Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-03-15
CITY COUNCIL TAKES
UP MUCH BUSINESS

Southern Pacific representative re-
gardlng the railroads controversy
with the municipality over the
freight depot and street crossing
matters. The southern Pacific man
did not appear, however, Mayor
Smith stating to the councilmen that
he had received a telegram from the
railroad man stating that lawsuit
elsewhere had prevented his coming
to Grants Pass.
The council then took up other
business, the first being the pro-
posed footbridge attached to the out
side of the county's steel bridge
across Rogue River at the foot of
South Sixth street. The committee
in charge of the question reported
that conference with the county
court resulted in an agreement
whereby the county will pay half the
cost and the city pay half, the cost to
be 5000. The council accepted this
report and a footbridge will be built.
Just when bids will be asked and the
work begun was not discussed.
City's Rock Crusher.
The rock crusher belonging to the
city is somewhat of a white elephant
at present. A committee which has
been looking into the question OF
selling the plant, made report
recommending that Schell and Schell
be allowed to purchase it at $4,000
payments to be made in instalments
Mr. Schell was present at the meet
] ing and stated that his firm did not
have rock material for one crusner
his own, nevertheless two. The sit.
uation regarding the plant is that
Schel and Schell had contract
to purchase at their option at the
rate of $3.50 a day actual time
used. But Schell stated last night
that he did not find sufficient proper
rock material at the quarry they
opened, and had gone to consider
able expense in opening this quarry
and building a road; that the rocl
was good for base material but no
for surfacing roads
Councilman Clark, who had beer
nomed a committee of one to lool
up some ornamental brick for salt
in Medford with a view of purchas
ing it at a cheap price, to be useC
in construction here for the new
city hall, reported that he founC
only a few brick, and the owne
wanting $50 a thousand for wha
little he did have
Propose Tax ON Poles.
An ordinance was read for tn,
first time proposing a license tax ol
poles carrying electric wires. Th
ordinance was also read the secon'
time by title.
The ordinance urged by the aut
men of the city creating a license o.
garages and autos for hire came u
for final passage and was defeated
the vote standing to 4, not suffi
cient yeas to pass it. Councilma
Mclean defended the proposed ord
nance, stating that It was intende
! as a protection for the regular deaI
ers owning autos coming here whe
business was good and cutting int
the trade of the men who conduct
ed regular business paid rents an
G taxes. There is an old ordinance 0
the books making the license 81
on public autos. This, il seems, ha
not been enforced, and one or tw
Y men only had paid the tax, one pa!
A ing $50 II was finally decided
o cut this s25 license OF the existln
ordinance to $40 an auto The eli
< attorney will draw an amended o
I dinance to this effect
The proposed ordinance for fiji
: escapes on all buildings Of two sto
i les or over came up for final pa
e sage. A committee reported that
s be amended so as to eliminate tV
; story buildings, or that the ordinan'
It not pass
II Stricken stated that there was. 7