The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-02-26
COUNCIL. GUSTS PARK.
By q Vote of Four to Two They
Squelch the Proposition.

OskalOOSa city council convened in
special session last night tabled the
proposition to purchase the old fair
grounds for city park by vote of
4 to 2. The councilmen had evidently
passed judgment on the matter in
their own minds before converting
and it took just about the final three
minutes of the meeting to place the
proposition on the table. Mayor
Seevors called the matter up and
Explained the steps necessary to make
the purchase if it was so desired.
Councilman Roberts moved that the
matter of park be laid on the table"
and it was promptly seconded by
Councilman Williams. Laffollette
took the floor and stated that he was
decidedly opposed to so speedy an
execution of the petition submitted
at the last meeting with over hall
hundred signatures. Roll was called
and showed Penders, Roberts, VIII.
liams and Wells voting aye and Laf-
toilette and Mendenhall casting their
vote nay. Brewer was not present.
Placing the proposition on the table
does not necessarily prove a final de-
feat of the measure but it deals it a
crushing blow and it is very probable
that the matter will not be called up
before this council again.
Discussion of the city water works
system and various controversies eX.
listing between the council and the
Water company occupied the greater
portion of the two hours session last
night. H. S. Howard, president of the
Water Company, and Chas. J. Fox,
superintendent, were present at the
meeting and took part in an informal
discussion pro and con regarding
matters in dispute. A refusal of the
council to allow the six months hyd-
rant bill presented by the Water Com.
pany at a previous meeting on ac-
count of the failure of the company
to pay a bill claimed by the city
for paving repairs made in places
where the paving had been torn up
by the company was the cause of the
controversy. A general discussion of
the water works plant, the filtering
system, pressure for fires, city fire
equipment, and the paving repairs
mentioned, was the result. In the end
the council voted unanimously to al
low the bill presented by the com
pany. An oral agreement was reach
ed that the repairs in the controversy
should be gone over by members of
the council and representatives OF
the Water Company as soon as wealth
er conditions permit and that the
company will then pay whatever
amount the council deems equitable
and just IL was also tentatively de-
'termined that Che owners of the local
plant, who arc located in Baltimore,
Md, will come to OskalOosa in the
near future and that they will thrash
over with the council in detail the
various questions of water supply,
equipment of the water works plant,
and fire pressure. as preliminary
move to application for new fran
chise. The old franchise under
which the Water Company is now
acting expires within a short time. 1t
seemed to be the prevalent opinion
of the councilmen that the present
water works plant is totally made
quate to supply the city. of Oska,
loosa with water for either domestic
purposes or for fire protection. No
definite action was taken by the
council as a result of the discussion
other than allowing the bill for water
furnished through the city hydrantS
for the past six months.
Councilman Wells had prepared a
resolution. of necessity for new paw
ing but 1t was not presented owing
to the absence of Councilman Brewer.