The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-12-21
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Application for Street Railway Franchise
Filed by Mr.. J. L. Alnut.

City Council held regular meeting
at s o'clock Wednesday night with
Mayor Dick and Aldermen Barnett,
Finn, Haynsworth, Hood, Rowland,
Stubbs and Wilder present.
The minutes of Nov. 2nd were read
and approved.
Messrs. H. F. Wilson, J. L. Alnut
and E. l. Reardon, representing the
Fall Festival Committee, presented a
claim of the Sumter Electric Light,
Ice and Power Co., of $3.50 for extra
lighting during the Festival. They
stated that in their Judgment there
should be some reductions on the bill,
which the company had refusted to
allow. On the motion of Mr.. Hayns-
worth council consented to settle
the claim, and the finance committee
was request ed to adjust the matter
equitably with the company.
Nh. J. L. Alnut petitioned for a
franchise for an electric street railway
and lighting plant He stated that
the enterprise is backed by response
BILE parties who will guarantee COM
mencement of work il four months
and completion in eighteen months.
On motion of Mr.. Finn the Mayor was
requested to appoint committee to
consult with Mr.. Alnut as to the route
of the proposed railway and to prepare
an ordinance accordingly. Messrs.
W. G. Stubbs and P. P. Finn were
appointed.
There where several applicants for a
position on the police force to fill the
vacancy created by the resignation of
MI. W. G. Pierson. Messrs. Barnett
and Stubbs recommended the election
of Mr.. ". A. Tribble. Mr.. Hood ad-
yocated the election of Mr.. A. D.
Owens. On motion of Mr.. Rowland
Mr. Tribble was elected.
Mr. E. I. Reardon called attention
to the habit of some people smoking
in the Opera House, thereby endan-
gering the building and suggested the
adoption of an ordinance forbidding
the practice. The Clerk was directed
to prepare such an ordinance.
A letter was lead from Messrs. R. S.
Hood and ". S. Graham. fire chiefs,
asking Council to consider the adyisa-
bility of installing a fire alarm sys-
tenn. Messrs. Hood, Rowland and
Stubs were appointed committee
to consider the suggestion and report
to council.
Ducker & Bultman, Sumter Grocery
Co., NJ. Green and other merchants
requested the privilege of selling
fruit and fireworks on the sidewalks in
front of thisr stores during Christmas
week. After full discussion Council
decided to deny the privilege as they
thought it too great an inconvenience
to the public.
A letter from the Sumter Insurance
Agency asking for an adjustment Of
fire losses in the Opera House build
ing, October 7rh was again referred
to the committee of public works,
with power to act.
A request was made by the First
National Bank that Council pay s25
towards papering the walls of their
Offices. Council declined to pay
anything more than the amount to be
paid by the insurance companies.
The offer OF J. M. Coggins to stop
leaks in the clock tower was referred
to the committee of public works,
with power to act.
Complaint was made by the Sumter
insurance Co., of a wooden air duct in
the furnace room of the Opera House.
The committee of public works was
authorized to have a metal dnct
put in.
Council directed an extension of
time for the payment of city taxes,
without penalty, to January 1st. A
penalty of 10 per cent to be added to
all taxes paid in January, and the
full penalty of 20 per cent. to be i'm
posed after January 3lst.
The opinion of T. B. Fraser, ESQ.,.
was submitted as to the validity OF a
contract between Wells & Edens and
A. G. Warren by which the latter
leases from the former and operates
merry-go-round, claiming exemption
from license tax as Confedeate SOL
dierr. Mr. Fraser was of the opinion
that the weight of authority was in
favor of the lease; and that Mr.:
Warren's exemption would hold
good under the Statute.
Mr.. Stu bbs submitted an ordinance,
prepared by the Southern Bell Tele-
phone Co., which they desired Coun-
ell to adopt, giving them the privl-
lege of establishing and operating a
long distance line. The Clerk was
directed to prepare n ordinance in
accordance with previous grants, OF
this kind
Mr.. Rowland reported for the
tinance committee that they had dis
posed of all claims referred to them.
He recommended that the license tax on
ice manufacturers be reduced to $50
per annum. They had referred to T.
3. Fraser, Esq, for advice the legality
of lease of a merry-go-round to a
| confederate veteran in order to obvl-
ate payment Of license tax and had
instructed the Clerk to enforce the
law without fear or favor. The CLERK
and Treasurer's report for October
had been checked and found correct.
The committee directed attention to
the increase of expense for streets and
bitches, scavanger account and tire
department as compared with Novem-
Der 1903 Report was adopted.
Mr.. Barnett, for police committee,
fled a report Of street lights not burn