Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-09-14
CITY COUNCIL.

The city council, at its session last
Thursday evening, considered several
important matters as follows
The committee on fire reported in
favor Of the city clerk issuing an
order for the sum of S5,25O in pay
ment for the new fire engine. This
caused discussion among the alder
men, some of whom found fault with
the tests recently conducted Among
the points raised against the engine
was that it did not hold up steam,
| that the steam dropped every time
the fire box was opened that the fire
box is too low down to admit a good
draught, that the boiler is not suffi-
ciently large for the capacity of the
engine. 1t was finally voted to give
the engine another test, before accept
ing it.
Plans for new city hall had been
submitted by ]. p. Jogerst of Mime
apolis and Van Ryn g. De Gelleke of
Chicago. The former furnished plans
for two kinds of roof, fat roof and
a slate roof, the difference in the
cost of the two being about $1,000.
Van Ryn & De Gelleke's plans are
for larger building than those called
for by Mr.. Jogerst's, necessarily max
ing the cost of the building more,
Mr.. Jogerst estimates that a building
erected according to his plans will
cost fros'a $4,000 to $50, 900, according
to the kind of roof selected. AS the
question was raised whether or not
the city is really in need OF a new
city hall, action was deferred until a
special meeting, which will be held
Thursday night. At that meeting
the board of public works will make a
report on the probable cost of such a
building, according to plans.
A special committee appointed to
select sites for the two new engine
houses and to have charge of their
erection was also ordered to report
at the special meeting.
Another special committee appoint
ed to investigate complaints of resi-
dents of certain section of the First
ward regarding the odor of escaping
gas, filed its report, which was read
The committee fixed the blame on the
Wausau Gas. Co., and recommended
that it be cut off from sewer connec-
tion unless the gas company makes
some changes to stop the leakage.
Different members of the committee
said they detected strong smell of
gas coming from the catch basins and
in houses near the works. j. d.
Taylor, representing the company,
said the gas might be sewer gas, as it
is haH to distinguish the difference
in the smell of the two, or it might
come from the tar with which the
sewer is partially filed. To shut off
sewer connection, he said, would mean
either the closing down of the works
or the use of the gutter as a sewer.
He also stated his belief that the coal
tar in the sewer was there before the
new company took charge of the plant,
because the new company sells every
gallon of its tar while the old COM
pany did not. He further said the
company's consulting engineer would
be here in few days to look the mat
ter over, and that the company is will
ling to stand its share of the expense
of cleaning the tar out of the sewer.
1t was voted to transfer $1,000 from
the water fund to the general fund.
A resolution was adopted providing
for widening Canal street and begin
ming condemnation proceedings
against property owners who refuse to
sell or who hold their property too
high. The sum of S5, 500 will be taken
from the city hall fund to carry on
the work.
Another resolution passed provides
that the C. & N. w. Ry. Co. be noti-
fed to build bridge over its track
where Canal street intersects, and to
widen its bridge at the Grand Ave.
crossing.
A resolution was also passed reading
in effect that the city's bridge on
Grand Ave. be removed and the wash
out filled even with the street grade.
The committee on lighting recon-
mended that an arc light be placed at
the corner of Sixth and Forest streets.
This raised an objection from Alder
man Mohr, who said that when he
had petitioned for light at the
corner of Sixth and Jackson streets it
had been refused. 1t was voted TO de-
fer action for the present.
A resolution providing for the pur-
chase of lot at the corner OF ).
Third Ave. and Thomas street was
amended by inserting the work south
east for northeast. This was done
because the one on the southeast
corner can be purchased 800 cheaper
than the OF er. The lot is waited as
a site foiy one of the new engine
houses.
Upon resolution adopted, the mayor
appointed Aldermen Flatter and
Delaney To act with the city attorney
as a committee TO look into the feasi-
bility of taking over the fair grounds,
and paying the agricultural associa-
tion's Indebtedness.
A special committee reported in
favor Of re-referring the Y. NJ. c. A.
building assessment mattel to the
committee of the whole, which was
adopted.
The city engineer reported that the
life of the high bridge is being short
ened because of rust and that many
parts are practically DESTROYED. The