The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-03
CITY CONSIDERS
insurance Plan
Protection Against Acct
dents on Unguarded Stair
ways is Sought.

Special liability insurance to pro-
tect the city Of Grand Forks from
actions brought by citizens who may
fall down exposed area ways was con-
sidered at the meeting of the city
council held Monday night
"A large number of basement STAIR
WAYS etc, open on the city walks;
The council realizes that to compel
the removal OF these would entail
considerable hardship OF the property
owners, but feels thai the city should
protect itself from damage suits
which may arise in case pedestrians
should fall down any of them
For that reason City Attorney j.
B. Wineman has been instructed to
work out Of n scheme of liability In
surance. by which the city will be
protected from having to pay dam
age arising in such cases. The ex-
pense of this insurance will be borne
by the property owners of the stair
ways.
Cannot Run Market.
That the city cannot legally oper-
ate a municipal meat market SO as to
furnish the citizens of Grand Forks
with meats at cost, is the gist of an
opinion res by City Attorney j.. b..
Wineman. A petition, requesting
''hA " SSAoAo VII nv ~
made, was presented to the council
at the last meeting.
The city attorney held that it was
not within the power of the city to
conduct such a business under the
provisions of the charter granted to
Grand Forks by the state. He stated
that, no matter how commendable,
without express authority from the
state. The IA businesses into
which the city may enter are laid
down by statute.
Mr.. Wineman went on to state that
If the city could conduct all kinds
OF businesses, which would give the
people cheaper meats. groceries,
would be working for the city and
that there would be no profit for
anyone. Such acts would deprive
people Of their lawful businesses, he
said, n would take away from
a of earning Il livelihood,
unless they WORKED for the city and
all people could no do that.
When asked if the welfare clause
in II statutes did lot this
point, he answered in the negative.
The city attorney further stated that
IN case The city would be able to OPP
crate a market, the butchers would
lie taxed to deprive themselves of
regal businesses.
infringement Suit Threatened.
The Jewel Filtration company has
City Attorney Wineman that
there were a number of cities and
large companies in tho United States
which had plants infringing on their
patent rights and that Grand Forks
was in the number. 1t is understood
That the company asked for asfriendly
settlement and gave as proof TO their
claim that the courts in an eastern
state had held for them i'm a similar
case.
MIR. Winenan conferred on the
matter with City Engineer II. G.
i;Nkken and they do not believe that
the company has Il valid claim
against tho city, even though the
patents are infri1&ed. as the Jewel
COMPANY. were bidbers. according to
Mayor Murphy. fof. the contract and
specifications called for. Mr.. Wine-
man stated that they understood the
manner of plant which was installed
in this city and that if they had AT
n time a valid claim against the
city, they had lost it by laches, i:ue
TO their neglect.
The local plant was put in by the
l~attsourgh COMPANY, which, it is UNI
derstood by the city engineer, had
back to City Attorney Wineman and
Engineer Lykken, who will inquire
into the eXac state of affairs and re-
port at the next, meeting of the
council. ~
Routine business Matters,
Bills for the month were presented.
approved Of and the auditor in
to draw warrants. Reports
were received from the CITY and;tor
the city treasurer, police magistrate,
Weighmaster and superintendent OF
the waterworks and other denart-
ments of the city.
The amount collected at the CITY
scales was S2.15 and the city had
loads.
The water report showed that 21.-
s2l.S50 gallons Of water had been
pumped for the following purposes:
City mains, 11.546,85O; Great North.
ern, 9,0S0,O00; Russell Miller Milling
company. 1,O35,0O0.
me cost of operating the power
and light plants for January was
about $1,000, according to a report
with the new equipment and shows =
month. " pe1
The building obstructing Washing
ton street and belonging to c. +.
Wisner, which was ordered to be
removed, has been done away with.
a vote of thanks was extended to
City Attorney Wineman for his
prompt action in the matter.
Sewer Matters.
no protests were received on the
building of a sewer in district four.
as a been advertised am the CITY
auditor was instructed to advertise
for bids; The estimate for the work
The petition for a new sewer on
fi1th avenue from Cottonwood to
Cherry streets was received and fay-
oraDly acted upon.
The special abattoir committee
was given power to advertise for
BIDS for ice to be used at the municI-
plant and to award the contract.
This special power was ante to
the committee sc that they would be
able to put the plant into working
oraer In the shortest possible time.
The reports on the city water snow
that h filtration plant is doing ex-
ce!ient work and removing practic.
ally ~ per cent of'the bacteria from
the raw water Some improvements.
are urged by DIR. Ruediger.
and these were referred to the com.
mlttee on W~aterWorkS with power IN