The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-11-25
TWAS A BUSY SESSION
City Fathers Have Their Hands
Full and Worked Late.

"
not theory" quoted Mayor L. NJ. Ba'
con to the members of the city coun
Gil Monday evening. The council
came together to consider bids for the
paving OF the new market place, cor
ner First avenue and C street. No
bids were opened. None had been nj
ed with the city clerk. Two bidders
had been in prospect and had started
to figure on the work. Magden and
Shelley, now at work on South Third
street contract. sent word to the coun'
Gil that they could not get the neces'
sary material to complete the work
before spring. They could not get the
brick in Oskaloosa nor in any other
of the brick making centers, -Des
AIoines. Galesburg, ILL.,, and other
plants having been tried. The obtain
ing of sand is also another problem
that could not be met. The company
is being delayed on the completion oil
the pavement now contracted for the
city. The gentlemen say the paving
of the market place this season Is i'm.
possible under the existing conditions
They cannot hope to get the work
started before freezing weather. The
same reasons applied to the Carton
Construction Company which also
tarted TO bid until they realized the
mpossibility of securing material.
The management of the local brick
company had also told a council mem
Der that their company could not get
out the brick necessary for the con.
tract before spring. This was cee
proposition that confronted the coun-
Gil. Extended discussion followed the
tatement Of affairs. ......... -.
The council will take such action as
may be deemed best pending the ar.
rival OF the spring season, when the
work of paving the market place will
be carried to completion. In the
meantime whatever is necessary to
maintain the yards in a suitable con-
dition will be done by the council.
Ashes will be hauled onto the lots
and rolled down to form "a hard foun:
dation. Every effort will be put forth
by the city council to meet the condi.
tons that arise until the paving is
completed at a later date. In the
meanime new bids will be asked for
and the preliminaries arranged imme.
diately after the first of the year SO
that the work on the contract may be
commenced at the earliest possible
moment. The market place will be
put in the best possible condition FOL
the accommodation of its patrons as
soon as the work can be reached.
Other Matters.
It was a busy session of the council
and all members were present. The
session lasted until about elevenFhir
by o'clock and even then matters
were left that desired audience.
G. Winter appeared asking fol
council concessions in favor OF the
new Oskaloosa Light and Heat Com
pany which is soon to open a factory
lOll &NOl III OtCOuN SIlCCl' "uhVSi
asked for exemption from taxation fol
five years and to have the street lead
ing to the factory fixed to permit the
hauling in of machinery. Both re
quests we're granted.
Fire Limits.
R. L. Blackford addressed the coun
Gil concerning the changing OF the fire
limits. This opened up a discussion
of the erection of sheds and an offict
building by George Harris along The
Iowa Central right of way and within
the existing fire limits. The mayo
stated that Mr.. Harris had promised
to comply with the ordinance and tht
council said the ordinance must be en-
forced, that being the case that wa'
all there was to that question. Thu
mayor would see that the proper fir
protection was used.
Renting Quarters.
The solicitor and the mayor wer
authorized to close a contract an,
lease with H. H. Phinney for the rent
ng of the present city offices. TIL,
lease prepared was read and explana
Itions made by City Solicitor Gelasor