Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-23
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Mayor and City Engineer Nay Inspect L
and Q Street Viaduos Today.
BOTH NEED IMMEDIATE REPAIRING


Both the L and q street visducts are In
bad shape and need immediate repairs. In
fact. the city oficials have been urging the
Union Stock Yards company and the Union
Pacific Railroad company to make the
needed repairs for some months past. The
only satisfaction received is the statement
from Chief Engineer King Of the Union
Stock Yards company that the material for
the bridges is enroute. This is the story
he has been telling the mayor and the
council committee on viaducts since last
October. Up to date not a carload Of bridge
material has been unloaded here for use
on either OF the viaducts and IL looks now
as II one or possibly both Of the structures
would have to be closed soon. The city
engineer reports that the Q street bridge
is in no shape for heavy travel, as the
planking is worn through in many places,
while the balance is badly patched. 1t is
In no condition to stand a heavy strain, yet
motor cars are permitted to run across IL.
Some time ago the city ~of1cisls threatened
to close the Q street bridge, as it was not
considered safe for heavy trafic, but by
representations from the companies inter-
ested regarding repairs action was deferred.
Now the question is getting to be a serious
one. It is expected that an inspection Of
| uOlu DTiuBee Will De mdue lOudy DN mayor
Koutsky, City Engineer Beal and members
of the street and alley committee, with a
view to arriving at some conclusion as to
what should be done. 1t is considered that
the railroad companies have been given
plenty Of time in which to secure material
had they been go inclined.
Charter Delegation Visits Lincoln.
Councilmen Welsh and Adkins. City Clerk
Shrigley and Colonel J. B. Watkins went
to Lincoln yesterday for the purpose Of
comforting with the Douglas county dele
cation in regard to South Omaha charter
amendments. Some few changes are de-
sired in the bill, or rather amended bill,
turned in by a portion Of the committee
appointed to look after the drafting Of
amendments. The members of the delega-
tion yesterday impressed upon the l~egislR-
tors the absolute necessity Of more money
for fire department purposes and also for
some provision whereby the city officials
will be given authority to take up the
overlap, which now amounts to $4,000.
While no promises were made. the South
Omaha delegation came home confident that
their plea will be considered carefully.
want Police Commission,
Some Of the members Of the Taxpayers
league still hold to the idea that the only
salvation of South Omaha is the appoint
ment Of a commission to TAX charge of
the police and fire departments. Wednes-
day night a dozen members OF the leagu1
held a conference with Mayor Koutsky and
urged the executive to try to fppend an
amendment to the present charter amend
ments providing for a police commission.
This the mayor refused to do. He told the
league members that the amendments had
been submitted and that II they wanted to
introduce a bill calling for a police COM
mission they could do so. II, is understood
that the league wants to see David Ander-
son, H. T. Brass aud A. H. Merrill APP
pointed police commissioners
Additional school Room.
There seems to be a continual demand
for more school room. Yesterday it was
deemed necessary to rent the Rowley house
at twenty fourth and X streets. BY the
furnishing Of this room, which has been
used previously for school purposes, thirty
scholars will be given accommodations.
There is also a demand for more room In
the Brown park district and an oficlal Of
the school district is now looking for a
suitable outside room. OF the new arithme-
tics ordered at Monday nights meeting
about $50 copies have been delivered and
are now in use. The balance OF the books
will be called for es needed. Old books are
exchan~d for new at the ratio OF Fl cents
for small books and S5 cents for large ones.
Jerry Fitzgerald Hurt.
Jerry Fitzgerald, assistant to Tax Com
missioner James ]. Fitzgerald, was in
jured quite badly late Wednesday night
by stepping from a street car while in
motion. Mr.. Fitzgerald desired to alight
at B street on the Twenty-fourth street
line, and either the conductor did not see
! his signal or else Mr., Fitzgerald neglected
to notice that the car did not SLACK. He
jumped on at B street and was severely
injured, sustaining a fracture Of the right
wrist and severe bruises about the face.
DR.. C.. M. Schmidt is taking care Of Mr..
| Fitzgerald. 1t will be some time before he
will be able TO be at his once.
Another street Car Accident.
William John, employed by the Koutsky
Paint company. is laid up at his home,
Eighteenth and Grace streets. Omaha, on
account OF a fall from a street car at
Twenty-fourth and n streets. Wednesday
night. John received a severe scalp wound
and a badly broken hand. He will be laid
up not less than six weeks. The acct
dent is supposed to have been caused by
the haste of the conductor in pulling the
Dellcord before all OF tue passengers were
on.
william maxwell Released.
William Maxwell, alias Walter Grey, who
has been, 1t is alleged, working a conf
dence game on Masons all over the west
for three years past, was released from q
thirty days confinement in the city Jail
yesterday. While several charges Of q
similar kind-that Of securing money I'M
der false pretenses-were made. It was
deemed advisable to permit Maxwell 20
be released. Several Of the local Officers
OF the lodge OF Masons visited Maxwell in
his cell yesterday. In response 10 in,
Quiries he promised to go to work and Sc
cure money enough to reimburse those
from whom he had borrowed. With this
understanding he was given his liberty.
Bee Hive Lodge Banquet.
Bee Hive lodge Of the South Omaha Ma
sons rendered a small banquet TO the men,
bers. families and friends of the order at
Masonic hall last night. There was a
short literary and musical program, fol-
lowed by refreshments. The entertain
ment was one OF the best OF the season.
Magic City Gossip.