Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-23
NEWS OF INTEREST FROM IOWA

water company, as well as with members
OF your committee, and 10 Is hoped the
schedule may be found acceptable to both
the city and the water company.
Rates Proposed ~ Engineer.
The schedule Of water rates suggested by
Mr.. Kiersted varied but little from his
former schedule Incorporated In his report
at the time he made a valuation Of the
plant It IL practically based on a valua-
ton Of about $4,000. his estimate Of the
value Of the plant, plus the cost OF reinforc-
ing the mains in the business section Of the
city, providing for the proposed high ser
vice" and extensions Of the mains in various
portions Of the city To the council, after
the report and schedule had been read,
Mr.. Kiersted stated that If the company
made the improvements and extensions
suggested and this he understood. II was
prepared to do, the city council need have
no hesitation in entering into an agreement
with the company on the schedule Of rates
as prepared by him. No action was taken
on the report
Manager Hart OF the water works was
not prepared to make any definite state
ment last night, as he had not seen the re-
port schedule until shortly before the meet
ing of the council He said however he
believed that in order to bring the matter
to an amicable settlement his company
probably would accept the schedule of the
city's expert.
Jones' Bond Approved.
Charles NJ Nicholson, the appointee Of
the newly created Fire and Police commits
sion for chief of the fire department did
not make much Of hit with the city coun-
Gil last night. When the matter OF his
bond, furnished by one of the big bonding
companies, was brought up, a motion by
Councilman Younkerman was seconded by
Councilman Maloney, to approve IT, was
amended by Councilman Wallace to defer
action on 1t. The amendment was voted
down and then the original motion met
with a like fate. r. w. Jones, the present
chief of the department, Jared better. He
had also fled a new bond and it was APP
proved, there being only one dissenting
vote, that of Councilman Younkerman.
Even Councilman Maloney voted to APP
prove It. Attorney Stuart of the firm of
Saunders & Stewart addressed the council
on behalf of Chief Jones, while Mr.. Mich
olson was represented by Attorney s. b.
Wadsworth
An ordinance requiring all inspectors and
collectors of gas, electric light and water
companies to be CARRIED in the uniform OF a
and, further, to be appointed by the city
marshal, was introduced and after a
second reading sent to the committee of
the whole. The penalty prescribed by the
ordinance is fine of not exceeding 500
An ordinance providing for all sidewalks
on paved streets. after June 1, to be con-
structed of artificial stone, was also re-
ferred to the committee of the whole. Dis
Of no ma hoN
of the councimen considered it entirely
too drastic.
An ordinance providing for the condem-
nation of the old City mill, at the corner
Of Washington avenue and Bryant street,
was passed under the suspension of the
rules.
1t was decided that bids on all curbing
and sewers ordered should be in the hands
of the city clerk by noon of May g.
The annual report of Chief Jones of the
fire department submitted to the council
last night shows that 100 alarms were
responded to during the last year, the
greatest number of any one year in the
history of the city. With the exception of
the destruction of the Union Transfer
company's warehouse on South Main street
last December. the fire loss was not large.
The total loss for the year was S145,447 49,
with $64l 475 insurance. The department has
thirty-two men, including the chief, and
the cost Of maintaining 1t last year was
500, $50, of which $19,63374 represents salaries.
Chief Jones recommends that new horses
be purchased for the departments, that
engine house No. 8 be repaired and that
a longer ladder be purchased.
The annual report of City Electrician
j. G. Bradley shows that in the recon
structiOn of the fire and police telegraph
lines 1890 feet of old wire was replaced
with copper wire. Fees collected during
the year amounted to Sl165.25, while the
expenses amounted to $1,000.