Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-21
r7NEWAL OF Gas CONTRACT
/ We O~ou-cilmsn in Favor Of Renewing
Far in Advance.
o. RATE Of thirty DOLLARS PER lamp
Proaent Contract Does Not Expire
Until first Of Next Year, but
Trostler says Company
Must sFiEure Ahead"

Although the present contract with the
omaha Gas company for street lighting does
not expire until January 1, 1904, Eve men,
bers Of the council, headed by Trostler,
began arrangements yesterday afternoon to
renew the contract for a period Of three
years. At the general committee meeting
Trostler introduced a resolution proposing
that the city renew the contract under the
terms now existing and providing that the
minimum number OF lights be the present
maximum number, or 1858. The rate is
$40 a lamp, meaning 1880 a year.
The royalty paid is 8 cents per 1000 feet
OF gas sold exclusive OF that used by the
public street lighting. For 1902 1t amounted
to s14, 264.1T. Councilmen Mount, Karr,
Trostler, Hascall and Lobeck agreed to
favor the renewal of the contract. frost
Ter said IL was necessary for the gas COM
pany ito figure ahead" and act accordingly
in purchases and extensions.
The same procedure of arranging for the
gas company's contract far in advance was
employed three years ago, and the present
move will receive many protests, It 10 an
ticipated, as the new council can contain
not more than two members Of the present,
Paving Contractors lash.
At the COMMITTEES meeting yesterday aft
ernoon John Grant, now the head Of an In
dependent asphalt paving company, and
Charles Il. Tanning, a brick paving con-
tractor, created a scene over the applica-
tion Of Grant for the lease Of q tract of
ground at the foot Of Cass street. Coun-
Gilman TrostIer introduced a resolution
authorizing a fve-year lease at $40 a
year, the building and property committee
having made a favorable report. Tanning,
who has no overt connection with the
nurbor AenhoIf nnnapanu nr0AaafaA uloor-
ously against the lease TO Grant, declaring
that the Barber company would pay 800
q year for the land, which is nearly tri-
Aangular in shape, the principal dimensions
I being 420x350x60 feet.
"Well, why haven't you put in a bid
Them" asked Grant. THE asphalt trust
simply is trying to force me out OF busi-
ness and is making a blum about wanting
to lease this land. 1 have held It since
1888, its ownership is disputed with the
city by the Union Pacific, and 1 have legal
opinion that It really belongs to me by
right Of adverse possession"
Tanning declared that a crusher OF the
: Barber company was o N the ground and
asked that at least that portion be not
! leased to Grant. The latter did not object
seriously 10 this, and the matter was re-
ferred to Chairman Lobeck Of the buildings
and property committee to draw up g reso-
luton making the exception.
To Print Annual Reports.
The councilmen decided to instruct the
city clerk to advertise for bids for the
printing of the annual reports. Omaha for
half a dozen years past has failed to put
the annual reports in permanent form, the
council making the plea Of economy, de-
spite vigorous protests from the heads Of
the various departments, who held that the
public had a right to easy access to the
reports, which IL not published become
mutilated and destroyed and lose their
value as records.
n Maps,s charts. and field notes OF the
earliest surveys made Of Douglas county
and Omaha by the late DOC" Smith will
be purchased jointly by the city and county
for $1,000, II the county commissioner
concur in the action agreed upon by the
councilmen yesterday Afternoon. Miss Eliza
beth Shirley presented the matter to the
councilmen and read numerous letters from
surveyors, each declaring the collection of
prints and data to be of great value to the
city and county governments, and capable
Of settling man, disputed points regarding
land.
EIIer Has n Claim. p
Attorney ]. w. EHer presented bills for
some $500 in court costs sustained by the
mhNOT hnu uNt CounCllAmon III II AnpNdNA-
ment and other proceedings with relation
to Police Judge Gordon. While the costs
lie personally against the city officers 1t
Hes proposed to pay the money out Of the
Judgment fund. No definite action was
Taken, however.
~Another claim considered was that of
David Gilbert, a former city hall engineer,
whom Mayor Moores dismissed last oc-
tober' on the charge Of intoxication. Some
time ago he presented a bill for 1882, claim
ing salary from October to February, al
though he had performed no service. The
claim was rejected by the finance and claims
committee, but was dug Dip on motion OF
Judge Hascall, and he, Karr and Trostler
AyOted to allow the amount. Hoye, zimman,
hn6beck and Mount voted no, but on a sec
ond proposition to allow Gilbert $50 pro-
vided he accepted II as settlement In full,
only Hoye voted no. and It was allowed.
At a formal meeting OF the council, held
after the committee meeting, ordinances
providing for 800, 900 renewal paving bonds
and 500, 600 renewal sewer bonds, each is
sue bearing interest at 4 per cent and run
ming twenty years, were read the first and
second times and referred to the finance
committee. Final passage will be made
tonight and bids opened in the treasurer's