Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-27
Council Bluffs
COUNCIL HAS A BUSY TINE
Preliminary Steps Taken Toward Sale
of Water Works Bonds.
PROBABLY BUY OLD SYSTEM
City Engineer Instructed 60 Draw
Plans and Estimates Of the Cost
Of DivertinE indian
Creek.

The city council last night. without dis
cussing Judge Smith McPherson's decision
In favor Of the city In the suit brought by
the c.. 2. Nash company Of Omaha at
lacking the validity OF the proposed issue
OF 100000 water works bonds. adopted a
resolution calling upon the city treasurer
to examine into the most feasible manner
Of disposing Of the bonds to the best ad-
vantage OF the city and for the purpose
for which they were intended to be used
and report back to the council at its next
regular meeting.
At an Informal conference the members
Of the council, II was stated, decided that
the city ought to buy the present plant II
II could be secured for what they consider
a reasonable figure. Failing in this, the
council will later take up the question Of
whether to secure the present plant by con-
demnation as provided by by a statute
enacted by the last legislature for the spec
ial benefit Of Council Bluffs, or to build
a new water works system.
The council dispensed with the reading
OF City Solicitor Kimbal's report Of his
Investigation Of the status Of the street
railway company's franchise rights in
Council Bluffs as the report had been
printed in full. without wasting time in
discussing the matter a resolution was
adopted directing the city solicitor and
judiciary committee to take up the mat
ter of the fifty-year franchise" What It
Is Intended that the city solicitor and the
judiciary committee should do in the mat
ter was not made plain, although II was
stated that It was not the intention at this
time to take any legal steps towards de-
termining the question OF the validity Of
what is generally known as the "subur-
ban franchise" under which it is presumed
the street railway company claims to be
operating.
DivertinE Indian Creek.
The proposition to divert the waters of
Indian creek came up when a petition
signed by 100 property owners requesting
the city to direct the city engineer in ac-
cordance with the law upon the matter,
to make plans and estimates Of the cost Of
tunnellng through the northeast part OF the
city for the purpose Of diveTting the waters
OF the troublesome little creek, was pre-
scented.
Accompanying the petition was a resolu-
ton as follows:
Be it resolved by the city council Of the
City Of Council Bluffs, Ia;
That the said petition be and the same
is hereby received and approved, and is
expressly found to be in compliance with
ali the provisions Of section S4s-B Of the
supplement to the code of Iowa, of 1907.
That the city engineer be and he is
thereby ordered and directed to make proper
plans and specifications for the diverrion
of Indian creek in the northeastern part
of the city and ncSr the northerly line OF
said city, through the diversion of the
flow of said stream by means Of open cuts,
tunnels or sewers to and In the direction
of Big lake and the Missouri river. He
shall also submit the estimate Of the cost
thereof, including any and all damages to
property, II any, that may be caused by
the making Of said Improvement, and the
said city engineer shall also submit, with
such plans, Specifications and estimates, a
map or plat showing the boundaries OF the
territory or district which will be E7ne-
fitted by such Improvement, and showing
as near as may be the name of the owner
and the value, Of each lot or parcel OF land
and other property therein as shown by the
last assessment roll
The petition and resolution were with
out discussion. ordered referred to a special
committee Of three to be named by the
mayor. Mayor Maloney appointed Council
men Morgan. Younkerman and Mcmillan
as this committed.
Fire Station Accepted.