Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-08-10
CITY HALL
WAS SOLD
Old Building Put Up a. Auction and
Knocked Down TO John Foster
for Twenty Eight Dollars.
NEW PUMP TO BE PURCHASED
Committee Instructed to Have a New
Pump Installed at the Station at
Cost Of $500.

The old city hall was sold to the
highest bidder Friday evening at an
auction conducted by City CLERK
Pfaus. The high bidder was John
Foster and the amount realized by
the city was the magnificent sum of
$500.
There's many a crypt in which lies
The dust of statesman OF of king;
There's S~hakespeare's home to raise
a bid,
And Millions house its price would
bring.
What for the sword that Cromwell
drew?
What for Prince Edwards coat of
mail?
What for our Saxon Alfred's tomb:
They're all fol sale!"
These lines We're written by an Eng
lish poet on the sale of Lord Nelson's
flagship to the Germans for a thous-
and pounds. What could be written
of the sale at auction of the old city
hall of Lewistown for $500? That
historic old building whose walls have
echoed back the eloquence of Lewis
town aldermen for so many years is
about to be made into a COW barn
or something of the kind. After all
these years of usefulness and dignity
1t is put up and sold at auction like
an old harness or any other piece of
worn out trash. Such is the way,
the old must ever give way to the
new.
Very little interest was taken in
the sale and it was hard for the auc-
tioneer, with all his pleading, to get
any n to start the bids. The condi-
tons of the sale were rather hard at
first and this delayed matters. The
council decided that the buyer must
move the building within ten days,
but that he should leave it in the
street nearby until the new city hall
should be completed. In order that
the council might have a place to
meet and the fire department have
a place to house their engines. When
it was seen that they could get no
buyers on these terms II was decided
TO let the building be torn down or
removed at once and then the bids
ran fast and furious until $500 was
reached, and the old house was sold
to John Foster. Arrangements were
made with the purchaser to leave the
building in the street until the new
hall should be ready for occupancy
The council afterward ratified the
sale and the minutes contain the ell
try, "One City Hall sold for $500.
The finance committee. which had
The matter OF TIC assessment levy In
hand, submitted a resolution TO the
effect that the levy in Lewistown
should be eleven mills CT the as
sessed valuation. divided among the
various funds as follows: Sinking
fund, 3k mills: water works, ~
mills; library, l mill: road fund. z
mills: general fund, 2 mills; fire fund
/ mill. This resolution was approved
by the coul i and ordered si.read ~
the m.hG'ts
Mayor Eldridge presented a request
from Charles Lehman that a grade
be established on Broadway Lack o.
his store. as he wished TO put in
sidewalk. The city engineer was In
structed to make a profile OF the
street from Sixth avenue to Thirt
avenue showing the grade.
The mayor announced that in &c
cordance with the %courcil's desires
he had arDlin-ej Nm. 7. Bell ~ as
sistant night Waterman and George
Bettys as special officer TO look aftel
stray animals.
The business which took up thu
time of the council longer than an.
other was that of purchasing a new
pump for the city pumping station
and after long debate on the matter
ii was decided that a new puml
should he bought. The water an'
sewerage committee was instructed
to look up the matter and if 1t wal
necessary 10 advertise for bids to d.
so. if not, to make a contract for (;
pump, the design of which was showI
to the council. the cost, set up, TO b.
81. 500.
The council decided ~ resolve them
selves into a committee of the who'll
and go to Crowley's field Monday ev
ening and ascertain the damages du'
Mr.. Crowley on account of the pass
age of the sewer through his land
The meeting then adjourned.