Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-11
LIGHTING SERVICE
DRAWS FIRE FROM
CITY GOVERNMENT.
COUNCIL ORDERS ATTORNEY TO
TAKE STEPS AGAINST N. !. l..
SECURE BETTER RESULTS.

was authorized by the city council to
look into Northern Illinois Light K
Traction Company contracts with the
ayowed purpose OF ascertaining what
manner and form oi punishment can
be dealt out by the administration
for the unsatisfactory service" that
is now being given with the lighting
system.
First guns were fired by Commits
sioner Patrick Meagher. who an
nounced he was growing tired" OF
getting reports from all sections OF
the city that lamps We're out and then
being able to get no satisfaction
from men in authority at the com
panys plant, Mr.. Meagher recon-
mended that drastic steps be taken
to correct the alleged evil. even to the
extent of forcing some action that will
give the city better results than il
has been getting.
When a vote was taken on Mr..
Measher's motion that steps be taken
against the company all the commits.
sloners were unanimous and Mr.. Clark
will be called upon to look into con
tracts and ascertain just what are the
city powers in dealing with the com
pany, before any formal and decisive
steps are decided upon
The mayor and commissioner Camp
bell recommended that records be
kept upon the lights ard deductions
made at the end of each month when
bills are paid Commissioner Ielff
rich was of the same mind while Com
missioner Meagher believed somethint
more drastic was necessary to brine
the utilities corporation to time.
In his statement to the council Mr.
Meagher said:
II am called upon evenings and no
titled that lamps are not burning from
all sections of the city, where people
are reporting them out, and so far
have been unable to get any result,
. from the company. They place the
blame ON their inability to get repairs
and trees short circniting the eur
rent, The whole system is a joke ant
it's about time that something wa,
done to give the city the kind of sery
ice ii is entitled to"
Pass Tax Levy.
The tax levy. covering all expenses
of the city for the ensuing year where
/ included with the revenues pourins
! into the treasury, was adopted as pre-
/ scented to the commissioners. Thu
levy calls for raising by taxation $57
cal .1G to meet the extra amounts tha
are NEEDED over and above that fun
niShed by the revenues.
Exhibit Ratified" Bricks.
Complaints that have been pourin
In the the newspaper offices and int
the city headquarters against the styl
Of brick being used on the loop
paving were based as unfounded thi
morning by commissioners and Eng
neer George L. Farnsworth. Obje
tions were raised to the wire-cut lu
some saying that the bricks were 'nt
: cut even and others saying the brio
would not be serviceable
In response to these objections Il
mayor had statements from half
dozen Of the best engineering authc
tiles IN the country and all were
: the same opinion that the wire-c
) lug made the most practical and Ion
est lived brick known to the ceram
7 science at this time.
J Ignorance in the method of usiI
J. the brick is assigned to the objt
X tions After the bricks are laid &
Z wire cut lug is filled with grout. t
u cement then hardening and forming
u closeitting wedge that will not p,
l. nit of the brick moving in any
3 rection.
o The city of st. Louis uses The wi
II cut long entirely in its pavement n
le passes all ordinances providing
II that style Of brick.
~ This morning q score OF the brI
T. taken from the Ottawa piles that h
" been put thru the ''rattler" as a T.
~ were exhibited and showed but lit
It wear after going thru this stiff tt
~ The bricks were ratified" for an u,
III and show deductions of only ab
~ fifteen per cent, when the stands
III tcsts calls for Il twenty-three per c
Ell decrease Reports showing at le
'o thirty tests were read and only o.
y. did the brick fall away more than
en allotted amount while all the OF
'"' tests were much above the ig
fixed by the standard tests
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