The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-19
HLLDRETH FUSED
With STEWART
M. A. HILDRETH AND JAMES
STEWART cLAsHED LAST
NIGHT AT CITY COUNCIL LIT
TIE BUSINESS WAS TRANS
ACTED.

When Aid. James Stewart OF the
First ward and M. A. Hildreth clash
it certainly furnishes a great deal of
conversation and amusement but lit
the business is done. That is what hap
pened last night at the city council,
and aside from the filing of a few
plans and specifications for sewers
and water mains the whole session
was given over to the ~squabble Of
these two gentlemen who spent an
hour and a half waxing sarcastic at
each other and then adjourned.
Colonel Hildreth was there as a
property wner of the city Of Fargo of
twenty years standing "a fact he
impressed upon the aldermen at least
forty times during the evening in his
several lengthy discourses). He
came with l. p. Clappf and r. M. Pol
lock to protest against the laying of
street south, that is now being i'm
proved, and which has been ordered
laid by the council after the proper
filling has been made.
The mayor recognized Mr.. Hldreth,
and he talked about twenty minutes
telling how heavy the taxes were and
that he felt the resolution ordering
the proposed sidewalk on Seventh
street south was unjust, He said he
Idu LdIhSu u uuulGTOuS TOpSII OWH-
ers of the Third ward, n not among
any to whom he had spoken could he
find the slightest desire for this side
walk. He complained of the great
expense to which he was put in living
in the city, and felt that the time was
not ready for such IN Improvement as
as had been proposed,
INDUCED in Sarcasm.
Alderman Rupert then explained
that he had introduced the resolution
providing for This sidewalk on the re-
quest of many Of the residents Of the
Third ward and that the sentiment
was largely for the improvement as
The present board walk vas known
to be very poor.
IF the distinguished alderman from
the Third ward,' said Mr.. Hildreth,
will bring me a petition showing me
the number Of names of property own
ers of that ward who want a side
walk on Seventh street south l will
be glad to see 1t. I'll venture to say
his number won't reach an even
score"
With that Alderman Stewart jump
ed into the scrap and told the mayor
he felt the city council knew what
it was doing and that it ought to go
ahead and do it's business.
This man in here" he said,
and in his speech on one night we
meet he threatens to sue the city on
account Of poor walks and tonight
says we don't need better ones when
We want to lay a good permanent
walk in place Of the board walk down
there now. I think the city council
ought to go ahead and do its bust
ness"
Hildrsth Answers Hotiy,
Mayor Sweet started to make an
explanation but Mr.. Hildreth inter
rupted by saying in way of a retort
to Alderman Stewart:
Mr.. Mayor that remark doesn't
disturb me a bit"
And yours doesn't disturb me a bit
either" answered Mr.. Stewart lust as
sharply. Then he turned to the mayor
and said, "Mr. Sweet, 1 move we ad-
%journ.".
Hold on just a minute" said mayor
w must look into this matter"
He called the city attorney and ask
ed him to investigate certain ordi-
nances affecting the laying of side
walks and crossings. In his argr-
ment Mr.. Hildreth had contended thai
the city could not force property own
ers to put in their W filling nor
crossings. That to order them to put
in sidewalks along their own PROPERTY
fronts was all the farther the city
could legally go.
Johnson Sustained Rupert.
Other business was taken up for q
few moments until City ATTORNEY
Smith could look up the ordinances
In question. And when the matter was