The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-04
HANCOCK
CAN'T COMPEL RAILROAD
TO BUILD CROSSING GATES
Letter Read at Council Meeting
Last Night From South Shore
r. r. Attorney
BIDS FOR PARK ARE REJECTED

communication was received by
the Hancock council at its adjourned
session last evening from A. b. FL
dredge of the law department. of the
ID S. S. e A. railroad, replying TO n
r,ouest made by the city clerk. on in
structions from the council, that
crossing gates be established at varl-
ous points throughout the city. Elev-
on gates altogether were called i'm the
resolution. The railroad attorney in
his letter says, regarding the mat
ter:
your favor OF April 81 to Mr.
Smith. superintendent of the Mineral
that the common council directs pro-
tecting gates TO be erected at eleven
street crossings in Hancock, and also
recurring the building of certain side
walks, has been referred to me for
reply.
Undoubtedly the common council
IN ordering the crossing gates, must
have considered that under Sec. 3,112
of the complied laws of 1897. relating
10 cities of the fourth class, IL had
power to order the gates. In this the
common council Is mistaken. By Sec.
IS. of Public Acts No. 800 of 1909, jur-
isdiction is given to the Michigan
Railroad Commission to exclusion of
municipal If, therefore. all these
crossings gates are necessary for pro-
tect.c9 of the public in Hancock. ii
can only be so determined by the rail-
road commission.
Il am, however instructed by oper-
ating officials of the Mineral Range
Railroad company to say that they do
not believe that eleven crossing gates
have suddenly become necessary i'm
Hancock. hut If there are street cross
ings which require such protection,
the Mineral Range Railroad company
will be glad to take It up with the
city council or its representatives, and
put i'm such gates as IL deems neces-
sary without compelling the common
council to apply to the railroad COM
mission.
Il am, however, instructed to say
that the matter of sidewalks will be
taken up mt once" 'si
II appears from the above that II |
was necessary to interest the railroad
commissionl and n motion, offered by |
Alderman Scallon. was adopted in |
structing the mayor TO at once COM
municatc with the commission to Sc
cure its aid in compelling the railroad |
company TO erect gates at all OF the |
crossings specified.
Three bids were presented for the |
repairs to the park. and all were re-
jected, being regarded by the council |
as too high, the lowest being that |
of Anderson Brothers for $S5170 II |
was considered 10y the council that the |
expenditure of so large an amount is
unwarranted. but It was decided how
ever, to authorize the park committee
10 repair the fences at n cost not to |
exceed 5000. and also to see what can |
he done regarding improvements to
the track DIR. Gallen. Alderman Ma
Ter and Alderman Francis were APP |
pointed as committee to investigate
the conditions upon which the city |
granted to the Mineral Range railroad |
the right to build its tracks across the
foot of Ravine and Tezcuco streets. IL
being the impression that 1t was con-
ditional upon keeping the docks in re-
pair
Next Tuesday morning at s o'clock |
the mayor and council viii start out on
sightseeing tour through the city |
from extreme east to farthest west,
and from way down south to the
northern limits. II Is to he done at
the suggestion of the mayor who
thinks it will give the alderman bet |
ter idea of municipal conditions and
enable them to legislate more effect
lively.
New Bookkeeping System.
Mayor James was instructed to cor
respond with some firm of accounting |
experts with a view to having the |
books of the city audited preparatory |
10 inaugurating changes in the city's
system of bookkeeping.
The plans for sewers in four dis
'ricts' prepared 10y the city engineer,
were approved.
The salary Of Matthias Bell. care
laker of the city parks. was fixed at
40 month, and he Is to receive two
dollars day for such work as he has
already done in Montezuma park this
spring.
AT the request OF Chief of Police
THOR he and the mayor were given
authority to act I'm the matter of en-
gaging special officers for n couple OF
Jays in order to curb some automo-
oillsts who regard the Hancock pave
ments as a speedway.
A further extension of time was Civ
en- the health committee in the matter
VI garbage disposition.
Inc clerk was instructed to return
'ne certified checks to all bidders on
'he west Hancock concrete reservoir.
Except that OF Wick O'Connell, the
successful bidder.
Contractor Anderson was Instructed
!" hhish up some small sections of
9'ue"aik on Hancock street before en-
tering upon his hio oontrac, 90 huiId