The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-05-06
LITTLE CHANGE IN COUNCIL
Eud of the Two Year Admins ration
of Mayor Silsby and He Takes
Up the Reins Again.

Up the ReiuS Again.
The city council met in regular
session Monday evening to com
plele the business Of the old council
and take up the business of the new.
Mayor Silsby presided and the fol-
lowing aldermen we're present:
Messrs. Perry, %-Newbury, Curtis,
Foster. Hannett and Wells. Aud
itor Markham read the minutes of
the previous meetings and they were
approved. The reports of the city
officers were read and approved.
A communication was presented
from the Electric Co. concerning the
lighting of certain parts of the city
with the incandescent lights, in
which the company offers to furnish
them at So. so per month each. The
matter was referred to the light
committee.
The bills against the city were
read and allowed and warrantsewere
ordered drawn for their payment.
The bills for the preceding month
amounted to 81, 100, Of which $40, 900
represents the expense of the city
hall building, and the balance the
regular expenses of the month and
for the salaries of the city officials.
Alderman Perry reported that the
third artesian we'll had been fixed
for attacing to the other two wells
for pumping purposes.
The ordinance for the appoint
ment of IA street commissioner was
placed on its second reading and
final passage and when published
will be in force. a street commits
sioner will then be appointed.
The need of rebuilding three street
crossings on Park avenue, Fourth
street and Edmunds street was pre-
sented to the council and the matter
was referred to the street and alley
committee.
The street and alley committee
vas authorized to investigate the
needed repairs on the Burr sire ct
bridge, south of the railroad track,
and If feasible to have them made.
The matter of street sprinkling was
brought up by the mayor looking to
some adjustment of the situation, In
that Mr.. Bingham claims that he is
not getting enough out Of the job to
keep him at it during the summer.
lie was referred to the. water and
street and alley committee.
The street and alley committee
was instructed to Investigate the
closing of a street on the south side
of the city, wherein d citizen had
built a fence across the thoroughfare
and had planded it to potatoes.
Mayor Silshy then presented an ac-
count of the work that had been ac-
complished by the city during the
past two years, and his communica
tion is presented in full below:
To the Honorable City Council =
AS we are now at the close of an adj
mlnistlation and about to surrender
our offices to the newly elected ot1ic-
ers, it has seemed that a brief sum-
mary Of the work performed and an
accounting of stewardship should
he made, thaG our citizens may know
what has been accomplished, and
wherein we have been remiSS, if such
should appear to he the case.
Two years ago the Carnegie libra
ry project was about to be under
taken. and shortly thereafter a con-
tract for its construction was let,
and about one year ago the building
was accepted by the city. The total
gift from Mr.. Carnegie was the sum
of Sl2, 600. and while this amount did
not quite complete the building. the
excess was but a few hundred dol
lars, which included cement walks,
electric lighting and minor matters.
The project seems to meet with
the most hearty approval by all our
citizens, and the patronage already
given fully warrants its existence,
ard in the years to come we predict
for it d most useful and salu1ary
career.
For some years agitation for a
city hall had interested our people.
and at the election two years ago
many citizens urged that steps be at
once taken to give the city a proper
city hall building.
Subsequently the capital contest
came up and many of our prominent
citizens pledged the legislature that
it 1T would select Mitchell as the
contestant in case of resubmission
that our city would erect a building
adequate to the needs of the state
officers, legislative bodies and the
supreme court. The legislature
gratitied us in that regard and to-
day. in compliance with the pledges
made the city is building "a magniti-
cent City Hall that fully complies
with our promises, and that will be
completed in time for the next leg
i~slature to enjoy its hospitable and
commodious apartments. While its
roomy otficies and spacious vaults
will easily accommodate the state
Officers and the states property.
The building, completed, will cost
approximately $4,000. and will be
built and paid for without bonding
the city for a single dollar.
During the past three years the