The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-06-10
PAST, PRESENT AND
FUTURE
BY Mayor X. Y. West)

bldCklOOI was StdSe otdIioh AZ
1877, in 1878 al trading post was
estabi shed and the following year
1879 a store was opened by c. Danil-
son and managed and owned little
later by Dani!son and Stevens. From
this time until January, 1901, Black
foot was simply hamlet of the coun-
ty. On the 10th of January, 1901,
a petition of over 200 signatures was
presented to the county commission
ers asking to grant them a village
government. The prayer of the petit
TONERS was granted and d. II. Bic
than, c. w. Bergman. Clarence Kin
ney, Henry c. DIPPED and Colonel
John w. Jones were appointed
board of trustees to serve until their
successors were elected and qualified.
On January 18th, 1901, the board
met and organized by electing Col.
John W. Jones. president; and S.
D. Hiliiard, clerk. In April of the
same year the first election was held
which resulted in the election of the
board appointed by the comm ,ssion-
ers. The board organized by elect
ing Colonel Jones president. On No
vember 21st, 1901, Colonel Jones
died. The vacancy caused by his
death was filled by the election of
F. E. Dekay, and G. W. Bergman
was chosen president of the board.
In 1905 bond election was ordered
by the board for the purpose of pur-
chasing that part of Pacific street
from West Main to Montgomery street
the bond carried, the territory pur-
chased, and the street was opened
and dedicated to public use. Dur
ing the winter of 1907-08 the ladies
of the V. 1. S. concluded that the
cemetery ought to belong to the vii
lage, with that end in view they
borrowed money and purchased the
cemetery from Mr.. Biethan, trust
ing to the progressive spirit of the
village to purchase from them as soon
as arrangements could be made by
the village trustees. Some time after
the board ordered bond election for
the purpose of purchasing the ceme-
terry. The bonds carried, there was
not a dissenting vote cast at that
election. The board readily sold the
bonds and purchased the cemetery
from the V. l. s. which gave the
town a home for it's dead. In 1908
the ladies of the v. I. S. raised money
and started to improve the cemetery
by grading the streets and trimming
trees, and arranging the bitches in
such way that greater portion
of the lots could be irrigated. On
July 1907 the village board passed
an ordinance dividing the territory
within the corporate limits of the
village into four wards. preparatory
to it's becoming city of the second
class. In February, 1909, the village
board ordered an election to be held
on April 9Th, for the purpose of cleo
ting a full set of officers for city
of the second class, mayor, city
clerk, city treasurer, city engineer,
and two aldermen from each of the
four wards.
After the order was made for the
election a convention was held which
nominated a full ticket. There were
some dissatisfied with a portion OF
the ticket nominated and another
convention was called which nominat-
ed another candidate for mayor, and
pledged their support to the balance
of the ticket nominated at the first
convention. The resolutions adopted
at both conventions were in favor of
the sewer system, city hall and street
improvements. The campaign was a
spirited one until the polls closed on
the eve of election day the writer
modestly states that he was the VIC
tor in that struggle and does not
hesitate to say that the defeated par
ty has been anxious and willing at
all times to assist in the improve
ments of the city along the lines
mentioned in the resolutions adopted
at the convention. After the new city
officers were qualified and indicted
into their respective offices, the
improvements of the city was
discussed by them in all it's phases
and order made for bond election
to bond the city for $4,000 for
sewer system, city hall and street
improvements. At that election there
were only IS votes cast against the
bonds. Soon after the election the
council ordered an advertisement for
bids for 6 per cent 10, 20 coupon
bonds of the city of Blackfoot for
S57,500. These bonds were sold to
John Nuveen & Company, bankers of
Chicago, at premium of $500. Aft
err the sale of the bonds w. J. Banks
was employed to draft plans and
specifications for the city hall. c. W.
Bergman, John G. Millick and Harry
Bennett were elected by the council
as sewer commission. The sewer
commission employed Lewis G. Kelsey,
formerly city engineer of Salt Lake
City as supervising engineer of the
sewer Lindstrom & Oren of Mon
tana we're awarded the contract for
the construction of the sewer system,
w. J. Banks was awarded the con-
tract for the building Of the city
hall and Markus Mester employed
as supervising architect. The city
hall will be completed by July LIST
4. I-E h.