Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-23
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
City Will Again Trv to Recover Property
from Squatters,
LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE FRANCHISES
Half a Dozen Applicants for Position
of City PhySician-Price of Brick
Goes Up-MaEic City
Gossip.

For years the city council has tried to
prevent squatters from occupying public
land and now another attempt Is being
made. This time the judiciary committee
OF the council. the finance committee, and
in fact all Of the six members, along with
the mayor, are in favor of enforcing the
present ordinances and II these are not
sufficient some additional ordinances will
be passed. 1t is Understood that the council
will proceed at once to compel persons
living on city property to either enter into
a lease or else vacate. This has been tried
before, but for some reason was never
carried out. A number of squatters are now
prepared to file claims for property owing
to the fact that they have held undisputed
possession for ten years. Such a claim
will. 1t is asserted, hold in the courts and
the city will lose valuable lands. Portions
of streets have been appropriated by corpor-
atoms and these will soon become the prop
erty of the occupants unless the city takes
steps to secure leases or else compel a re-
moval OF the buildings in the streets.
Yesterday a member OF the council stop
ped work on a house being erected at Com
mercial street at l street. This house was
being put up right in the center Of the
street and should the thoroughfare ever BIS
opened it would interfere with trafic.
Some little time ago the city engineer re-
\ ported to the council the number Of squat
tiers living on public streets or alleys. but
Mr.. Kelly, who was mayor at that time,
merely placed the report on file and that
was the end Of the matter.
Under the Ensor- regime an order was
issued that squatters should secure leases
from the city and this was left to the city
attorney. II any leases we're ever entered
- A.
ONCE OF the city clerk. The present city
attorney will, however, insist that leases
be signed for all persons occupying public
property.
Franchise ExpIratIOns.
Considerable interest is manifest In the
matter Of franchises by the politicians and
the new law governing the granting of
franchises is frequently discussed. An In
vestigation Of the records shows that the
franchise of the Omaha Water company
was granted on October II, 1887. and runs
for seventeen years. The franchise will
therefore reach Its limit in two years. The
ordinance granting a franchise to the Ne
braska Telephone company was passed by
the council on January Q, 1888, and runs
for twenty years FROM that date. When the
Omaha Gas company was given a franchise
u IL Hao 6ANta HNhAg ANG INaA6 EdbaoA
Is, 1895, the city reserving the right to III
the maximum price OF gas. The Thomson
Houston Electric Light company acquired
its franchise under an assignment made by
the South Omaha Water Works company
made on July 80. 1900. This franchise runs
for twenty-five years from October rs. 1899
AS for the street car company, It has g
franchise for forty years, dating from April
Is, 1883. This was granted by a vote Of the
people at an election held for the purpose
These are the important franchises now on
the books. The only one about to expire
is that of the water company and that event
is two years hence.
Want the Position.
At the present time Mayor Routsky has
nearly half a dozen applications for the
ONCE Of city physician. DR.. sapp still
holds the job and he will be continued In
once for some time to come. Those who
are aspiring for the place have good rec
concentrations. but the mayor seems TO b
satisfied with the present city physician
and does not propose making a change al
this time.
Brick Cost Money.
New bricks are on the market low. but
the price is 81 per 1000. This is a higher
rate tnhn mas Deeh ChaABeu ioimci
years, but II is asserted by the dealers
that the demand so far exceeds the supply
that an increase IN price 10 the natural
consequence. Bricks are scarce In South
Omaha. The South Omaha Brick company
has only about 1000 on hand. while tbs
Nebraska Brick company has not enough
TO speak Of.
!, Seeking the omee.
, P. A. Wells. an attorney who represents
certain corporations. has announced him
self as a candidate for member Of the stat'
senate and he wants the republicans o.