pany No, 3. Captain Buckley declined to
resign, but asked the chief for the Gus
tomary vacation which is coming to him.
He wants FIVE days on. Since taking this
time on Buckley has gone to a lawyer and
has intimated that he will bring out sec
tions OF the charter and the city ordinances
which will show the mayor has no control
over the fire department without the con-
sent Of the city council. Buckley was APP
pointed by A. r. Kelly. a former mayor,
and held over the same as other members
Of the FIRE department.
RepsirinE Eiaducts.
The attention OF members OF the city
council has been called to the condition
Of the flooring OF the L and Q street via
ducts. II is asserted that new floors are
needed at once. The railroad companies
using tracks under. these two bridges are
now required by law to keep the strue-
lures in repair. While the Q street viaduct