The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-02-01
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Committee Appointed to Take Action
on Deficient Water Supply.

on D6nC1cnC wafer supply.
From The Daily Item January 26.
City council held a regular meeting
at 8 o'clock last night with Mayor
Dick and Aldermen Barnett, Hayns-
worth. Hood. Rowland, Stubs and
Wilder present.
Absent-Aldermen Finn and Hurst.
The minutes Of January 11th and
18th were read and approved.
The mayor stated that insurance
agencies of the city are complaining
because there is no steam hre engine
in the service of the fire department,
although the city is credited with sucn
a machine, and reduction Of 10 cents
on insurance rates is allowed therefor.
He further Informed council he had
+aken I'M the matter with Mr.. Edgar
Skinner, who has had the engine IN
hand for repairs for some time, and
that Mr.. Skinner had promised to nave
| the engine back in service within ten
days.
The mayor called attention to nu-
merous complaints Of poor service
4 which the Water Company is provld-
ing for fire protection and losses re-
|sulting therefrom. He presented COZ
respondene he had with the company
more than six months ago, in which ne
had notified them Of the existing state
of their plant, and in which they had
tnomised Improvement. Yet no I'M
ndovement had been made and COUNCIL
should take some action for reilef.
Mr.. Rowland moved that a committee
| of three be appointed, Of which the
mayor shall be one, to take the mat mat
tier into consideration, and advise with
la competent attorney as to the prop
| er course to be pursued. The motion
was adopted and Messrs. Rowland.
lHaynswortl1 and the mayor were ap-
Ipointed.
An offer from Mr.. Geo. T. Burnett
TO put a tin roof on the opera mouse
for $500 per square, valleys 80 cents
ner lineal foot, was discussed, but no
faction was taken.
| M. d. M. Therrel, representing the
Southern Bell Telephone company,
submitted an ordnance permitting his
fcompany to erect and maintain long
distance station in Sumter. Dr. S. C.
Baker, representing the Sumter Tele-
phone Company, stated that his cona-
nany had offered to handle the long
distance business for the Southern Bell
Company at less expense than they
could operate a separate Office, but
they would not entertain such a prop
osition and were evidently endeavor-
ing to obtain foothold in the city and
have no dealings with the local COM
pany. The ordinance was read for the
first time, andon motion Of Mr.. Row
4 land, referred to the recorder for ad-
vice.
Mr.. Barnett filed report of lights not
burning. He stated that his commit
ltee desired TO retain Mr.. A. D. Owens
on the police force for the present as
it was considered necessary, although
the time had expired for which he
had been employed. Council decided to
continue Mr.. Owens in service as re-
quested.
Mr.. Rowland, for the finance COM
mittee, reported approval of claims
referred to them. He suggested that
all purchases for the city should be
made through the clerk, by direction
of chairman Of committees and no
others, his orders to accompany bills
for goods and bills should be rem
dered every month, and it was so Or
idered.
In reference to fire department exc
penses in excess Of the regular appro-
| priations council directed that such
should not be incurred except by its
consent, or request Of the fire depart
ment committee.
Mr.. D. A. Minor appeared to:reauest
| council to order a water main laid in
West Oakland avenue for benefit Of ci-
itizens who contemplate building resi-
dences there in the near future. No
faction was taken.
| Major Marion Noise on behalf Of
kennedy Bros. asked exemption for