Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-10
Council Bluffs
TO DIVERT INDIAN CREEK
Mayor Maloney Submits Communica.
ton TO Council.
WOULD PROCEED UNDER NEW LAW
His plan f. 10 Dig New hanne from
East END Of the City and
a. Large as the
Old One.

Mayor Maloney submitted the following
communication relative to Indian creek to
the city council last night.
Shortly after the flood from Indian creek
! stated that I expected to call the atten-
tion of your body TO the necessity of re-
lieveing the city Of a recurrence of such
floods IL Il could be found possible to do
so. What 1 then said seems to have at
tracted the attention OF others, but has not
brought out any practical or definite
method OF accomplishing the purpose.
The thirtleth general assembly passed a
law giving TO cities the power to protect
against such floods by altering, improving,
etc, water-courSes within their limits. and
by the levy OF an annual tax for a term OF
not more than ten years to pay for such
improvements, the assessment on the prop
erty in the district directly benefited being
double that on the property outside that
district, and the levy not exceeding four
mills in any year. The movement for such
purpose, however, must originate with the
people and not the council, as II requires a
petition of 100 taxpayers before the coun-
ell can take action. This law is found on
page 176 Of the Code Supplement.
II q petition of that kind were tn be
presented to the council the latter could
then take steps TO have the city engineer
make plans and estimates, and the PROPOSE
ton would then have to be submitted 20
the voters of the city for approval, so that
the matter would eventually hinge upon
the vote of the citizens. II they saw fit
to spprovs the proposition II would In no
manner interfere with carrying out any
other public Improvement.
1t is quite evident that the floods from
Indian creek are due to the fact that the
channel Is insufficient to carry all of the
water that comes to II in times of extraor-
binary rains. We cannot widen it because
OF the impT ovements along II. To cover II
would not4end the trouble. Nor would 1t
be advisable to allow such a great volume
OF water to flow through the city before
divertlng part Of II. m my judgment the
sensible and practicable thing TO do is to
divert part of the water at the east end of
the city by constructing an additional chan
mel OF equal or greater capacity than the
creek. and then both channels would take
all of the water without any LANCER from
overflow. 1t might result In the building
of a few more bridges, but would preserve
more than that number now over the creek.
Any different proposition would, in my
Judgment. cost more than could be raised
by such tax
AS these floods from Indian creek have
cost the city large sums Of money and
J threatened the health of a great number OF
our citizens living west OF the creek, 1t is
a matter that should engage the earnest
consideration of this council and the people
generally.
Following the reading of the communica-
tion the mayor briefly explained the sec
ton of the law quoted by him and sug-
gested that steps be taken at once to OBJ
tain the necessary signatures to a petition
so that the city council could take some
action in the matter.
Councilman Olson expressed the opinion
that there would be no difficulty In secur.
ing the required petition and that a propo-
sltion to levy a tax to carry out any scheme
to remedy the indian creek evil would
carry.
1t was suggested that possibly the city
might cooperate with the County Board OF
Supervisors in forming a drainage district,
- -8tI. -II ~ aANo al,,- NHIz liz
until after the necessary petition is secured
and filed with the city council.
Amendment 10 MIX
Councilman Jensen introduced an amend
ment to the recently passed pure milk
ordinance. which provides that milk pas
teurized in the state or in an
other state may be sold in Council Bluffs,
on condition that persons selling such
milk arrange for the inspection of their
plant and pasteurizing equipment by the
proper Inspector without expense to the
city. This amendment applies particularly
to Omaha creameTies doing business In
this city. An effort to secure the passage
of the amendment under suspension of the
rules failed and It went over to the next
regular meeting.
Licenses for Motor Vehicles.
An amended ordinance licensing and reg.
ulating common carriers so as to include
motor vehicles was introduced by City So
licitor Kimball at the instance of Council
man Younkerman. The ordinance as pro
posed to be amended makes motor vehicles
used on the public streets for hire subject
to the license fee Of S, the same as hacks
drays, etc, are. 1t also provides that &
sum of not exceeding So an hour can b,
charged for the hire of a motor vehicle
The ordinance was read and then laid ovei
for a week, and in the meantime the coun
cilmen are to be furnished with copies
Of it.
bids for Cement Walks.
, City Engineer Etnyre submitted a tabula
ton OF the bids received a week ago 10
/, about $4,000 squar yards of cement side
walk. but the councilmen were APPARENT,
unable TO determine who were the loves
n bidders, so the determining OF this matte
was referred to a special committee con
sisting of Councilmen Jensen, ~ounkerm
and Mcmillan.
An ordinance vacatng a portion OF Thirty
third street In favor of the Alfalfa Mea
company, which plans erecting a new plan
in the western part OF the city, was passe
under suspension OF the rules.
Plans for Arch Bridges.
City Engineer Etnyre submitted plans an
specifications for reinforced concrete stet
arch bridges over Indian creek at Mort
Eighth and Benton streets. They were az
DroVed and the city clerk Instructed tn ad