Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-15
COUNC|LMEN LOCK
NORNS ON LIGHTS
HEATED DISCUSSION PREcEpEs
LETTING NJ |. L. & T. CO. FUR
NIsH CURRENT FOR CITY DUR.
ING NEXT FIVE YEARS.

He said, Let there be light and there
VAS light But light for the cjtv og
Z Ottawa was not furnished until after
; much argument among the commits.
lfsioners at this mornings meeting of
the' council. After prolonged debate
/ a hve year contract was let TO the
northern Illinois Light g Traction
Co. Tor supplying current for. the
street and decorative systems.
Inc commissioners locked horns
over the matter and for a time il
looked as tho the measure would no
defeated.
The traction company submitted
three bids, one year contract ana
Two Others for three and five wears
The company will furnish The "iuice',
for the big are lights at $53 per wear
In I'VE year contract. n slight in.
crease over figures of previous years
commissioners Meagher stated that
In La Sale the city lighting plant was
able 10 furnish the Juice" at a cost
OF $50 per year. and in his opinion
the contract ought not to be accented
until some investigation had been
made to find out what the neighbor.
ing cities were paying.
commissioner Meagher then intro.
duced motion asking that action be
delayed on the matter until such n
time ns they could arrange to enter
INTO contract at more reasonable
rates.
a vote was taken on the matter and
itelast by 3 to 2.
commissioner Charles W. Camp.
Dell stated that he made an investiga.
ticn aRd found that Ottawa was get
ting lights lower than in other cities.
Mayor Bradford stated that as long
as the bids OF the n. l. L. & r. Co.
nave been on file since October 10.
1t was time that vote should be
taken and the matter disposed OF.
commissioner Helifrich stated that
II ccntfact could not be made at
lower price the city should take steps
toward building municipal lighting
system. He estimated that bond is.
sue OF $4,000 would be necessary to
erect an auxiliary plant in connection
with the city pumping station. After
much wranglng in connection with ,
the subject vote was finally taken ,
en- the matter OF accepting the con-
tract Of the Northern Illinois Light &
Traction Co, and the measure passed ,
BY d vote Of ; to- Commissioners
Heinrich and Meagher voting mo"
on the proposition.
Mayor Bradford stated that he did {
not want any commissioner to feel
that he had been ignored Commits
siOner Meagher stated that he felt
that he had been ignored entirely in (.
the matter but that he was getting !.
used to the treatment and would be !,
forced to take his medicine. ;
Pay Damages to HemmerIe. !
Canal Collector William Hemmerle +
was awarded $50 in settlement of his t
bill of $l02.53 for damage done to U
food in his cellar when the sewer I
backed up during the January flood .
Of year ago Mr.. Hemmerle agreed
ut the settlement price and upon mo-
lion OF Commissioner Heltfrich the
bill was ordered paid
A communication to the council ',
rom the local board of fire examiners =
was read, recommending that the ),
Standard Oil Co. be forced to erect =
heir $45, 600 plant outside Of the city
limits. The communication was re- ),
ceived and filed but no action upon :,
awarding the Standard OIL people a :,
permit was taken u
Adjournment was taken until next n
Monday morning b