Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-09
COUNCIL
i%;:5:e::I![|NG e
CONTRACT LET FOR cARfh' 'cIHW
CITY rREEs-APPRoPRIA-
TioNs MADE

IHe minutes Oh the regular meeting
of Feb. 23 were read and declared ap-
proved.
The following petitions for licenses
were read and granted:
George Koshak, pool table.
San Juan Transfer Co, transfer.
G.. II. Clark, public scale
The reports of the different officers
for the month of February were read
and ordered placed on file. The treas
urer's report shows balance on hand
of S7.56934. According to the police
magistrates report seven arrests were
made during the month. Health Off
Ger Hurd reports three cases of small
pox in detention. Five cases have
been discharged since Jan. 81.
The finance committee was author
lied to ask for bids for auditing the
books of the city clerk, city treasurer
and water superintendent.
When Chairman Smith of the street
and alley committee was asked what
he had to report on the streets, he
replied Mud
Chairman Turner of the health and
police committee reported that he had
instructed the marshal to be constant
ly on the lookout for ''vags" and arrest
them and put them to work on the
streets at once. The marshal stated
to him that among the idle men in
the city, all with the possible excep
ton of one, were willing to work il
they could get work to do.
A communication from d. NJ. Cam
field of the Rocky Mountain Under
writer's association relative to the diff
ferent ordinances it would be neces
surance rates in Durango, was read
and upon motion referred to the fire
and water committee.
The correspondence between Frank
e. Gibson, president of the Colorado
Landscape and Forestry and Mayor
Goodman, with regard to the tree
spraying ordinance and the letting of
the tree spraying, pruning and vitaliz-
dCl; was Inc PlOpootu
contract was read. According to the
terms of this Mr.. Gibson is to spray,
trim and vitalize the trees in the three
city parks for the sum of s427. In en-
work for private individuals his maxi
mum charge Is not to exceed $3.50
per tree. AS the Civic club is to fur
nish the spraying machine and $500
toward the expenses of caring for the
city trees, Alderman Mcrlock stated
the club should be given a voice in
awarding the contract. He said some
members of the council felt the work
should be given to home people, but as
yet they had not succeeded in finding
a perfectly competent man. The Mes
danes Balster, White, Pulford and Bu-
chanan of the Civic club spoke of the
efforts the club had put forth to raise
the money and insisted the contract
must be awarded to person who had
the equipment and knowledge to do
the work satisfactorily. They were
willing to consider anyone with the
council they might suggest who could
give as satisfactory references as Mr..
Gibson, but the council did not make
any suggestion. Mr.. Buchanan and
Mr. Wingate considered that 5000 paid
by the city to Mr.. Gibson would be
money well spent as it would give
our people valuable lessons in how to
care for the trees-lessons they
thought were greatly needed judging
by the tree butchery that had been
done in our city. After the subject
had been discussed for something over
an hour Mrs. White stated that If the
city investigated all expenditures as
carefully as they had this 5000 Du.
range would be the most beautiful
city in the wcrld This terminated the
discussion. Upon motion of Alderman
Morlock, seconded by Alderman Smith,
all members voting aye. the contract
was awarded to the Colorado Land
scape and Forestry company of which
Mr.. Gibson is the president.
A resolution that all city employees
should pay all honest debts or be dis
charged from service was introduced
and adopted.
City Attorney Ellis reported that J..
Homer Smith wired him that he would
remit $3.50 to cover election expenses
on the proposed gas franchise, but as
yet he had not received the money.
The bills for the month of February
which had the o. K of two members
OF the finance committee were read,
allowed and warrants ordered drawn
for the same.
City Attorney Ellis submitted the
following communication relative to
the annual tax levy:
March z, 1911.
Honorable City Council,
Durango, Colorado.
Gentlemen:
When you adopted the annual tax
lauy arjtp poa in Novop,to ION the