The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-02-03
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
ACTS ON IMPORTANT MATTERS
Authorizes Survey for Extension of
Sewers - Better Fire Protection
For Theatres-Appointm

| The regular meeting of the city coun-
ell Monday evening was lengthy and
important one and was attended by
many spectators. Matters of consider
able moment We're considered, some of
which were acted upon and others were
not. Mayor Fcchter presided and all of
the aldermen and other city officials
were in attendance.
i Among the bills allowed were items
of $l06 to the fircmen for responding TO
four alarms in January at So per man
per fire; S259.5O for police service in
January and sos to DR.. w. HI. Carver,
city health officer, for quarantining res
licences and fumigating.
4 Alderman Switzer from the committee
on public improvements, submitted a
written report in reference to construct
ing the proposed breakwater, the sub
stance of it being that the city was not
in financial condition at present to
undertake the work. The report was
adopted
Alderman Sinclair reported on the
matter of changing Union ditch to run
straight down South Sixth street, in
stead of diagonally across, to Chestnut.
Certain property owners have objected
to the change and claim that they had
II contract or understanding with the
old council concerning the matter. Mr..
Sinclair said he was willing to recognize
, any contract that existed, but wanted
the same produced. No action was
, taken.
Alderman Rand. of the committee on
! fire protection, submitted a report re-
commencing that Larson's theatcr put
in a stairway for an exit on \ street.
that an additional exit at the rear be
put in the Edison thcater and that the
; three-story buildings be provided with
fire escapes. The recommendation were
adopted
Alderman Fisher recommended that
an additional fireman be employed at a
salary of $50 per month ana. also that
the positions of building inspector and
fire chief be combined. No action was
taken on the last proposition, but the
council voted for the additional fireman.
It also abolished the office of w. ID. Wal
ker as engineer OF the steamer at a sal
AIRY OF s. per month.
Pail oil tho 1ooc,
ing of 26 acres of land of the city Gem.
etery for one year TO \. II. Carvosso fot
$500, which was adopted.
The bond of John a. Lynch, police
!. magistrate, was filed and approved.
The matter of opening Cherry street
was again brought up, Walter j. Reed.
S. j. Lowe and f. NJ Robinson proposing
that the question of damages be sub
mitted to board of arbitration of
three members, the council to name
one, the property owners another and
these two to select the third. The own
ers of the land affected agree to accept
the decision of the board and give deeds
to the city for the amount of its find
ing. The council accepted the PROPOSE
ton and l.. o. Janeck was appointed by
the mayor as the city's arbitrator.
City Attorney Gull rendered an opin-
ion as to the power of the council to
vote an appropriation of $1,000 per year
for the maintenance of the Carnegie H.
brary. lie advised that the question be
submitted to vote of the people. The
matter was laid over until such time as
the library question is again brought be-
fore the council.
The city attorney also gave an opin-
ion as to the power of the council to en-
force sanitary regulations. He said that
the city has the right to abate any nu-
sance; that ordinances exist requiring
citizens to clean privies once month
under penalty of a fine of from 81 to
500, to connect with sewers and to-
keep their premises clean. The mayor
thought that all sanitary regulations
should be enforced; that the work should
begin now and not be delayed until
spring. The city attorney stated that
the health officer had applied to him for
form of notices to be served on citi
zens and that the same would soon be
supplied.
The mayor brought up the matter of
employing an expert engineer to make
a survey and estimate of the cost of
extending the sewerage system. There
was some discussion as to the advisa
bility of employing local engineers but
the council finally voted for an expert,
only Alderman Switzer Directing The
matter was left to the public improve
ment committee, with power TO act.
The members who compose the com
mittee are Switzer, Fisher and Bull.
A petition from citizens was read ask