The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-10-05
City Council Springs a Surprise
When He is Elected Member
of Water Commission
TO SUCCEED CHIEF ]. S. BARR
Council Decides to Give People in the
Western Part of the City Chance
to Connect With Sewers, and
Permits Will be Issued

There was a decided surprise
sprung at the meeting of the common
council on Monday evening, when the
council elected Mayor James German
as a member of the water commits
sion to succeed Chief of the Fire De-
partment James S. Barr, whose term
of office will expire on Monday next.
The election of Mayor German had
not been forecasted, and it was gener-
ally supposed that Chief Barr would
be reelected for another year.
Many of the members of the council
claim that the election of the mayor
is simply placing the water commits
sion as one of the spoils of the
office, and for this reason it is claimed
that there is good deal of hard feel
ing over the election. Mayor German
was elected by strict party vote,
and added to this he had the vote of
one of the Repub1ican>members of the
council. The position is for term
of three years, and the mayor will
accept the office. While Mr.. Barr was
not in reality candidate for re-elec-
ton, it was stated by his friends that
he would accept if elected by the
council.
The Republican members of the
council made hard fight for Mr.. Barr,
claiming that his long work for the
water commission and his close con-
nection with the fire department
made him the logical candidate for
the office. Mr.. Barr has always taken
a great interest in the work of the
commission and his defeat by the
council will be regretted by the mem
bers of the commission.
Mayor German will undoubtedly be
a good man on the Board but it is diff
fcu1t to see any reason for change.
1t is possible that the opposition to
Mr.. Barr developed from the fact that
it had been stated that he would re-
sign his position at the head of the
fire department.
Sewer Permits Ready
The people out in the western part
of the city who have been fearing that
it would be impossible for them to
get in sewers before the winter open
ed were given favors by the council
Monday night and the city engineer
was instructed to begin the work of
issuing the permits at once.
The permits will not accept the
sewer but they will give the property
owners the rig hit to connect. Many of
the property owners have been ready
to make connections with the sewers
for several weeks and contractors will
be kept busy completing the work
during the next few days. The COM
rnittee on sewers has not as yet ac-
cepted any of the sewers but they will
probably reach an agreement on them
within another week.
Must Give Big Bond
The Wisconsin Telephone company
through it's local manager, Charles
Frantz, made application to the coun-
Gil for the right to lay conduits in
Market street, from Exchange street
to Ridge street. The matter was re-
ferred to the committee on streets and
alleys, but the council decided that
the company would be forced to put
up a bond of $4,000 to insure that the
street will be restored to its present
condition. This bond is to be held
pending the completion of the work.
The council also will demand a per-
petual bond from the company Of
50, 500 to protect the city against any
loss made from Improvements made
later. 1t is thought that the COM
pany will meet the conditions.
A petition was presented from the
property owners on English Court,
asking that this street be paved with
vitrifed brick. The petition was re-
ferred to the committee on sewers and
paving, and an early report will be
made. A petition for the grading OF
Indiana street was received and given
a similar reference.
While the council was dickering
with the street business, a petition
was received from William G. Burr,
asking that the city accept a new
street in the Third ward to be known
as Prospect Place. The street ex-
tends between Fremont avenue and
the railway and is situated a hundred
feet north of Strong street. twill be
accepted by the city.
Build New Poorhouse
The council has decided 10 take ar
immediate step to secure the erection
Of new poorhouse on Washington
Island, and to this end the clerk will
be ordered to advertise for bids. The
plans provide for the erection of {
fat building which will cost in the
neighborhood of $2, 400.