The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-07-31
CITY Commission
AND ADJOCRNS IN DUE TIME
THEY ARE CUSSED AND
DISCUSSED.

About the only interesting feature
of the meeting last night in the city
hall was a note of impotence in the
question of the best way of recording
the purchase of lot 2, block 4. of
Henkin's Second addition TO Madi-
son, which is to be used by the city
to make an easier and safer turn i'm
the road. The mayor was authorized
by the commission to conclude the
purchase of the property. This was
done, and a deed obtained. 1t was i'm
the matter of whether to recognize
the sale by the commission or to al
low a bill for the purchase price of
5000. 1t was finally agreed that it
was a recognition of the purchase
only. and hat the allowance of the
bill for the matter would go to the
regular bin allowing meeting next
week.
Judge Holdridge. Mrs. Thos. Nc
Gee and Mrs. l.. M. Tolles appeared
before the board in the interest OF
the city library. asking for certain
repairs, decorating, plastering and
purchase of books for that institu-
ton. The sum asked for mainten-
ance, outside Of repairs is about
S1.700. The repair bill, to put the
building i'm ~presentable shape is not
large. 1t was urged that this library
is not as we'll supported as ii should
be. according to the size of the city
and the public patronage. other
cities. referring to this city for plans
for instituting such institutions. find
that il is not profitable. II was eX-
planned that the average of visitors
of both who take books and who are
casual readers average close TO 1,400
a month. OF those who subscribe for
books regularly there are about 450
a month.
OF the total expenses of the library
il was explained. there is only about
10 per cent expended for the pur
chase of new books. As a horrible
example of its conduct. ii was shown
that Luverne. a much smaller city
than this. expends s $500 a year for
books alone. The commissioners
promised to inspect the interior of
the building with a view to having IL
made ~presentable and to consider the
purchase Of ONE new books and re
bind some Of the used ones.
This delegation also urged the
purchase Of seats for the park. n
was shown that there are a great
many people. strangers. visitors and
dwellers in flats. who use the park
daily, and that they must occupy the
ground in the absence of seats. The
commissioners will take the matter
up Of getting seats for the park.
Mr.. Holdridge inquired %pointedlv
as to the reason for the paving on
the street past his home i'm Sixth
street NE being about eight feet
from the center of the street. leaving
n wide parking on one side. and
crowding the digging of storm sewer
toward his side of the parking into
such narrow space as TO seriously
menace the roots of trees. which, he
explained. he had been 80 years in
growing. 1t was not explained. The
storm sewer matter was one of nee
essity from the fact that the water
Jeanne to it from that side. Mr.. Hold
ridge observed casually that while
his petition had no success in stop
ping the sewer or the spoilage of his
trees or the placing of the street
where it should be, il might result i'm
saving at least his garden.
The good men were enthusiastic in
their admiration of the growth of
the useful and ornamental ragweed
at the real of the printing establish
ments of the city. They appeared TO
think that these moulders of public
opinion could really advise farmers
how to raise anything successfully
and the to~wnspeople witness a very
successful demonstration of the orna-
mental backyard. Yet the men
seemed to deprecate the crop-prob-
ably through jealousy. There was
some talk of the lack of an adequate
weed ordinance and a sweeping
threat TO do something"
An allowance was made the Deve-
lin company on work done on the
storm sewer on Egan venue and on
Washington avenue. There was a
criticism offered that the workmen
had not wet down the earth of the
refilling, and that ii would have to
be done. The filling of the bridge
on Lee avenue was also considered
and they made up their minds TO ask
the contractor to please knock the
cement boulders to pieces and clear
the street.
A resolution was adopted ordering
paving certificates issued to the c..
II. Atkinson Paving company for the
work done on the alley across the
block at the rear of the Lake County
Bank block.
A sample of house numbers was
exhibited by the city auditor. 1t is
on a single plate. white numbers on
a blue field, Of enameled ware of
such material as cooking vessels are
made. The fact that the actual num-
bers needed are not known. and the
price of "a cents for each plate led
the commissioners to hesitate about
taking any immediate action.
The city attorney outlined the law
relating to public toilets in the cen
trail part of the city, stating that the
city has six months in which to ar
range for their installation. No con-
clusion was arrived at.
The damaged condition of fha