The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-04
WATER " AR ON In
LITTLE. OLD HUDSON
g.r.3i .Sg9lr E#
MAYoRAND oITyooUNonwATcH
q EACH OTHER. h
Story Of Mayor Mcguire and His Sat-
urday Night Mass Meeting He
Wants the City to Resume Control Of
the Waterworks and Lighting Plant.
Special to The Journal.


Hudson, Wis, June War has broken ont be.
tween the mayor of Hudson and the city council
and the indications point to interesting develop
ments. The difference grows out of a contract
let by the city council for furnishing light and
water. for the city, during the two years after
July !, 1906. The council has accepted the bid
of Christian Burkhardt to do this work but the
mayor, Francis Mcguire, after strenuously op-
posing the acceptance of Mr. Burkhardt's bid,
served notice On the council that he would re-
fuse to sign the contract which is necessary
before it becomes valid, and. binding and would
fight the matter out in tho courts.
The situation Is a rather peculiar one In
1887 the people Of the city after a hot campaign,
voted to establish a. waterworks system and
furnish water to the patrons at actual cost The
council employed Christian .Wansgard at a fixed
salary to manage the works until 1893, when,
because MI Wangsgard asked for higher wages
the work Of running the system was let out on
contract to the lowest bidder, Mr.. Mcguire, who
was not then mayor. a.
In 1898 the people also established an electric
lighting system Of their own for lighting the
given to Mr.. Mcguire. Two years later the con
tract for running the waterworks and lighting
plant was given to Mr. Burkhardt, who, witt
| the exception of two years 1897 to 1890 wher
Mr.. Mcguire again had the job, has done thu
| work for the city to- the present time.
This year in May bids for running the tive
systems were again advertised by the council
| and bids were submitted by j. w. Johnson O,
saltwater and Mr.. Burkhardt, owner: OF til,
| Burkhardt mills" near this city. According t,
Mayor Mcguire. Mr.. Johnson's bid was the NOR,
| advantageous to the CITY, but the council deeme,
otherwise, and let the contract to Mr. Burk
! hardt at meeting held May %, regardless O
| the mayors protests.
i Then Mayor Mcguire became original and ere
ated a stir by calling the citizens OF Hudson
together in znagsmeeting at the armory Saturda
night. About 100 taxpayers responded to tn
| call, including many Of the leading citizens Th
| mayor addressed the meeting on the history q
/ the waterworks question, from the beginning
! the present, and stated that he believed the tim
had come for the city to resume the management
l of both the waterworks and lighting syste1
and the lighting plant. and that the letting {
| this new contract to Mr.. 3Burkhardt meant
i complete surrender by the city council of til
peoples interests. - He proposed that the cit
zens appoint a committee to Investigate the ma
4 ter; If that committee should sustain the coul
Gil, he would sign the contract; II not, he woul
fight 1t out with the council in the courts
4 When Mayor Mcguire closed his address, whic
was very forceful and earnest, being cheere
4 heartily, q number Of citizens spoke briefly a
indorsing the mayor proposal. Accordingly, tt
meeting, divided itself into three caucusAs. o.
%*pr each ward, and. selected men to serve on q
Y Investigating committee. The following WEI
chosen Joseph Baker and Albert Guse Of II
i AFst ward, Allan Beggs and>T A. waibx5of tt
- SECOND ward, @. VI Bolhine and L., Blegan
the third ward. This committee will report
4 the mayor and the council tonight, and the ",
VIII be- resumed. Nt& :. -, w. ~