The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-08
BUSINESS OF the COUNCIL
New Ordinance Governing the Vol.
unteer Fire Department. Was
Placed on First Reading
Placed on First Reading.

session Monday evening and besides
Mayor Silsby, Aldermen Perry, Curtis
Foster, Reeves and Wells were pres
ent. The minutes OF the previous
meetings were read by Auditor Mark
ham and they were approved.
The first business to come up was
the presentation Of Ordinance No.
l72, which is proposed for the regu-
lation and government of the fire de-
partment under the direction Of the
city council. The provisions Of the
ordinance are many and puts the VOL
unteer department on an entirely
different basis OF operation than has
been the case in the past. The may
or has the appointment Of a chief
and an assistant chief, who are to be
confirmed by the council. The chief
is to receive a salary of 800 per year
and the assistant chief will receive
s25 per year. There will be two hose
companies and one hook and ladder
department, and a captain and lieu
tenant will be elected by each CON-
pany. and the company will have the
/ power to elect their own members to
vacancies. Each company is to have
twenty members aside from the cap
tain and lieutenant The sum Of $500
per annum is to be appropriated for
the payment of the tiremen. Rules
and regulations will be made provid-
ing for the amount each fireman shall
receive for attending a fire. To
maintain an interest and keep up the
efficiency of the companies the ordi-
nance provides that s25 will be
awarded the company which shall
perform the best service during the
year, the contest to be conducted I'M
der certain rules and regulations.
The new change in affairs seems to
be satisfactory With the tiremen.
Justice Mckinley reported that he
hao three cases before him during
the month and that the fines amount
ed Ito s15, none of which had been
paid.
Weighmaster Mcdonald reported
that his fees during December
amounted to s36. 80.
City Treasurer kibbce reported
the following balances in the various
funds: General, 50, $780, 5; sinking,
81, 339. 90: cemetery,:sl37. 70: city hall,
s7s7-a total of s7,263. 81.
The bills of the city for the pre-
ceding month were presented and
warrants ordered drawn for their pay
ment. The bills amounted to 81, 05S,-
85. The bill of damages of W. A..
Branch for 1924 was rejected. At the
time the reservoir was pumped dry
the water overlooked from the sewer
near his residence and soaked into his
cellar, causing damage to the cellar
and the things it contained, also
damaging his we'll. Among the bills
was one for S243. IA to .he residents
on Park avenue west Who put in the
sewer a number of years ago, and
also TOR S5S for the Perry sewer on
west Second street. These sewers ave
now the property of the city.
Alderman Wells made a report on
the fire alarm system. He said he
had talked with the telephone man.
agement on the matter of using the
system for a fire alarm but it would
cost at least s25 per month. Mr..
Wells thought it was more than the
city ought to pay, and brought forth
his report Of where a system could
be established for about $3.50. The
council authorized the fire committee
to !nvestigate the system and tn in
stall the same at a cost not exceeding
$3.50.
The street and alley committee was
authorized to arrange with E. B.
VapAlstiDe for the removal of the
dirt from the excavation for his new
building.
A petition signed by twelve persons
was presented to the council asking
that the Public Library be kept open
each afternoon and evening in the
the week for the use Of the reading
room, the petition says, and that it
be supplied with suitable papers and
magazines, as no place OF a public
nature exists whele persons can pass
a profitable hour. The council grant
ed the petition without any discus
sion. 1t is pealry impossible to heat
the building with stoves sufficiently
warm so there is the least comfort
in one sitting In the room to read,
and anyone who can withstand the
cold is privileged now to make use
Of the reading room.
Mayor Silsby brought to the atten-
tion Of the council his investigation
OF the opera house with reference to
the matter of exits from the house
in cast Of fire. He thought it was
time that something should be done
by the council in regulating entrances
and exits Of public buildings. The
ordinance committee was instructed