The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-11
CITY Commission
TIMECLOCK RECORDS A FULL
SESSION-MOSTLY CONSID-
GRAFTON, NO DECISION.

T. A. Johnson occupying his old stall
at the table and again taking hold
of his duties with interest. He show
ed a knowledge of conditions and
developments having taken place in
the city during the several weeks of
absence at a hospital in Lacrosse,
Wis, and though not as robust in
either appearance or action as for
merly, he expressed a confidence in
being wholly capable shortly and
able to dispense with the company
of a villianous looking cane which he
has been depending on to some ex-
tent.
The local chapter of w. G.. T. Il.
communicated with the council with
a s~upplication for further help i'm the
work of maintaining a rest room in
Madison. The city has been assist
ing this organization to the extent of
$25 a month for this work. but due
to other conditions the ladies find
that il is now impossible to continue
with that amount. Pursuant TO the
request contained in their letter, the
council raised the amount $40. max
ing the monthly contribution $35.
1t has been one of the offices of this
rest room and organization to get
second hand or used clothing and
selling it to the poor at nominal
prices. Lately. however, there have
agents from larger cities who bought
up this clothing, making il impossi-
BILE to continue this work on the
scale in which IT had been carried on
and taking support away by that
amount.
Discussion arose as to the location
OF this rest room in connection with
the so called comfort station which
is required by the new state law.
The library basement was suggested,
but not long considered because of
its remoteness. The basement of
the Dakota State bank was suggest
ed. and met with considerable favor.
providing the arrangements could be
made and the necessary improve
ments and equipment installed.
Consideration of this matter
brought out the fact that the rest
room is largely ~patronized by people
from the country who are detained
or are waiting in town. For women
who are u-nacquainted and have to
spend some hours in the city. espe-
cially if they are accompanied by
umerou offspring. this Don is
recognized by the commissioners as
being a public benefaction and well
nigh indispensable.
The commission entered some time
ago into contract with an oil COM
pany in the south to furnish fuel oil
for the engine at the power station
for one year at a rate not to exceed
$1.75 a barrel. The price has now
risen to s1.65. and bids fair to go
far beyond that price in the near flu
ture. emphasizing the wisdom of en-
tering into contract for the supply.
Now that the streets are to be pro-
vided with so smooth a surface as to
need care, the commission are con-
sidering the purchase of dust pans
with little wheels and brooms. None
of the officials present showed any
ambition to operate the equipment
when it is bought.
An improvement company in town
vexed the commissioners, not so much
by allowing the weeds to grow, which
they could not stop. but by not cut
ting them after they had grown.
There is an alternating condition to
this. however. 1t is thought that if
the weeds are of the robust constitu-
tion which their appearance indi-
lcates they might be used as posts for
electric light wires. 1t received no
Official sanction, however.
Signs notifying motorists and foot
travellers that they are in a town and
not to go faster than the rated ca
pacity OF their means of locomotion
are being put up at the city limits.
1t was observed that managers of
fairs, picture houses and other am
bilious persons found these boards
excellent positions on which to dis
play advertising. This latter prac-
tice is said to make the intent and
purpose of these boards more or less
obscure to a stranger who does not
know their portent by long a%ssocia-
ton.
There Is an ordinance against bill
posting without license in the city.
and it Is found that there are no Ii
censes applied for this year-but
none can deny that there have been
bills posted. Informal instructions
were given hat men found posting
bills would be required to pay a pen
atty for violation of this ordinance.
The much mooted matter of
plumbers who dig beneath walks. or
who have others do so, to make con-
nections with sewer or water. and
leave the excavation but partly filled
again came under discussion. In
stances were cited of where cellars
and Easements were partly filled
with mud after or during a heavy
rain, the water following these loose
ly filled bitches to the Easements.
1t was thought that If about one
plumbers license should be revoked
for this cause 1t would induce great
er care, even IL 1t did not keep the
water out.
The first block Of Center street w
is without sewer connections, and the
a~dvisability Of again digging Egan
avenue up at the intersection Of these
streets was discussed. This corner
hoe hoor dug and torn and ~pycayatpd