The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-12-04
WANTS FIRE.
RATES LOWERED
WATER SYSTEM ABOUT COMPLETE
Drastic Ordinance Against Explosives and
Infamable Oils introduced Deficit
Receives Attention

An attempt by the business men of
the city TO secure lower fire insurance
rates resulted in the introduction of a
Monday evening regulating the use and
storing Of explosives and inhamablel
oils in the city limits.
In response to the demand for lower
insurance rates the board of fire under
writer's sent an agent from Portland
to investigate conditions here and re-
port. The citizens felt that with the.
increased fire protection afforded by
the completion of the new water sys--
TEN, resulting in large storage reser-
voir on the lillian abundance Of water
and good hydrant pressure, the city
should get the benefit of better protec-
tion from the fire in lower rates. The
agent said that the first thing TO do
was to put more restrictions on the
use and storage of explosives and in
fiamable oils, and also 10 fix up the
automatic fire alarm system. The new
ordinance was the result.
w. B. Mcclure appeared before the
council in behalf of the fire department
and said that the automatic system
was faulty because il used the cable.
wires of the telephone system. which
we're grounded at intervals; and while
they would work all right in the tele-
phone service, it would be necessary to
string special wires for the fire alarm
system. An expert had been brought
here from Seattle and the new system
will be put in good shape.
IA Z. La In
tions put in force by the council that q
reduction will be had In fire insurance
rates OF residence property. at least.
Newton Clark appeared before the
council in behalf of a petition asking
for two street lights on Sherman Ave.
between Ninth and Eleventh streets.
The same we're granted.
The finance committee reported that
there was deficit of over $4,000 in
the cost of the completion Of the new
water system, and recommended a
special election to be held to sell the
| bonds to make up the deficiency. The
total cost of the new system, according
to the city engineers report, is $780,
760. a., while the original bond issue
to pay for the same was only $50, 600.
The city attorney was Of the opinion
that special election could not be
had for the purpose on the lines recon-
mended by the committee, and the
matter was laid over pending further
investigation.
The city engineer reports that the
work at the spring is complete. Water
| is taken direct from the spring through
pipe to the receiving reservoir and
thence through the conduit to town.
| The work is all inclosed no that the
water is covered and protected until
drawn from the pipes here in town.
| Measurements taken at the spring
show flow of l,100,00 gsIlons for
every % hours.
The conduit has been all laid in place
and acceptance of the work is held up
only on account of few leaks. The
wet condition of the ground making II
hard to detect them, has delayed the
fixing of these.
| The reservoir on the hill is complete.
as is the work here in town. with the
| exception of changing the connections
on Twelfth street, which Is being done
i now.
Water from the spring Is being used
as far down the hill as State street and
can be turned in on the rest Of the city
| at any time, but on account of the
necessity of adjusting the regulating
valves on Ninth and State street this
has been held up until It is certain tha
no pipe will have to be changed on the
pipe line.
Two bids were received for the $780,
999. 80 of improvement bonds OF th'
Hassam paving contract. The Lum
berman's Trust and Savings bank, o
Portland. was the successful bidder
agreeing to pay Sl00.08 for each $l0l
worth of bonds, with accrued interest
The other bid received was Splitter
Rorick & Co., of Toledo, Ohio, offeiin,
par and accrued interest, with redue
tion onthe entire issue OF S5l5 for lith
ographing the bonds and attorneys
fees.
An objection to the assessment O
the macadam paving on State stree
II filed and Signed by Mrs. Peugh, o. p
Dabney, J. Often and w. E. Hanson
for Hood River county. was sustained
The obiectors claim that the numbe
n Of square yards of macadam charge
for by the contractor is in excess Q
the actual measurement that the pric
of s.9s. per square yard Is the contrac
price complete for all work." an
that the assessment Is in excess of IT,
actual cost: that the assessment TO
"headers" to the amount of s33. SO
excessive and not advertised for; tha
if such retaining wall is necessary
1t should be done at the expense of th
contractor under his bid Of $.98 70