The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-05


matter to Judge Dillon everything is
now in readiness for the step. It is
understood that if it is so submitted.
Judge Dillon himself will draw up a
form of bond which will be satisfactory
to the company
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE
MUST WAIT
The plan of the street railway com
pany to try to rush through its pro-
posed 30-year franchise was abandon
ed by the company before the council
met last night, and instead the com
policy. and merely asked the council to
act as quickly in the matter as it could
with safety to the city's interests
The franchise ordinance was intro
duced, and referred to the ways and
means committee. The committee was
called together for a meeting ats o'clock
this evening to confer with Mr.. l.. e.
Myers, Mr.. E. W. Wilson and Mr.. Sun
ny, all of whom were at the council
meeting last night. Myers, Wilson and
committee of the new company. It is
probable that the meeting this evening
viii be attended by nearly all of the
members of the council.
Mr. Myers made a speech to the coun-
ell last night in which he said that the
new company was not disposed to has
ten the council unduly, but that II
would like to have the franchise hxed
up as soon as possible
1T is of the greatest Importance to
US. said Mr.. Myers, that the new
company be on the best of terms with
this council, and with the people Of To-
peka. We have invested large amount
of money in the project, and expect to
double our investment. I believe that
the council is disposed to treat us fairly,
and we think that we can reach a per
fectly harmonious agreement with the
council
NO BIDS ON IMPROVEMENT BONDS
Something unusual and entirely un-
expected happened last night. 1t was
the time fixed for receiving bids on
$175,000 worth of Topeka 5 per cent i'm
provement bonds, and not a single bid
was received. A proposition was recely-
ed from one firm suggesting that if the
bonds should not be sold, the city give
that firm a chance to figure on taking
the bonds al Az per cent interest, and
from another firm asking to be given
chance to dicker with the city if the
bonds failed to sell. but no direct prOpo-
sition were received to take the bonds.
1t was n good chance for someone to
get the bonds at a bargain, but at the
high rate of premium Topeka bonds
usually command, it is not likely to
happen again The council authorized
the clerk to readvertise for bids.
The members of the council were at
a loss to account for the lack of bids.
Such things are sometimes caused by a
and this may have made the bond in
vestors tifnid about stocking up on Sc
curities. even at the tempting rate of .
per cent.
NJ. F. WALL GETS CONTRACT
The sidewalk contract for 1903 was let
last night to M. F. Wall, who bid in the
work at a very low price, considera bly,
lower than was paid by the city last
year. The bid made by Mr.. Wall was
$40 cents on sidewalks s feet wide or
over, and 2-10 cents for sidewalks less
than s feet wide.
Last year Ramsey & Ramsey got the
contract for 97-100 cents, and 4-10
cents, respectively.
The other contractors who bid on the
sidewalk work last night were NJ. w.
Gilmore, who lacked only a tenth of a
cent of tying Wall. John Ritchie who
bid 2-10 and 655 and Ramsey & Ram
sey who bid 61s and $40
FOR STREET CLEANING.
A resolution was introduced last night
for the purchase by the city Of two new
street sweepers and a street sprinkler,
and it was referred to the ways and
means committee.
This new equipment for keeping the
streets in good condition is greatly
needed by the city. The old sweepers
are all Worn out, and the city has to
hire a sprinkler to sprinkle the streets
ahead of the street sweeper.
It is estimated that the cost of new
sweepers and sprinkler will be about
81, 900.
GAVE PARKER THE CHAIR.
Though long delayed, ex-Mayor Par
ker viii get the chair which he occupied
while mayor of Topeka. There has
been quite q strong sentiment against
giving Mayor Parker the chair, as is
customary, but Councilman Howe in
troduced the resolution for such an act
last night. and it was passed with only
one dissenting vote. Councilman Neil
voted against it. because he is opposed
to giving away any city property. He
does not believe that the council has
the legal right to give away any pro-
perty belonging to the municipality, and
/ he is no doubt right as far as the law is
concerned. But the council gives away
the chair used by the mayor just as il
does other things which are contrary to
law.
The chair is a handsome one, uphol-
stored with green leather. It is very un-
comforta Bile, however. and Mayor Ber-
gundthal ought to be glad to trade il
off for a new chair, which the council
voted to buy for his use.
MEMORIAL TABLET AUTHORIZED
In response to request from the