Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-02-03
WILL MAKE
TEST CASE
An Attempt Will be Made to lnforee
the City Health ordinanee-Le'
gal Action Probable.
WILL PRINT THE ORDINANCES
City Clerk Ordered to Advertise for
Bids-Readjustment Of City
Water Works Affairs.

business Monday evening. II was
about 8 O'Clock before there was a
quorum present, but with the requi-
site working number on hand, there
was no delay in attending to the mat
tiers brought up. AS usual. the bill
of the city health officer provoked an
almost unlimited amount OF discus
sion. Last winter the bills OF this Of
ficer came in at such a rate and Tor
such amounts that the economical
councilmen had dangerous attack OF
heart trouble every time a bill was
paid. They finally decided to SHIFT
the burden of paying for %quarantln-
ing and disinfecting to the shoulders,
or rather to the pocketbooks. OF 0
who we're quarantined. Accordingly,
the city attorney drew up a new
health ordinance, providing that the
city physician should present the
bills for his services to the parties
in question. He did so but none or
them manifested even the remotest
disposition to pay the money. This
left the city health officer out in the
cold, figuratiyely speaking, for his
fees. He presented the bills to the
council and on each occasion they
were laid over for a month or two
and finally paid, but always with the
utmost reluctance. The bills were
never disputed but the council just
naturally hated TO dig up for them
and this aversion has constantly in.
creased.
Two bills were allowed Monday
night but later in the evening the mat
ter came up for discussion and 1t was
finally decided that the city attorney
should proceed to collect the money
from those quarantined. He will.
therefore, present bills to different
parties this week and the first one
who fails to pay the amount, will
find a civil action staring him in the
face. In other words, a test case is
10 be made of the first n who re-
sists the payment of this charge.
Mayor Eldridge, chairman of the
committee who met Manager Bright,
of the Citizens Electric company,
for the purpose of coming to some
understanding relative TO the city
pumping, reported that the commit
tee had practically arranged to pay
the company $25 per month for the
power, but that the man in charge of
the pump should be in the employ of
the city. The same man who runs
the pump is to act as superintendent
of the city water works, collect dues,
make connections, etc. George NJ.
Stafford filed his resignation as super
intendent OF the city water works.
II was duly accepted and the salary
heretofore paid to him will go to-
wards paying the salary of the pump
man. The new order of things will
increase the expenses of the depart.
ment somewhat but il is expected that
a better and more reliable pumping
service will be secured. Frank Goss
is doing this work at the present and
as he is a very capable man for the
place he will likely be retained. The
action of the committee was ratified
unanimously. While this question
was being discussed, the question OF
the amount of water being used was
DIOusIt III. oonlS vi III
council are inclined to think that the
reservoir is leaking. Mr.. Goss stat
ed that 100000 gallons of water are
being taken from the reservoir daily
and he thinks that amount Is greatly
in excess of what is actually used
During the next month, however, he
will make some tests and determine
accurately whether or not the city
uses all of the water which is pump
ed up the hill.
The street and alley committee re
quested further time on the petition
of certain citizens for a bridge across
the creek on the Boulevard. Mr.
Chris Wiedman was present in the
council and urged favorable consider
alton OF the petition. He stated that
there are several people across the
creek who are crafty inconvniencet
at present by having to go around sew
eral blocks in order to get into the
business portion of the city. Furth
err. that the place where the street
crosses the creek is very dangerous
and would be sure to drown the team
of anyone who should be so unfor
tunate as to drive in there. The foot
bridge, he stated, is also a ~constan'
menace to pedestrians and should b'
remedied. He said that Dan Wal
ton, who claims ownership of a Ger
tain tract of ground on the north sid,
of the creek, threatens to fence III
one of the streets and thereby cut of
entirely those living between thu
creek and the proposed fence. Thu
city attorney had looked into the mat
ter and Walton will certainly not b.
allowed TO put up the fence in ques
ton. II was recommended by TIL
attorney that High street be opene,
, up along in the vicinity of its inter
section with Boulevard. Upon motion
, of Alderman Symmes the attorne.
. was ordered to take the steps neces
sary to the opening of the street.
Secretary X. Won Tobel, OF tn
high school board of trustees. present
ed a petition requesting that tn,
board be permitted to do the neces
sary excavation and to lay a sewe
: pipe from the high school buildin
p on block 10 in the Morase addition
4 through the alleys in blocks IL an
IL. across Fifth and Sixth avenues {
the creek. City Surveyor Staffor
recommended that the petition b
acted upon favorably. Upon motto
v made and carried the petition wa
t granted.
The city clerk was ordered to az
%yertisc for printing in pahphle
form. the city ordinances. Bids ia
100 copies and $50 copies will be r.
ceived.
The auditing committee presente
d 'he audited report of superintendent
% of the city water works. George \
/, Stafford for tho time from March is