Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-06
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Water oOmpsnys Franchise is an Issue
Monday Night
COUNCIL TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO WAYS
Members seem Inclined 60 Favor the
Ten-Year Extension Because of
Concessions Made by
the Company.

Its franchise for ten years from October,
1904. The other petition to be considered
is one from the people living in the dis
tricts where It Is proposed to extend the
mains and locate forty-eight additional hy-
drants.
In talking about this matter last night
one Of the members of the council said:
"a committee waited upon the officers OF
the water company to learn what could be
done in regard to the extending OF mains
and the locating Of a number Of hydrants.
The matter was talked over thoroughly and
the question Of royalty came up. when It
was suggested by someone that the term
Of the present franchise be extended. on
GERS Of the company declared positively
that no royalty would be paid. However,
they agreed to make concessions which. In
the opinion Of the committee, will amount
to q great deal more than the proposed
royalty. BY the placing Of forty-eight ad-
ditional hydrants at this time many small
property owners will be provided with city
water as we'll as with Are protection. The
growth Of the city demands that there
should be an extension OF the mains. These
hydrants are to be free to the city for two
years and paid for at the rate Of $50 a year
after 1904. Then again the company agrees
to furnish water free to the school houses
and city buildings and for flushing sewers
and the streets. Another concession
offered was the placing of meters at the
expense of the company. Heretofore the
property owner has been compelled to de-
post a certain sum for the cost OF the
neter."
Another city Official said that in his
opinion the concessions offered the city
offset the payment Of a royalty by a large
amount. It is understood that the council
Is in favor Of the proposed ordinance.
More Help authorized.
On September 1 two additional mail car
riers and one collector Of mail will be put
to work here. Captain Etter, the postmas-
ter, received instructions from Washington
yesterday to make arrangements for this
increase In help. Twelve carriers are now
employed and the increase in the force will
necessitate the redistricting OF the city and
the remodellng Of the routes. The addition
Of a collector to the force will relieve to a
great extent the work now imposed upon
carriers and will result in the handling Of
mail much more rapidly than formerly.
The Hammond Plant.
More than a dozen men were employed
yesterday in cleaning the Hammond plant
here and 1t looks as II the plant would be
reopened shortly. No one here appears to
know what is going on other than that or
ders were received yesterday morning to
clean the plant at once. All Of the prop
erty Of the old Hammond company is being
loaded into cars preparatory to its being
shipped away. At the present time the
Hammond boilers are being used by Swift,
but the lease on these VIII cease, It is
stated, as soon as the new boilers are in
stalled at the Swift plant.
Sale Contaminated.
The sale of the triangular piece Of
property just east of the Union Pacific
depot and owned by school district No. 3
was ~consummated yesterday. The pur-
chaser. John J. Ryan, paid the price of his
bid, $2.100, to the school treasurer and
received in return a deed to the piece of
ground. When the Board Of Education
decided to dispose Of this property, which
is practically valueless for school pur-
poses on account of it being located SO
near the railroad yards, bids were adver-
tised for and Ryan was the high man.
While the sale was practically made at
the meeting Of the board last Monday
night the money and deeds were not ex-
changed until yesterday afternoon.
Patriotic Services.
Patriotic services will be held at the
First Methodist Episcopal church this
evening. Rev. NJ. A. Head, pastor OF the
church, will o~ficiate. The sermon and
songs will be Of a patriotic nature. For
the occasion the church will be decorated
with flags and flowers. Rev. Head invites
old soldiers, young soldiers and members
Of the Woman's Relief corps to attend
this service. One Of the features Of the
sn-vioa Mill ha the ain0inO NJ q nafriatin
solo by Mrs. G. H. Strong.
Church Repairs.
The Ladies' Aid society Of the Methodist
church met one day last week at the home
Of Mrs. Anna Beavers to make arrange
ments for some improvements. A COM
mittee, composed Of Mrs. d. Banner, Mrs,
Robertson and Mrs. T. @. Smith, was APP
pointed TO purchase a new carpet for the
church. Mesdames Beavers, stryker, su-
CART and Cressey were selected to enter
into a contract for the frescoing Of the
interior Of the church,.
Inspector Waters Here.
Inspector Waters, representing the Postal
department, is here, having arrived from
washington yesterday. He is here to in
vestigate the request of the packers, ON
cials of the Union Stockyards company
and the commission men doing buslnes al
the yards that q subpostal station be
established at the Livestock exchange. In
spector Waters was accompanied on his
tour Of inspection by Postmaster Etter
and others interested in improving the
postal service at the yards. 1t Is under
stood that the inspector will remain here
several days for the purpose Of ascertain
ing Just what is needed and also the vol
ume OF mail handled at the exchange and
by the packers. He will not a q re-
port until he returns to Washington.
Magic City Gossip.
Mrs. William Kerr is rusticating in Min
nesota.
Mrs. C.. NJ. Rich is spending a few days
in the country.
Misses Gladys and Hazel Gray spend the
summer at Audubon, Ia
The woman's Relief corps will meet
Monday afternoon. July IA.
Theodore Volz Is spending a few day.
with relatives at Bennington.
Mrs. Allie Gibson has returned from q
visit with friends at Tekamah.
The local banks we're unusually busy yes
terday on account of Friday being a holi'
day.
A daughter was born yesterday to Mr.
and Mrs. Nose Redmond, Twentieth and {
streets.
Hubert, the young son of Mr.. and Mrs
Ed Munshaw, has recovered from his recon
illness.
The young son OF Councilman and Mrs
Myles Welsh was reported much betteI
yesterday.