Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-08-20


seemed to be troubled with bad
case of dyspepsia lastnight and vein
of gloom hung over the chamber from
the drop of the gavel on the opening
chorus until the last act of the touch
ing melodrama -
The leading characters of the play
were punched in the party of the
right side of the chamber and what
ever of JOY or sadness there was to
the evenings performance came from
that quarter. But to the details:
President of the Council A. T. Pat
terson presided as mayor pro tenn ow-
ing to the absence of Mayor Smyth
from the city, and ranged around him
we're Aldermen slattery, Wilcox, Tay-s
lor, Peterson, Fisher, Marquett, Hor-
ner, Reade, Mckenzie and Richholt.
1t being an adjourned meeting the
regular order was not in vogue, the
first business being the opening of
bids for the cross walks. Ole Johnson
and H. c. Rhud were the sole bidders
and the former being considerably
lower, was awarded the contract at
the following rates: ~>
For 4-foot-6-inch walks with stone
edgings, 1921 a foot; all concrete,
$1.16 per foot.
56-inch crossings with stone edg-
ings, complete, $123.76; all concrete,
$6496. +
60-inch walks with stone edging,
$1326O; all concrete, $696O. :
Where tile walk is to be built across
the boulevarding the price is $1.121s
per square yard or Is cents per lineal
| foot.
A contract with Ole Johnson was
ordered drawn by the city attorney.
At this stage of the business Alder
man Fisher came in and as spectator
had his chair, the peace and dignity
of the press was disturbed and the
reporter substituted a ballot box for
the chair given the alderman. L
| Alderman Reade called attention fc
the need of drain pipe for crossings
the lack of which was delaying the
street work and long coloquy ensued
over the right of the street committee
to buy it, it finally turning out that
the city engineer had made the re
4 quest for the pipe some time ago but
that it had not been ordered. Presi
dent Patterson said no requisition had
been made on him as chairman of the
purchasing committee cor the pipe or
it would have been purchased, and
Alderman Reade was of the opinion
| that only the mayor, and not the
street committee had the authority to
make the requisition. Finally it was
decided the street committee was to
make the requisition and the pipe
will be bought.
Alderman Richholt said that the
street grading was being done without
!
which had nothing to say about such
matters, and he rather roasted the
city engineer and the street commits.
sioner for what he thought was need.
less work, and he thought it ought not
to be necessary to leave so much
power in the hands of these parties.
He alluded particularly to the work ait
corner Of Avenue B and Second street
and said that lot of grazing was being
done there without drainage pipes be.
ing put in, that would have to be done
over. 49,, ~ .,s.v. -.
The city engineer said the work
had to be done, and the pipe not hav-
| ing arrived he had gone ahead, and
that the cost of putting in the pipe
would be small. The fill at that
| point had been ordered long ago. 1t
| was nothing new.
Alderman Slattery defended the
engineer and street commissioner and
said that low place had been a menace
to teams and rigs for rs years; that
the officials deserved credit for the
excellent work they were doing. H.
Alderman Richholt said the work
ought to be. done by contract and
someone reminded him that no one
responded with a bid. when contracts
were advertised for. i
Alderman Reade was of the opinion
that all street work ought to be done
under orders of the street commit
tee, but that it had not been done that
way and therefore no blame, If any
there were, could attach to the com
mittee.
In the discussion which followed it
was brought out that the council had
asked the city engineer to submit a
plan for street work and that when he
had done 50 it was hailed with joy
by some Of the members who are now