The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-20
Ninety Days Given Com
pany to Make Local I'M
provements Expired Aug.
7.-Work Not Finished.
CITY CONSIDERING
COURSE TO PURSUE
Step Taken by Council Last
Night to Repeal Joint Pole
Agreement Other Mat
tiers Heard.

Drastic action against the Terre
(Haute Indianapolis and Eastern Trac-
ton company is imminent. The nine
!ty days granted the company to make
repairs and improvements demanded
by the city council, in an ordinance
passed May 6, have long since ex-
pired. Members of the city council
and Mayor Zimmerman, at session of
the body last evening indicated their
Willingness to proceed against the
company at the next meeting of the
council.
When the ordinance was passed
May 6, ninety days was deemed suffi-
cient time by Mayor Zimmerman for
the traction company to make the i'm
provements in the city service and on
the system demanded by citizens. The
ninety days expired August Z.
May Revoke Franchise.
Mayor Zimmerman then informed
the city attorney to look into the mat
ter of the revocation of the franchise,
,and said the question would be de-
cided at the next session of council.
few minutes later a councilman
from the South Side asked the mayor
If the street car company had the right
to use the city streets for the storage
of rails. He informed the council that
residents on the west side of South
Eighth street are objecting to the
presence of rails, which have been
lying on that side of the street for
several months.
Other matters of apparent dilatori-
ness on the part of the traction COM
'pany in complying with the city's de-
mands were then cited. One member
of the council declared that an Off
cial of the traction company said that
''he felt like tearing up all the tracks
in the city" This was greeted with
remarks from several councilmen that
the city certainly would not object
to such step.
Under the law governing the revo-
cation of the franchise of the street
car company, reasonable time" to
make the improvements demanded by
the city council must expire before
conclusive steps are in order.
The question of councilman, if the
company can be compelled under the
franchise to extend it's tracks down
South Eighth street to South l. or N
streets, was referred to the city at.
torney. He explained that if the COM
pany refuses to make the extension, it
loses it's right to the streets on which
the extension is asked
Weed Nuisance Up.
City Attorney Gardner was instruct
ed to notify property owners that
weeds on vacant lots be cut. Several
fragrant violations on East Main
street were reported. DR.. T. H. Davis,
city health officer, was quoted as say.
ing that 1t be proved first that the
weeds are detrimental to health be.
fore steps can be taken against the
guilty property owners.
The stencil arising from open ma.
.nure boxes in the alley between North
Third and Fourth streets and North
c and d streets was reported to the
council and the matter referred to
the board of works.
Whether the oiling of streets is det
frimental to the physical condition OF
the thoroughfares was the subject OF
debate after the condition of South
Seventeenth street from Main to A
street had been reported Residents
there complain of the mud and through
their councilman asked for an i'm
provement of the thoroughfare. Mayor
zimmerman held that the oiling OF
streets prevents surface water from
escaping, leaving the streets in a mud
dy condition after a heavy downpour
He also argued that the oil softens
the crushed stone. His attitude was
contested by members of the council
who believed that the oil benefits the
streets.
Appropriations Made.
Additional appropriations for tn.
year 1912, requested by the city con
troller, were passed The sum of S1O(
was voted for the public scales in tn,
South Sixth Street market. The mea
inspectors salary of $50 for Angus
was granted, and the claim in full
against the city by Thomas and Alic,
Martin for damages sustained by Mrs
Martin at her home, 120 William
street. September S, 1911, was allow
ed. She was paid $166.67. The stree
car company and the Richmond Light
Heat and Power company each pai
sums In the same amount.
The reply of the Hackman, Kleh
10th company to letter of city clerl
asking the concern what part of tn
proposed improvement of South {
street it would pay, proved unsatis
factory to the council, and the cler]
was instructed to ask the compan,
70 state specifically in dollars an,
cents what it would pay. The com
pany's letter stated that above it
frDnxtr.~S