Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-08
CONTRACT
City Win Offer Water Company
Another Years Business.
FRANCHISE FOR POSTAL TELEGRAPH
Matter is Brought Up in Council and
is Regarded Notwithstanding
Engineer Will Be EmpIoyed-Want
Moore's Creek Drained.

The city council, through the mayor
will offer to contract with the City
Water Supply Co., for one year more
on the same terms as those in force
now, and at it's meeting last evening
Mayor Picker was authorized to make
this offer to the officers of the COM
pany. Whether the proposition will
be accepted is a matter of some doubt,
as this would give time for the estab-
lishment of new system in the city.
The present contract with the City
Water Supply Co.. by which the city
pays the company $500 per month n.y.
drant rental, will expire March %, and
| it has been reported that unless a
franchise is granted the present COM
pany by that time, the water will be
shut off. However. the city is to make
this offer, unqualified by any provision
to the effect that no new system will
be erected during the life of the pro-
posed contract.
Last evenings council meeting was
an adjourned session of the meeting
which was held Monday evening and
which closed early in order that the
city officials might attend the meet
ings held for the purpose of discuss
| ing the questions which came up Tues
| day at the election. One of the impor-
tant matters which came before the
council last evening was the resolu-
ton providing for the issuing of fran
chise to the Postal Telegraph Co., to
transact business in Ottumwa.
Although the ordinance was not pass
| ed, G. F. Fox, of Des Moines, who rep
resented the Postal company at the
meeting, was assured that he will not
be hindered from coming into the city
and several members of the council
expressed their eagerness to see the
company located here.
TIL meeting was called to order
about s o'clock by Mayor Picker. All
the members of the council with the
exception of Alderman Mathers were
present. After the reading and
approval of the minutes of the
last previous meeting the petitions
were taken up for consideration. The
most important one of these was that
/ presented by George Cummings and
about 800 other residents and property
owners of South Ottumwa, asking that
the water from Moore's creek, lying
south of the city be drained in such
manner that it will not overflow
South Ottumwa as it did on two or
three occasions this summer and fall
causing considerable damage to prop
was referred to the city solicitor, who
board of supervisors with the request
that they proceed according to law.
1t is under their jurisdiction, as the
creek is outside the city limits.
The petition of Sarah E. Hurley, ask
ing that her claim for $500 for per
sonal injuries, caused by fall on an
alleged defective sidewalk, be allowed,
was referred to the claims committee
and the city solicitor.
The petition of City Assessor ]. T.
Smith, asking that three deputies be
appointed to assist him in his work
was acted upon favorably, and ]. w
Kitterman, ]. F. Peck and F. L. Fin
ley were appointed.
Water Works Matters.
The communication from William Nc
Nett, attorney for the City Water Sup,
ply Co., stating that in his opinion
: the company will not accept the Offer
: on the part of the city to purchase the
plant for 100000 was read and placed
on file. Another communication from
President w. A. Underwood, of the
company. received some time ago by
Mayor Picker. was also read ant
placed on file This letter was writer
. some time ago, upon Mr.. Underworld
departure from the city. 1t gave his
reasons for leaving, saying that he was
called elsewhere by business matters
and stated that he had not expected thu
/, council to agree to his proposition TO
franchise, but made this proposition
for the purpose of furnishing basis
! upon which to work in arriving at ,
, plan by which franchise could be sc
: cured.
Claims Allowed.
t Upon motion of Alderman Barnes
: chairman of the claims committee, tn
, claims of the members of the election
!. board of the various wards, for thu
= expenses incurred at Tuesdays cleo
9 ton, were allowed without reading, a
h they had been certified by the member
: of the claims committee. A claim TO
$1.30 in favor of H. L. Ford, for side
Walk luIeTSGCllOu, Was dllOWeu dIlt
ordered paid. as were, also the follow
ing regular claims:
Jones Bros, coal .............$ As,
Jones Bros, coal. o. f. De-. 3.5'
City Water Supply Co., water
rental for January .......... 5000,
! VIM. R. Lewis, postage ....... so
t Mrs. Maggie MCGEE, feeding
). prisoners Observation-Disclosures. 100
u j. H. Merrill Co., mdse ........ 1.4
H. H. Clifton, cutting weeds ;. /. To-
!. Ottumwa Stamp Works, scarlet
fever signs ,............... As
e Fred smith, burying animals i. 3.S
!. w. H. Spragg, burying animals 4.3
:. ]. A Belmont, horseshoeing,
police department .......... 1917
John w. Grey, police expense :. 2.5
. Western Union Telegraph Co.,
police station .............. is
Geo. A. Cummings, coal 5000. 80
Western Union Tele. Co., mes
SageS 1850. ........ "a
Boston & Ford, mdse., fire dept 24.5
E. F. Lowrey, v. S. medical
I,U