The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-09
CITY LABORERS'
WAGES INCREASED
COUNCIL RAISES RATE TO So AN
EIGHT-HoUR DAY.
Rinker Frowns on Bassett's Greek Di.
version Plan - Butler Brothers
Trackage Rights Granted-Bath,
house Appropriations Light
ing Contracts Awarded-Hall' Island
Decided to the City.

By vote Of II to Z the council last eve
ming adopted Alderman Lars M. Rand IS
resolution fixing the wages Of aborers
on city work at So a day of eight hours.
This is an increase Of Is cents day.
and it will go into effect at once.
There was little debate in the ques-
ton. Alderman Platt B. Walker asked
that the resolution be referred to the
committees on waterworks, sewers and
paving for investigation as to what
effect it would have on completing
this year IS improvements. The ,esti-
mates of cost had been based on $l.S5
day for lab{02rers and the increase
plans Of the city engineer He .ques-
tioned if So a day was the current price
for common labor and argued that it
was not good policy for the city to
exceed the market value.
Alderman Rand declared that he
knew of several instances of men leav-
ing the employ of the city to work
for contractors who paid more thar than
did the city. The increase meant little
to the city but much to the men. He
described the work in the sewer and
waterworks trenches as OF the most eX-
hausting character.
The motion to refer was lost by a
vote Of 9 to Is, and the origanl ques-
ton was thereupon passed by vote
of II to Z.
Alderman John Ryan followed the
CITY engineer, in making his estimates
for 1907, should figure on So day
for men and $3.50 day for teams. The
motion passed unanimously.
City Engineer Andrew Rinker sub
mitted a comprehensive and voluminous
report on the proposition Of divertlng
Bassett' 8 creek into Cedar lake and
thence thru the park lakes into Mime
faha creek. He characterizes the plan as
practicable, but thinks it is inadvisable.
| In seasons of much rainfall Minnehaha
creek has sufficient water, and some
times too much while in dry seasons
there is little or no water to divert.
To secure a uniform flow of water in
Minnehaha creek would entail expen-
sive storage capacity, and the benefit
derived, the city engineer says, would
not warrant the expense.
The ordinance granting permission to
Law a spur track across Second avenue
n. between Fifth and Sixth streets,
to accommodate the wholesale plant OF
Butler Brothers was passed by a unanl'
nous vote. At the request Of T.. B.
Walker the clause reserving the right
to revoke the permission at any time
was stricken from the ordinance, as
such a provision would mean the loss
Of the establishment.
Public Bathhouse.
Alderman Rand's motion requesting
the inclusion in the budget for 1907 Of
an item of 5000 for a public bath
house at Cedar and Washington. ave
nues, was adopted by unanimou!
vote. 80 ,-
The last echo of the STRENGTHENING
fight, which has been waged for ST.
y f1o rn
resolutions awarding contracts to tn
.. Minneapolis Gas Light company, tn
MINNEAPOLIS General Electric compan,
and the Patterson Street Lighting com
many for the remainder of the year.
: The resolution by Alderman G. A
z Westphal relating to the acquisition O.
: the Minneapolis Gas Light company.
plant in 1910 was passed without a dls
= senting vote. The resolution provide
. for submitting to the vote Of the peopl
: a proposition to issue bonds to tn
l amount of $1,5OO,O0O for the purpos
! of purchasing the. plant.
= Health Commissioner P. M. Hall an
e wife presented deed of Halls islam
, to the city on condition that it shall p
r used only for municipal purposes. d.
: Hall secured possession OF the lslan
> under the national homestead act, an
k intended that it should be used as sit
a for the municipal garbage crematory
, The , plan was abandoned on account 9
y the opposition encountered in the frs
N ward. Later the Gerber free. bath
4 were located on the island, which hs
a this year been enlarged to about fiy
!, acres. It lies in the MISSISSIPPI rive
D. from which it is reached by stairwa,
y The bids for. the erection Of a fiji
t, engine house at Minnehaha were rejec
=, ed. as all the bids are in excess OF TT
,e appropriation.
Ia Nearly 4UU new gas ldnpS Weie
in dered installed at once. All the ware
t get share with the exception OF II
"a ninth and twelfth, which made no T
d, quests.