Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-29
COUNCIL RESTS
ON COLLECTION

! contract said the residents of the
| city expect collections and that
! while the price seemed exorbitant il
! seemed TO be the only recourse. He
! tcld the other commissioners there
| were loads and loads of ashes not
collected now with the result that
new contractor would have little
profit during the first year because
! of the general cleanup.
Monthly Cleanup
Commissioner Gross replied to
Commissioner Hassler by saying that
Council could not award a contract
when the money to pay for colley
ton work was not in sight. Mayor
kelster suggested postponing further
consideration of the bids, and it was
then decided to take such action and
return the certified check 70 Stees.
Sinonetti and Company.
Another suggestion which has
been made would provide TOR
monthly clean-ups. BY this plan in
stead of awarding a contract for
ash collections the city would each
month employ a force of men and
make a general cleanup of all ac-
cumulated waste. Some officials be-
lteve this would not be a violation
of the law as it could be termed i
Sanitary measure.
The water department situation
caused much discussion also to-day
when Commissioner Hassler pre-
sented. letter from Mr.. Ledoux in
which the latter stated he under
stood he had been engaged to make
recommendations to meet the pres
snt emergency, suggest improve e.
ments at the pumping station; pre-
pare a schedule of rates and also
outline qualifications and suggest
probable salary of a competent en-
g-neering expert as an assistant to
Commissioner Hassler.
Definite Valuation
The city official explained the
need of a definite estimate of val
Cation, depreciation and expendi-
lures in order to decide on equitable
rates, and declared the need OF an
expert such as Mr.. LedouX would be
almost indispensable in arriving at
these figures. He also said the need
OF a qualified assistant is evident and
| would be valuable help.
Commissioners Gross and Burt
nett both agreed that 1t was nee
/ essary to make allowances for de-
/ probation and repairs which yould
be needed in deciding on water
rates. 1t was finally agreed 10 en-.
/ ploy Mr.. LedouX to prepare a
| schedule and to decide later whether
| he will be engaged TO make n gem
| eral survey of the department.
Other action by Council included
ordering payment of bill Of s2Is.Ig
submitted by Tribus and Massa: s45
dues to Third Glass City League; an
proval of bond of Hagy Brothers,
garbage collection contractors; re-
cciving annual report of City In
glEeer NJ. B. Cowden.
Commissioner Lynch introduced
an ordinance requiring the owners
of real estate in the city to register
TIE titles of property and author
izipS the city engineer TO make the
necessary books and plans showing
every lot in the city, providing a
space for the name of the owner and
for subsequent title changes. The
ordinance requires owners within
thirty days after the final passage TO
present conveyance of title for
registration, provides q penalty of
50 and costs for violation, and D-o-
kilits county recorder or prothonc-
tary from filing deeds until stamped
by the city. The requirements IN
the ordinance are taken from part
OF the Clark Act.
Ordinances passed finally permit
Commissioner Lynch 20 purchase
two street sweeping machines;
transfer funds from general funds
TO water department sinking fund;
and authorize the purchase of the
electric motor which has been in
stalled at the pumping station.
Commissioner Lynch also pre-
sented a motion transferring $4,000
from the street sweeping fund to
the fund for clearing snow from ttty
streets end crossings. The heaS Y
srowstorms have depleted this fund,
as 1frge forces have been working
daily s.Hce early in December.