Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-08-05
TO USE LEGISLATIVE CLUB ON PR0F|TEERS
TRACTION OFFICIAL
WANTS C|TY'S PLANS
FOR IMPROVING HILL


& r. co. WANTS TO KNOW
WHAT COUNCIL INTENDS TO DO
BEFORE DEFINITE ANSWER is
GIVEN.
Oil was poured on the troubled
the city council the last few weeks br
The appearance last night of Louis
Hess, manager of the Northern Hi
nois Light and Traction system. who
previously had failed to respond to all
requests Of the city dads to attend
one of their meetings and inform them
just what his company would do to-
ward the erection Of a retaining wall
ON the east Hill Of the south bluff
Mr. Hess informed the council that
If they would secure a plan of the
needed improvement, together with n
liberal estimate of the cost, he
woud present il 10 the men in charge
of the financial department Of his com
pany.
He informed the mayor and con-
missioncrs that the company had al
ways kept their tracks mp the hill in
perfect shape to comply with the
present ordinance, that they We're not
anxious to run into any kind of an
accident which might be caused by "A
hill slide. and that if the plans and
the estimate of the proposed improve
ment We're presented to him he would
be able To give them a definite an.
YWer rs to what the company would
do toward helping them make such
an Improvement.
Wants Capable Engineer.
He suggested that the plans be pre-.
pared by a capable engineer which
brought the query from City Engineer
George Famsworth. who do you con
slider a capable engineer, Mr. Hess %
Why YOU. Mr.. Farnsworth," was
the reply.
Mr. Hess said that the old admin,
istration had never presented def.
mite plan of the Improvement to him
Al this statement the mayor inquired
whether the company had ever turned
down the proposition, and Hess re-
piled Never to my knowledge"
Plans Have Been Presented.
City Engineer FarnswOrth informed
the council that he had made several
plans OF the proposed retaining wall
for the old administration. but that he
did not know what they had done
with them. The suggestion was made
by the representative of the company
that they might have an engineer who
would cooperate with Mr.. Farnsworth
in the engineering work. which
seemed to meet with favor from the
city officials.
Engineer Farnsworth suggested that
he make the plans and that then the
company engineer ShOnld be given a
chance to make any improvements s
which he saw fit or to suggest any
changes
The mayor then inquired of Mr.
Hess about the Rock Island eros sing
and just when il would be in opera
ticn The work is being held up until
the Rock Island Railroad can get their
crossing in Mr. Hess was unable tC
give a definite answer as to when the
work would be completed. but replied
that the company did not want to have
any trouble with the public utilities
commission, as the members Of the
commission We're rather severe in
their dealings sometimes. He added
the work would in all probability be
finished before the time granted 'he
company by the utilities commission
was mp.
Present Hospital Bills.
Two bills for work done on the new
King-Ci Annex to Ryburn Hospital
one for $25l.7G for ]. w. IIanfen
architect. and the other for 5000 fo1
j. NJ. Doughcrty, plumber, were pre-
sented by Commissioner Sticklen. The
mayor reported that all the money o
the $4,000 bond issue raised by the
city for the purpose Of erecting the
building had been expended and the
, city had already spent about $1GG 81
on other bills. EXMayor Bradford ha,
promised the trustees Of the King es
/ tate that 'he city would pay $500 owe
and above the $4,000 raised by thu
I bond issue in the erection of the hos
pital Commissioner Palmer sug
gested that the city pay one-half o
| the bills and the trustuees Of the kini
estate pay the other half. The mat
| ter was lett until the mayor had
chance to confer with Attorney Clar
renee Griggs. representative OF th'
trustees Of the estate, to see wha