Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-02-25
WILL ORGANIZE
NEXT MONDAY

day night. The present council Will
go into session at 80 O'Clock, trans
acting what business may be on hand
after which it will adjourn sine die.
The new council will convene at s
o clock. The four members whose terms
have expired are as follows: First
ward, John L. Russell; second ward,
William Meyer: third ward, James
Finnigan; fourth ward, AbTam Angle.
James Finnigan, in the third ward,
was reelected In the other wards the
new members will be as follows: First
ward, John r. NJ. Curry: second ward,
William lies; fourth ward, Jacob Won
Bluu,.
A member of council Tuesday stat
ed that he did not think it likely that
there will be change in the police
force or any other change of note in
the positions filed by council.
The new council will find plenty of
work ahead of it the coming year. In
cidentslly, it will have few perplex
ing problems to solve. Not the least
among the latter is the paving OF East
Market street. This matter was brought
up in council at the last meeting and
it was the consensus Of opinion that
something will have to be done with
this street the coming season, as the
roadway has gone from bad to worse
and the limit has now been reached.
Nevertheless it was not explained
what remedy should be applied. 1t was
made quite clear that practically the
first step remains to be taken toward
paving that there is not the least as
surance that the State will assist in
the improvement of the street: also
that all the obstacles that stood in the
way of paving during the last three
years still remain. Borough Solicitor
+. $. Gearhart has not abandoned hope
that East Market street may be paved
under the Act Of May l., 1905, which
provides that where a portion OF an
important main highway passes
through one or more townships, fol
the Improvement Of which application
TO the State highway department. las
been made. and where the failure -
the borough 20 improve said highway
would leave break or unimprr' ed
section in the continuous improved
highway, the State highway depart
ment may bear portion of the ex.
pense of improvement OF such high
way, within the borough limits. to an
amount NOS exceeding three .fourths Of
the total expense.
Mr.. Gearhsrt takes the view that
the Act Of May l. 1905. applies to East
Market street. as the State has already
improved the highway from Mausdale,
in Mahoning township, to Centre
street, in the borough of Dsnville, and
has also improved the. same highway
from the main entrance to the hospital
grounds, in the same township. to a
point in said borough, $40 feet west of
its eastern boundary
However, although the matter was
taken mp nearly a year ago, the State
has not as yet been heard from favor
ably. Some doubt is expressed among
the councilmen whether the presence
OF the street railway on East Market
street may not cause complications
fatal to the proposition of paving the
thoroughfare with State aid and
whether, IL the street is paved at all,
1t will not have to be done as Mill
street was paved, Jointly by the bor-
ough, the property owners and the
street railway company.
In either event, as above explained.
al the work including preliminaries,
remains to be done. To improve the
street in some way will he one OF the
very first tasks that the new council
Will have to address ITSELF to,
East Front street, especially the side
walks, is in very nearly as bad a con-
dition rs East Market street. The paw
ing Of this street, which meets with
very little opposition from property
owners, was very seriously considered
by council last summer. The improve.
ment Of the street will no doubt come
up again this season and will be one
Of the first problems that council will
have to wTestle with.
The widening and other improve
ments on West MahoDing street, in
which council showed no disposition
to temporize last year, will probably
be made the subject Of strong petition
again next summer. What view Of the
| demands the new council may take re-
mains to lie seen
Last but not least we have the pro-
blem Of providing for the disposal of
sewage, as the borough has already re.
ceived notice from the State depart
ment Of health to discontinue dis
charging its sewage into the river. In
what manner the bill pending, which
provides that the State pay one.half
of the cost of sewage disposal, if it
| becomes a law, may assist in comply
ing with the act remains to be seen.
At best under the circumstances it is
feared that council will have a weighty
proposition on its hands.