Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-21
LITTLE, BUT KICKS,
UP BEFORE COUNCIL
AT TODAY'S MEETING
COMMISSIONERS HAVE FIRST
LADY CLERK IN HISTORY, WHEN
MRS. CURTIS TAKES hUS-
BANDS PLACE DURING HIS AR-
sENcE.

MIS-. w. W. Iul tlS tulo A"'
the distinction of being Ottawa's first
and only lady city clerk to preside
during a session of the council. AS
chief of the city's clerical department,
Mrs. Curtis held her honors this morn
ing as tho she had been accustomed
to suci work all her life. She took
Mr.. Curtis place while he was in Chi
cagO, where he was called by the
death of his sister.
Because the task of handling all the
details CT municipal affairs alone re
posed on Mrs. Curtis shoulders, the
commissioners rushed their session
thru so she could return to her desk
without any more delay than was nee
essary.
Communications, petitions and
other matters ordinary in the weekly
grind of the council, were conspic
uous this morning for their absence
But one matter outside OF informal
discussions of things in general was
brought to the attention of the mayor
and his aids. The Palmer Forced
Draft Slack Burner Co., manufactur
ers of a boiler cOntrapti0n that if
guaranteed to save anywhere from
ten to thirty per cent on coal bills
asked the privilege of installins
their device at the pumping station
at no expense to the city and to b.
paid for out of savings in fuel as the
months elapsed. The company ha'
a representative at the meeting ant
he explained the workings of the slacl
burner.
Kicks Registered.
Commissioner Helffrich announce
to his colleagues that the street d'
partment was kept busy Sunday an
today clearing up damage left by Sa
urday nights storm. Trees wer
blown across streets in half doze
sections of the city and the men wer
put to work removing these obstru
tions from the thorOfares.
Commissioner Palmer stated he ha
warned residents of Jackson stree
to make water and gas connection
before the new paving was put dow
in that district. He also stated tn;
he and ether members Of the Rybul
Memorial hospital board had mat
trips of inspection to the hospitals
Aurora, Oak Park and Hyde Pa
: with the hope of gaining some info
+. nation that would be valuable in Il
f construction and laying out of {
tawa's new $4,000 addition to Il
burn Memorial The committee,
+ said, will visit similar institutions
the southern part Of the state befo
adopting any set of plans and spec
tlcations.
Commissioner Campbell stated
had received complaints from re
dents in the vicinity of the rayine {
Illinois avenue, in which it was poil
ed out that a serious health meia
would prevail there unless spec
4 steps we've taken to stop the dumpiI
+ of refuse there before hot wenlh
l. came along.
Y Mr.. Campbell asked what the dell
d was in getting the cleanup wo
r completed, and MI Helflrich inform
l. him that the men had been han
l. capped by weather, but he beiev
l. now the final touches would soon
put upon the job, when the conditl
i. CT the rayine cou.d be given attenti
C and further dumping prohibited.
10 Mr.. Campbell had also received
complaint about the condition OF
fire system in east Ottawa, and "
informed by Commissioner Palm
That both boxes over there had 10
been cut of commission and the
partment was considering their
moval entirely. He said the boz
we're not needed over on the otl
side of the Fox because most OF
$. calls for the department were ms
Of from there by telephone.
X, Nj. Campbell registered the tn
rs and last complaint recorded with h
d. when he called attention 10 the C
al dtion of the lit span of the Hin
N river and the loose boards thereon