The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-06
FERRY COMPANY
GRANTED LEASE
BY COMMISSION
Commissioner Best Only Member
Voting Against Giving of
Franchise
GASOLINE BOAT HAS
CAPACITY EIGHT CARS
Petition Asks Commission to Con
struct White Way From
Second to Seventh

With Commissioner r. l.. Best voting
in the negative and Commissioners
Bertsch, Battey, Lucas and Kirk in
the Affirmative, the city commission
last night granted franchise to the
Red Trail Ferry company to operate
its gasoline ferry between Bismarck
and Mandan. The landing privilege
is a strip 300 feet long on the east
bank Of the Missouri.
It was the leasing of this strip to
the company which caused Commits
sioner Best to cast the dissenting vote
when the roll was called. He offered
a resolution, however, that the fran
chise asked for be granted, subject
to the laws governing ferries in organ
lied cities. No action was taken by
the rest of the commissioners. The
commissioner ordered that his reso-
luton be incorporated in the minutes
of the proceedings. 'g..@
Capitalized at $4,000.
The Red Trail Ferry company, ac-
cording to information given out in
its request for the franchise, is cap
italized at $4,000, that it will oper-
ate a gasoline ferry as soon as navi.
cation opens and that the ferry will
be able to transport safely eight aut-
Omobles at one time. A crew will be
maintained both day and night. Ed
mund Mackey Of Mandan is president
of the concern. The company is or
ganized under the laws of the state.
The application carries with it the
right Of lease for a period OF Is years,
the rent privilege to be one dollar a
year. The lease was signed by A. w.
Lucas, president of the commission,
upon the presentation OF the proper
bond. Attorney w. H. Stutsman of
Mandan appeared before the commits
sion in behalf Of the. ferry company.
Place Poles inside curbs.
Acting under ruling by the city
attorney, the auditor was instructed
to notify the electric light and tele-
phone companies to to have all poles
set back of the curb as the city would
be held liable for any defective poles.
The substance 'Of. the ruling by the
city attorneyais' that the city has the
right to ALLOW the telephone and the
electric light companies to place such
poles in any portion of the city but
the best practice is to have them set
back Of the curb. Poles at the inter-
section of Second and Third streets
and Main will be removed
The Washburn Lignite Coal COM
pany presented bill of $1,000 for fuel
during the month of February. Again
it was suggested that the commission
get in touch with the proposition OF
installing central heat in the city hall
building. The city weighmaster re-.
ported revenue of $325.5O for the
month of February. The auditor was
authorized to advertise for the con-
struction of crOss-walks, sidewalks
and also relaying.
Petition For Lights.
A petition, headed by c.. Bertsch,
Jr.. was read, petitioning the city com.
mission to construct, an ornamental
street lighting system from Second to
Seventh street. Among the signers
were Henry Tatley, D. ]. McGillis. c.
Bertsch, Jr., and E. A. Williams. The
petition was signed by the president
of the commission. Bids will be
opened March 26, 1917, at the city
hall at 8 o'clock. t7~ ~
The report of the police department,
submitted by Chief Of Police Downing,
showed 6S calls had been answered
for the month of February; 13 arrests
made, five for being drunk; six for
disOrderly conduct; one for carrying
concealed weapons, and the 18th, a
transient Fines collected in this de.
patment amount to $61.65.