Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-07-06
council
MEETING
LAST NIGHT
Street Car Line Extension Discussed
To Investigate Cause of Retain
ing Wall Washout-City Build
ings to Be Repaired

E. 2. Arpin addressed the city coUn-
ell at its regular monthly session Wed
nesday evening in regard to co-operat-
ing with the street car company in the
extension of its line across the bridge.
Mayor Rcenius did not think that the
city could do anything in the matter
at this time. He thought it best to wait
until the petition of the East Side bu-
siness men who subscribed over $4,000
to help the railway company in finan-
cling the proposed improvement is
acted upon, which was expected to be
taken up by the company Friday. At
any rate, he held the final say as to
whether the extension should be made
was up to the state railway commits
sion
A section of the stone retaining wall
just north of the Witter Hotel was
washed out during one of the recent
heavy downpours OF rain. This stone
wall was the subject of long discus
sion between directors Of the hotel
company and the mayor and several
aldermen, the point at issue being
whether the city is responsible for
the damage. ]. A. Cohen held the
Washout was due to refuse clogging
the catchbasin of the sewer running
under the wall and through the hotel
company lot to the river and therefore
felt the city should rebuild the wall
Or remove the sewer from its property,
IN which event the company would re-
build the wall at its own expense.
The discussion came to head by
the appointment of a committee to
make an investigation and determine
upon a plan of settlement satisfactory
to both sides.
The petition of the Johnson-Hill
company for permission to place two
gas storage tanks of 10000 and 5000
gallons capacity on the Otto Schuman
property was granted. They will be
above ground and rest on concrete
foundations. There was some reluc-
fancy to granting the petition because
OF the danger attributed to surface
storage tanks, but the facts brought
out finally developed into conclusion
that they are little or no more hazard
Gus than the underground tanks be-
cause the explosions, as cited by the
alderman, resulted mostly in filling.
The matter of providing the Battery
with drill grounds was referred to the
geenral business committee and Capt
Kraske with directions to petition the
school board for permission to use the
large vacant tract at the high school,
which Capt. Kraske considered the
most suitable.
The general business committee
which made an-inspection of the city
buildings reported that the Library
building, East side fire station, the old
city hall and a toilet at Lyon Park
needed general repairs, while the new
city hall needed some fixing of the
front doors, which improvements were
authorized to be made. The commit
tee recommended that the West side
band stand, which is in bad shape, be
torn down. Authority to do so was Civ
en-. 1t was also ordered that the ma
chinery sheltered in the library build
ing be taken out and stored in the city
hall yard and to make an investiga-
ton to see if the old city hall
did not have quarters that could ba
made suitable for the West side branch
library.