The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1907-02-28
NEW CITY HALL
AN ASSURED THING
Citizens Taking Hold and Enough
Money Now in Sight to Tenn.
porarily Finance

porarily Finance
Size Of Building Not Yet Determined, But will
Likely be 50xS0 Feet, One story-To Be
Finished by Middle Of June
At the mass meeting of citizens held
at the opera house last Monday evening
the sentiment appeared to be unan-
imous for a new city hall. H. F. Eaton
was made chairman of the meeting and
R. A. Middaugh, secretary.
Mayor Bittman spoke on the object
of the meeting, giving the plans of the
council, and showing that the city was
ready to act as soon as the financial
end could be gotten at in legal way.
There was no money levied for that
purpose, and the only way to get to
work on the building at once was for
the citizens to finance the project until
such a time as the city could go ahead
on legal basis.
R. A. Middaugh spoke for the fire.
men. He said that it was in the interest
of the city to have a place where the
engine and hose carts and hose could be
kept. As it was now the hose was
scattered everywhere, and six or seven
hundred feet of hose was going to
waste for lack of place to keep. and
properly dry it. Besides it took about
three minutes to clear a place to get
the engine and chemical out of the
building. Since such a building was
badly needed it would be best to build
it now and have it for the use of the
state firemen's tournament which meets
here in June.
Alderman Tuthill suggested that the
>freeholders of the city be asked to sub
scribe and an association formed, and
that the city rent the building and take
ito the hands of the association as
soon as possible. The rent would be
in the nature of interest on the money
and the citizens would not be out much
in the end.
Chairman Eaton and John Kennedy
discussed the proposition of adding a
second story by the masonic lodges, but
fell down completely when Architect
Westergaard informed them that the
expense of the second story would be
as heavy as for the first.
Mr.. Westergaard explained the plans
and specifications of the new building
as submitted to the city council. The
dimensions would be 50xsO feet. The
front room would be 3Ox5O, with high
basement underneath. In the rear and
on level with the sidewalk would be the
fire hall, 47x50 feet. This would be
13 feet to ceiling and floor of cement,
with a door opening in the south.
Stairs would lead to the basement from
each hall as we'll as from the outside.
Here would be the Jail with room on
the side for four cells. The floor of
basement would be of cement.
The main room, or council and court
room, would face the east and the
height of the building in front from the
sidewalk would be over % feet. The
building would be of brick and rough
estimate would place the cost at SIS, 600.
Aldermen Mccartney, Brown, Dem
ming and Boardman each spoke in favor
of pushing the work. Some of them
favored smaller building and were
not in for a second story and presented
some of the legal difficulties for such a
plan. Mr.. Mccartney said he doubted
if any bank would be willing to loan
money on second story where the
first was owned by another firm or cor
poration. After the architect told of
the expense the second story enthusiasts
hid their heads.
It was moved that the chair appoint
a committee of three to solicit funds
and see the amount that could be
raised among the citizens. This \mo-
tion carried and Messrs. Mlddaugh,
Scott and Sutmar were appointed. The
meeting then adjourned subject to the
call of the committee.
The city council will have a specia'
meeting tonight, when the committee
will report. The soliciting f6r fasds
has been fruitful Of good resuNa. and
the city hall is an assured thing
lathe Harness Again.