Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-05
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Work on New Fire Department HeSdqusr-
tiers Soon 10 Begin.
BIDS ABOUT TO De ADVERTISED FOR
squnbbIe Between Architects settled
by l.. A. Doris Ohering TO DO
nate Plans TO the
city.

Evidently it will not be long until work
on the new fire department headquar-
ters is started. Now that the squabble
between architects has been settled by
L. A. Davis Offering to donate plans to
the city, the council soon will be pre-
pared to advertise for bids for the build
ing
Some time ago a committee of the coun-
Gil visited Omaha and inspected number
of engine houses. one was found that
suited. except that it was too large.
Practically the same plans as used in this
house in Omaha will be used, only in a
reduced form
1t appears to be the intention of the
city to spend about $1,000 or possibly $4,000
In erecting a first class brick fire depart
ment building Space for fire engine
will be provided. but for the time the Po-
lice board expects to use this space for
patrol wagon. While no definite promises
have been made the understanding seems
to be that If such a thing is possible the
council will purchase patrol wagon. BY
keeping the wagon at the fire house the
expense of a separate barn will be avoided.
1t is necessary for the fire department
to move from the present quarters on
Twenty fourth street as the building is
in no condition to house men and horses
another winter and, more than this, the
| owner appears anxious to use the property
! for building purposes.
Architect Davis has declared he will have
the plans ready by the time the city is
ready to advertise for bids for the con-
struction. This new building is to be
! erected at the southwest corner OF Twenty
fifth and L streets. When the new head
| quarters is completed there will be a de-
mand for more fire lighting apparatus. but
| additional machinery will have to come by
| degrees on account of the condition of the
! funds.
Very Little Celebrating.
! South Omaha certainly enjoyed a safe
and sane Fourth OF July yesterday. AS q
general thing the order of the police board
| in relation to the use of high explosives
] was obeyed There was much less shoot
! ing on the streets than formerly, the cele-
brating mostly being conducted by boys.
In the evening quite a number of families
| enjoyed a display of fireworks on their
lawns.
| The fire department was not called out
! all day and the police arrested only a few
men who overstepped the limit in the mat
ter OF drinking. Most of the business
places were closed all day, but a few
were open during the morning hours. There
was nothing doing at the stock yards and
the packing plants were shut down. Up
to quite late hour last night not a
physician in the city had been called to
dress injuries caused by the explosion OF
fireworks. Only the lighter grades of fire
works were offered for sale and the blank
cartridge pistol and the cannon cracker
were not heard in the down town portion
! of the city. 1t is estimated that several
hundred people went out OF the city on
excursions and others visited Omaha re-
\ sorts and Manawa. There was big crowd
at the picnic at Barretts park and every
thing went off nicely.
Cinder sidewalks.
George Dunscombe, who has been awarded
the contract for laying cinder sidewalks
where ordered, expects to get to work al
once. In all cases where a Cinder walk
is laid a two by six-inch plank is to be
securely staked in the ground and the In
closed space filed with cinders. Coarse ma
terial may be used for the ground work
but only fine cinders may be placed or
top Each walk is to measure six inches
in depth after being thoroughly tamped
The cost of such a walk is cents pei
square foot. This includes excavating and
the lumber. Quite a number Of these
walks are to be laid where property own
ers are tired OF the old two-plank wooder
walks.
Another VIRduCt RumOr.
For several days a rumor has been cur
rent that the Q street viaduct is to b'
condemned and that a fine steel bridg'
will be erected at crossing a little soutl
Of the present structure. What appears
to give credence TO this rumor Is the &C
ton Of the city council on Monday nigh
in instructng City Engineer Beal to Sc
cure the services of n competent bridg'
engineer to go over the structure Will
him and report as to It's safety. The
street vladuct is about worn out, but 1t Il
understood that the foundation piers ar
still good. In connection with this inspec
ton of the vladuct 1t is reported tina
the railroads want the bridge taken dowl
so as to give more room for tracks. Their
will hardly be anything definite know
about this until the engineers make re
port on the safety Of the structure.
Ed johnston Here.
Ed Johnston for many years residen
of South Omaha, arrived here yesterda,
from his new home at Apologize, Cal
Mr.. Johnston said that he expected 4
remain here for two or three weeks
Strengthening up his business affairs. A
regards California Mr.. Johnston said tina
the Pacific coast cities were growing rap
idly and that great deal Of eastern none,
was coming in for investment all the time
Even though he enjoys the climate o