Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
One Tfoublssoms Problem Concerning
Election Disposed Of
VOTING MACHINES SHOW VERSATILITY
Part Cen BE Locked end Voting
Continue on bond Proposition
After Regular Election
is closed.
VOTING MACHINES SHOW VERSATILITY

Ever since II was decided by the city on
clals to hold a special election on Novem-
Der for the purpose of submitting the
sewer bond proposition there has been some
uneasiness in official circles about the
counting Of the ballot on the voting ma
chimes. The general election laws provide
for the closing of the polls at p. m,
while at city or special election the polls,
under the charter, must remain open until
Z p. m.
Yesterday A. S. Powers; a representative
Of the United States Standard Voting Ma
chine company called on City Clerk Gilin
and explained TO him how the machine
could be worked for the bond proposition
only, after the polls close on the regular
election. There is a restricted voters knob
on the machine and by moving this knob
at ,. m. the balance of the machine is
locked. This will permit voters to enter
the machine and vote only for or against
the sewer bond proposition. When o'clock
arrives the machine can be opened and the
total vote for the regular nominees and the
sewer bond proposition counted.
After the explanation by Mr.. Powers the
city officials felt much relieved There will
now be no hitch in the election as far as
the machines go. Special tally books will
be provided for the sewer bond vote and II
instructions are carried out by the election
officers the total vote, bonds included can
be made public by .. m. Each member
Of the election board will be paid 50 extra
for tabulating the sewer bond vote.
Storm Damage Heavy.
Not nearly all of the damage done to the
streets by the storm of Monday night has
been reported. Mayor Koutsky tried to get
about some yesterday, but found it dificult
to get through many Of the unpaved streets
After returning n ha1 he
trip the mayor said that the storm was the
worst Of the year and that great deal Of
damage had been done. At Twentieth and
streets storm water carried a big block
OF the pavement over the bluff, and 1t will
take good deal of filling to repair this
washout and considerable expense to relay
the stone pavement. Many OF the streets
are practically impossible. On unpaved
streets where telephone conduits are being
laid washouts have occurred. Grading op-
erations on Sixteenth street had to be
suspended and will be until the mud dries
up. The basement OF the new FIRE depart
ment building has over foot of water in it
and work on the Union Pacific freight
depot has stopped until the mud in the
excavation dries up.
As general thing the sewers carried off
the storm water fairly well. but some of
the main sewers were clogged Men will
be put to work today cleaning the man
holes in order to be prepared in case OF
another heavy rain. The cost of putting
the streets In a passabe condition will
. consume considerable time and cost quite
sum of money
Drafting CurbinE Ordinance.
City Attorney Lambert has been directed
by the council to draft an ordinance for
the curbing and guttering of Twenty-third
street from the city limits on the north
to Missouri avenue. The petition for this
work has" been published according to law
and now there remains only the passage
OF the ordinance and the letting Of the
contract. 1t is hardly probable that any
haste will be displayed in this matter, as
the season is getting so late. Those who
have taken an interest in this improvement
think that 1t would be just as we'll to lei
the matter drag along through the winter
The contract can be let any time during the
cold months and everything will be ready
to start this curbing and guttering as soor
frost is out of the ground in the spring
slim Chance for Paving.
Even though the money is in sight for tn,
paving of Twenty-fourth street there seems
to be no likelihood of getting even one sid,
OF the street paved this year. 1t seems
that material is not only high but scarce
Contractor George Parks stated at tn,
city hall yesterday that 1t was almos
impossible TO get cement just now and Their,
is no use Of tearing up the old pav..nen
until plenty OF material is at hand to worl
with. Contractor MCGOWAN is doing VIVA
he can on Missouri avenue, but the weathe
has been bad since he made a start ant
very little has been accomplished. Resi-
dents on Missouri avenue hardly hope nov
that the street will be paved this year.
- Registration Booths Named.
Thursday OF this week is the first day O
registration. Registrars for conducting tn
three days registration were named by tn
mayor and council Monday night. The fol
lowing registration booths have been 10
Gated:
First Ward-First precinct, F. T. Fitzsln
mons, Twentieth and Missouri avenue Sec
ond precinct. Sanford Wright, 629 Mort
TwentN-fourth.
Second Ward-First precinct. John F'raneI
Twentieth and $ streets; Second precinc
= Third Ward-Ftrst precinct, A. Eas
Twenty-first and Railroad avenue; Secon
precinct Joe Karnelius, Thirty fourth an
Fourth ward-F1rst precinct, p. A. Burk,
III North Twenty-siXth street; Second pre-
cinet, Kikarr building, 1921 Q street.
Fifth Ward-F1rst precinct Edwar