The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-25
Committee Of State Inspection Bureau
Criticizes Methods Used Here and
Comments on Fire Danger.
PURCHASE STRIP AT LUND FARM
Connects State Road North End
Residents Ask for Sewerage
Jitney Buses to Be Licensed,


Monday evening session. The aid
ermen were addressed by w. o.
Chamberlain, r. L. Daniel, J. L. King
and S. H. Sabin, Minneapolis insur-
ance men, who had inspected the
wiring of various business houses ia
the city. Each member of the COM
mittee urged that the ordinance
which had been drawn by p. J. Rus
sell, city attorney, be passed.
In one business house In this
city," said a member of the COM
mittee, 1--WE inspected the wiring and
found the poorest condition prevail
ing we have ever met with. The
basement extension was connected in
a rude manner and instead of using
the regular devices for fastening the
wires to the beams, crossroads had
been used. Upon Investigation we
discovered that clerk had installed
the wire and thereby endangering
the entire block. Such instances as
this are usually the cause of the fires
of unknown origin and it should be
made a criminal offense for inexperi-
enced men to attempt any alteration
of wiring" - S@,@@$@ ..z =
what would be the result if the
present conditions were permitted
to exist?" was asked by President
Lycan.| ~. ~.
Favors Ordinance.
81 am sure that Bemidji is too
lively q city and is looking forward
to better advertising than to have
it's wiring condemned and insurance
rates increased. The matter would
be turned over to the state fire mar
shall who would undoubtedly .Nse !.
police power to turn off the curretf.
However, do not believe that the
citizens of Beniidji will carry the
matter that far and will prefer to
have the ordinance passed.
The councilmen promised the COM
mittee that they would do all In
their power to improve conditions.
The ordinance, if passed, will COM
pei. the inspection of all electrical
work by city employee who shall
have charge of this department and
who shall have the power to condemn
any improperly installed wires. It
was the first reading of the ordin-
ance. =
Arrangements were made whereby
the city will come into possession
of a forty-foot strip of land through
the Lund farm, north of Bemidji.
This stretch will be used to connect
the state road to shorter route to
Doud avenue. The deal was closed
for a consideration of $3.50. Work
commenced this morning cutting the
road through which will complete
the entire stretch. - -.
...~a Advertise for, Bids.
The bid of Goodman & Loitved was
accepted for the repairing of a road
and turnpike east Of the city. This
was the only bid presented and was
considered reasonable. City Clerk
George Stein was instructed to adj
vertise for the cement and concrete
work to be done by the city during
the coming year. =
Members of the Minnesota Avenue
Improvement association called the
attention of the council to the petit
ton that had been presented to the
council last year for the installation
of sewerage in the north end Of the
city. No step was taken to put the
proposition through but the petition
ers were promised that some action
would be taken in the near future.
Mayor William McCuaig, chair
man of the committee appointed BY
the Merchants association to aid In
repairing the road west of the city
over the swamp, addressed the coun-
Gil, and asked that some step be taken
to improve this highway. The mat
ter was laid on the table and the
city engineer was instructed to esti-
mate the cost Of paving and report
at the next meeting.
Reports of several of commit
tees in charge of various branch
es of the city's Improvement depart