The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1913-06-03
COUNCIL AIDS IN
ROAD IMPROVE YEMENT
Takes Advantage Of New State Law
and Authorized $500 to Be Spent
On Irvine Avenue.
POOR FARM MATRON REPORTS
Tells Of Conditions There and Asks
For Furniture and Clothing Also
Wants Governing Rules.
MAN THREW HOT WATER AT HER
Fist Fight Narrowly Avoided in the
Council Observation-Disclosures
License Renewed.
POOR FARM MATRON REPORTS
MAN THREW HOT WATER AT HER

License Renewed.
An expression of willingness to aid
farmers and many residents of Benz
idji in their endeavor to provide bet.
ter roads around the lake and leading
to the city was made by the council
at it's meeting last evening.
A. P. White appeared before the
council and stated to them that $500 =
had been secured for the purpose of
completing the road around the lake,
being a sufficient fund, but that the
money on hand would not hold out
very long with the force of 20 men
and two teams now working at the
head of the lake, and that it would
in his opinion be a good investment
for the council to take advantage of
the law passed by the recent legisla-
ture and repair the Irvine avenue
road to the head of the lake before
the men were dismissed. .. '.'r n-.>-.'r
This would cause large saving to
be made as another force could not be
gotten together readily when wanted.
- Phe new law provides that 10 per
cent Of the liquor licenses which
formerly went to the county. should
go to the city and be placed in a
road improvement fund. 49, -
The council authorized Mr. White
to ,expend not more than $500 on the
required improYemen Sz.s1..s.:zs
This means that within the next
month the road. to the head and
around the lake will be Of the first
class order. '...
Mrs. Annette, matron of the poor
farm, appeared before the council and
read lengthy communication con-
cerning the condition of the poor
farm. Among the articles which
she claimed should be provided the
poor were the following: New pump
for pumping water, sufficient clothing
for the poor, new bed and mattresses,
new water front and fire back for the
kitchen stove, new furniture, and
rules governing the actions Of the
poor. Mrs. Annette stated that 1t
was impossible fr her to keep the
poor in a clean condition because of
the fact that they were permitted to
leave the farm and remain away,
bringing back with them dirt and
"insects." ~..-z =-.. =,
That all is not roses for the mat
ron wa smade plain by Mrs. Annette
when hse reviewed how on several oc-
casions she had requested some. Of
the poor to perform small duties, in
one case, the same man twice threat
ened OF hit her with his cane and
one other time threw hot water on
her. ....;~
Members of the poor committee
were instructed to visit the poor
farm, take an inventory and provide
all articles needed for the care of, the
poor. They also were instructed to
draw up certain rules which were
to govern the poor while inmates OF
the farm. -, ~ =.
The application for the renewal of
the liquor license of E. K. Anderson
was granted. /
Excitement for the evening was
furnished when a petition from the
farmers of the town of Bemidji was
read requesting that the City of Benz
|idji not take any part in the con-
struction Of a proposed road in the
town of Bemidji. A motion was:
made to return the document to the
person who had placed 1t in: the
hands of the city clerk, but before 1t
had been acted upon, A. T. Ritchie,
at one time superintendent of the Be-
midji schools, and who is now a
farmer living in the town Of Benz
/ idji,. stated that he wished to ex-
plain the sending of the petition.
He did so and also told Of the rea-
son the farmers protested against the
building of the road, it being too ex-
pensive and the present road serving
the people in just as efficient way
as would the new one.
Alderman Smart disagreed with
Mr.. Ritchie and was not backward in
so saying
Smart fired a remark at Mr.. sRitchie
and no sooner had he done so,s when
l.up sprang the latter from his chair
and dared the aldermen to repeat
1.-THE statement on the street. The
Ialderman evidently did not. wish to
icarry the matter that far and It was
dropped.