Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-06-29

up, Oeyono the expectations OF many
citizens. The amount expended fol-
crossings, culverts, and street work
alone exceeds $4,000,
The first move toward the erection
of this building was made at a meet.
ing Of the council February 9th,
1905, although it had been frequent.
ly discussed previous to this time.
AT this meeting Councilmen W F
Honnen, N Smith and Thos Clayton,
all of whom had been elected the
previous spring, were appointed as a
building committee. 1t was also
decided that the building should be
located on the lots owned by the city,
being the lots, with one or two ad-
dltional secured later, that the build.
Ing occupies. On April 3rd the
mayor was authorized to contract
with Architect A B Anderson for
plans and specifications for a city
building, but on April 7th the coun.
Gil authorized the building committee
to make contract with an architect
for plans and specifications. On
May LIST it was decided to keep the
fire bell separate from the new city
building and the contract for remov-
ing the old building was given Joe
Leighty. On July 11th, 1905, bids
were received for the erection of the
city building as per plans and speci.
tications adopted, but the bids were
all so much higher than the council
felt the city's financial condition
justified, that they were all rejected,
and 1t looked at this time rather blue
for the men who had been pushing
the proposition, and whose fondest
hopes were for city building. On
March 9th, 1906, the question of the
city building was again brought up,
and after some discussion was referred
to a committee consisting Of the
Mayor, and Councllmen Honnen,
Clayton, Smith and Allison, the latter
having been elected to the council
the spring before. On April 9th, the
same plaus as formerly presented
having been adopted, an ordinance
was passed providing for the erection
Of a city building, and is known as
ordinance No. 294, and the mayor
and city clerk were authorized to
enter into a contract with Critics
Bros, of Kansas City, Mo-, for the
erection of the building, as per plans
and specifications. At this meeting
the resolution to provide the fund:
for the erection of the building was
passed as above. On May 18th, MI
u W Soderstrom was appointed
superintendent of construction. anc
Councilman Bunting, G N Moses and
N Smith were appointed a new build
ing committee.
The city officers in the past three
years have all been careful and pains
. taking, seeking the best interests o.
the city first, above everything else
Mayor Moses has at all times had tn,
advancement and interests Of the city
at heart, and although elected agains
his will, and serving without compen
{ sation, he has given the Office tn,
same careful thought and considera
ton that he would to his vast bust
, ness interests. Of the councilmen
, it may perhaps not be fair to singl
: cut any particular member, but fror
the writer's connection with the cit
Y administration, he feels that grea
!. deal Of credit is due former council
J. man Tom Clayton for the fnancis
0 showing the city has made. He ha
|, really been the watchdog of the trea:
4 ury, and has at all times placed tn
J. interests Of the city above any othe
g interests of his or that he was in an
e way connected With. W F Home
}. is another member who deserve
e special mention. He has worked
e season and out Of season, since goin
d on the council, for a cit
n building and We hope that b
s will have the honor to serve the ci'
= in itc naw huildino in tha future q