Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-02
CITY TO OBJECT TO
GAS CHANGE UNLESS
COSTS ARE REDUCED
COMMISSIONER MEAGHER AND
CITY ATTORNEY ORDERED 1O|
ATTEND CONFERENCE IN CHI.
CAGO-cOUNCiL IN ROUTINE
SESSION.

Hearing reports and paying bills,
occupied the attention OF cOunci,men
at this mornings meeting of the com.
misisoners. An occasional communi,
cation is all that saved the session
from being particularly dull and un.
eventful one.
One thing is certain as he result
Of an agitation started ;his morning
by Mayor Bradford-the Public Ser
vice Company, of Northern Illinois, is
not going to be permitted to reduce
the quality Of its gas before the Pub
lie Utilities Commission without Civ.
ing the city corresponding reduction
in its retail prices.
This was made clear when a com.
from cit yclerks in and
around Chicago asking Ottawa to send
representative to the hearing which
will he held tomorrow in Chicago, was
read to the council. The present
standard for gas units Is 600 units Of
something. The company wants to e.
duce the quality to 536 of those same
kind of units, and, of course. has got
to air its request before the state
board.
Mayor Bradford suggested that
Commissioner Meagher and City At.
torney Clark be sent to Chicago to
tend the hearing and represent OF
tawa. He also suggested that the,
recommend a reduction in price II .ht
commission grants lowering o; 'hc
units. His honor has it figured tha
by cutting the heat units in the sas
the consumer should be given ab0u,
a five per cent benefit on his m1nilly
bill. The commissioner and attorney
will attend the hearing.
Wants Pay for Accident.
w. F. Jacobs, who drove his electric
into an excavation made for under.
ground wiring at the corner of Min
and La Sale street, several weeks
ago. presented bill of 1880 to the
city for repairs on his car. Mr.. Jacobs
held the city at fault for the mishap
and his request was referred to ;hr
city attorney.
Want Alley Kept Open.
The United Telephone Company ask,
ed the city to keep open the alley IN
the rear of the Clifton hotel, as TO
leave the passageway closed as t
now is, would work hardship on the
company when it moved onto it's prop
erty on the north side of the block
The alley as laid out by Public Engi.
neer FarnswOrth extends at least hfl
way over the river, but the company
has plans for reclaiming that section
of the highway that now is unusable
and wants the new curb arranged 80
the alley can be put to use.
Reports are Read.
The city clerks report shows there
were disbursements of $8.444.32 dur
ins the month and balance on hand
of $7,30102 with which to conduct
the business affairs of the administrl.
ton during the next four weeks
Chief of Police Zurich reported lCo
arrests during the month and fines
collected amounting to $246.
Fifty-eight inshpectioss were made
by the plumbing inspector and fees ag'
gregating $40 collected
The street superintendent sDont
$40 during the month.
The sealer's report showed the ga'
tests to have fallen below normal, only
once in the thirty days just -nded
On that time it reached 533 The
standard is GOO fixed by the "ity
The pay roll, included in which was
5000 in fees to Architect Jason +
Richardson for work done on Eospta
plans. was ordered paid Commission
or Helffrich left the chamer Just be
fore the roll was read and the com
missioners ordered $6,SSS.22 paid on
to the various departments of ,he ritN
without dissenting vote.
Improvement Board Meets.
The board of local improvement.
met after the council session and ors
dered paid on Engineer Farnswor'l'
estimates S2,T93.14 to Contractor
LEX for work done on the West La
fayette street paving, and A,GO66O O
to Contractor Cherry for work alread.
completed on the downtown paving.
Called to Grass Fire.
The Ere department was called yes
/ al nj