The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-02-02
PROJECT TO BUY
OFFICE LOCATION
PEEvES ROBBINS
In Huff Mayor Appoints
HOwells on Committee to
Consider Purchase of Dick
inson Bank Building.
ENGAGES ENGINEER
City Gets Expert to Appraise
Light Plant-COuncil Au.
thorizes $1,000 Loan For
Ladder Truck.

IIlOTlZeS Sll,VVU Loan FOR
Ladder Truck.
Ordinances appropriating a total OF
$14.330.50 were passed by council last
evening under suspension Of rules, and
a special committee was appointed for
the purpose of inquiring into the feas-
ibility Of the city negotiating for the
purchase of the property of the Dickin-
son Trust company, South Eighth
street. to be used as offices for the
municipal plant.
Two ordinances providing for the
purchase of an automobile aerial lad
der truck and improvements at the
city building were adopted, one appro-
priating $1,000 for the truck and
81 500 for the city building, the other
authorizing temporary loans for the
same.
To Employ Engineer.
Another ordinance appropriated ST.
900 of the funds of the municipal plant
to secure the services of a consulting
engineer, Mr.. Watts, to draft an inven-
tory of the plant for submission to the
state utilities commission, and a fur
ther appropriation of s830.5O to be paid
]. F. Hipskind, contractor. who built
and addition to the plant in 1913. The
$83O5O represents percent Of the
plants Indebtedness to Hipskind. held
out pending the acceptance Of the
work.
City Attorney Bond said it was nee
essary to secure the services of an
expert engineer to prepare an inven-
tory of the city plant. Such an inven-
tory has been ordered by the state
commission for reference purposes in
drafting joint lighting and power rate
schedule for the two Richmond plants.
Mayor Raises Protest.
Councilman Howells of the Fifth
ward introduced the resolution for the
appointment of a committee to inquire
into the advisability of the city pu--
chasing the Dickinson Trust company
property. AS the Trust company has
set price Of $25. 900 on this property.
Howells' action did not make a hit
with the mayor.
ut would make an ideal location
for the offices of the municipal plant,
Howells suggested.
Then the committee might inquire
why the Dickinson Trust company is
moving away from it," sarcastically
remarked the mayor.
He acted on the suggestion of How
ellis that Mr.. Burdsall be made chair
man of the committee. and named
Howells. Williams and Waidele as the
three other members. Howells was
not appointed. however. until Mr..
O'Neal remarked that 1t was custom
ary to appoint the author of such
resolution to the investigating COM
mittee.
"All right, I'll appoint Mr.. Howells.
I'll name the whole council If you
want me to-" said the mayor.
Mr.. Waidele spoke in favor Of To-
eating the offices of the city plant on
and near the center of the business
district Superintendent Kleinknecht
remarked, however, that the thought
the offices should be on Main street.
Needs Side Location.
I think it is time Richmond was
outgrowing the idea tina: no business
can be successful unless it is loated
on Main STREET" retorted Waidele.
The controllers report on city fl
nances for the month ending January
81, follows:
Amount on hand January 1. $21.-
273.S3: receipts since then, $1,162.57.
total. $23.O36.40.
Disbursements, $15,317S7. Balance
in general fund. January 81. $7,I1S.53.
In sinking fund, S6,5S2.1O in special
fund s9,591.62, in street improvement
fund, $7,14290; in Chautauqua fund,
s5O4.O1: in park fund. s1.229.20.
A belated report of the school city
for the fiscal year ending July 81, 1914.
was submitted to council. This has
been held in the controllers Office for
several months. 1t was published in
the local newspapers last August.
Protests Paving Plan.
Councilman Waidele reported last
night that the property owners on
West Seventh street are not satisfied
with the boards plan of improving
only that part OF the street between
Main and the National road. They
want the street improved from the
National road to the Peacock road.
They prefer to have sewer system
before street Improvements. however.
he said. Many property owners would
like to have the street permanently
improved with concrete. 1t was sug-
gested that the property owners file
a petition with the board Of public
works.
Council Waterman reported that
sewer at South Sixth and streets
had collapsed and a dangerous con-
dition existed. 1t was also reported
that catch basins all over Fairview
were stopped up.
Councilman Waterman reported
that the ordinance committe would rec
ommend to the police board that the
balance due on the flashlight system
b epaid. Sergeant McNally said. how
ever, that the system was not yet en-