Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-31
WAR MEASURES
RESTRICT CITY
IMPROVEMENTS
No Contracts Given For
Water, Sewer or Paw
ing Construction.

Comparatively few city improve.
ments have been effected during the
year that Is just closing nor has ex-
tensive private construction taken
place, according to "a statement Of
City Auditor w. Fl. Alexander, this
morning. The city, in discouraging
expenditure for public Improvement
during the year, was following the
auvices Of the war department for
wartime conservation.
In compliance with a request from
the Federal Reserve board to suspend
activities on public improvements
during the past year as a war con-
%servation measure, the city of Grand
Forks has released no contracts dur
ing the entire year for water, sewer
Or paving construction work. The
petitions from individuals for small
sewer and water main extensions
were in many cases discouraged by
the city council, in view Of the fact
present time would be one and a half
times as large as under normal con-
ditions.
Only Essential Work Done.
Only such repair work as was ac-
undertaken by the city. The dam in
the Red Lake river which partially
went out last summer was repaired,
as this dam affects the intake Of the
water in the water plants in both
cities. An electrical machine for
pumping water for the city is being
installed as per contract with the Red
River Power company early in the
year. The machine is nearly COM
pleted. Delay, however, has been
caused by the inability to get ma
| Nhiror1y MD 4~,,;N1o4 80 "a
war conditions.
Individual building and plumbing
permits show a decided falling off
during the past year as compared to
previous years, due to the restrictions
placed on building and construction
Econtracts, and also no doubt to the
increased cost of material. The rec
ords of. the city engineer however,
show 80 permits issued for building
during the coming year, with build
ings at a total value Of $81.525. Per-
made for AZ new sewers, and SO wa
ter and plumbing fixture permits
were granted. This construction
work o not include the work done
on the packing plant, or on land
adjacent to the city. The above rec
ords include construction carried on
only within city limits.
Plans Indefinite.
Plans for future construction or
improvement work within thu city
limits. r decidedly indefinite, City
Engineer c. S. Giles .yaid today.
Reconstruction work on the west APP
proach of the DeMers avenue bridge
Is contemplated and repair work on
the Minnesota ven bridge is also
under advisement. Some repair work
| has hoor 1nno 11,ri4 - The. 1,oor ~ Tho
roof of the filter plant and it will be
necessary to put a new ROOT on the
building as soon as conditions permit.
This will no doubt be undertaken
soon.
Although no course has been de-
cided as to the matter Of the Mime
sofa avenue bridge, it is evident that
some action must be taken Don for
repairing it or It'll possible that it
will be necessary to close it to traf-
fc No action has been taken during
the year by property holders for con-
tinuing with the paving and general
resident district improvements, as
war conditions have discouraged ex-
penditure for such work. It is pre-
sumed that. as o o as conditions as
sumo a normal standard again, that
definite action will be taken for the
continuation Of the usual city activi-
ties in these matters. y
In speaking Of the absence of pub
lie improvement work in the city dur
ing the past year, Mr.. Alexander said
that the people Of the city had re-
sponded splendid1y to the request
from the war department, and that
the attitude of the citizens had been
most satisfactory to city officials, in
the way Of not persisting in requests
for special assessments for such inn
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