Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-25
council ARGUES
TEARING DOWN
OLD FIRE HALL
Opposition Develops to Sug-
gestion by Calvert to
Rae Building.

Two contracts, one for paving on
Fourth avenue north and the second
for sewers on Third avenue north.
were let by the city council at its meet
ing Monday night. Razing of the old
fire hall on Third avenue south be
tween Third and Fourth streets was
recommended by the public welfare
committee and continued for a week
for settlement when opposition deve-
Hoped in the council. D..
The contract for the construction OF
reinforced concrete pavement was
awarded in place of the usual bithull-
thic type on Fourth avenue north be-
tween Fifteenth and Twentieth street,
Sixteenth and Eighteenth streets east
from Third to Fourth avenues and
Seventeenth and Nineteenth streets
from Fourth avenue to the Fourth
alley north. This type of paving was
recommended to the council by the
committee. owners of 3S4 lots favOrins
the concrete and 326 for the bithuli-
thic. The contract was given to
Highland & Kleppe, whose bid was
S34.422. also taking the drainage con
tract with a bid of $4.759. Other bid
ders were: :. Birch & Sons. S36, 107.
paving. $685.. drainage: Nilsson &
Smith. SIG, $50 paving. So 1870 drainage;
Mcclure & Blaweslee. S3I.162 paving.
So 800 drainage; Hansen & Hoag,
$4,000 paving, S5.0o3 drainage.
Printing Bids Submitted
Steve Yelock. bidding 1881 took
the contract for construction of sewers
on Third avenue north between Tween
tieth and Twenty-second streets.
~. A. L.JIa,1 -,~-t r,,, \J,at
S22S1; Nilsson G. Smith, S2.0O1; +. f.
Evans Construction Co, 2,102: Chris
Onholt. S1.SS2.
Bids on the city printing were sub
mitted. three by The Tribune on as
many classes of work. and one each
by the Leader and the Call. The bids
were referred to the printing com
mittee for tabulation and will be pass
ed upon at the mex meeting.
The question of razing the old fire
station brought a division in the Il
ell. Alderman George Calvert Of the
public welfare committee urging the
action while Aldermen Barney Joyce
and George Sleevy steadfaStly oppos-
ing the move. Alderman Gilbert BOYD.
who urged razing of the building, sad
that it had been a cause of cpairs
several times each month.
City Might Have Damage to Pay
Il do not see that the building IS
more unsafe han some other build
ings.' said Alderman Joyce. We are
getting $40 a month rent, | understand
and | think that is worth while"
The second floor is being used as
a dance hail." said Alderman Calvert.
They have virtually ruined the floor
and if the front should fall and hurt
anyone, the city would be liable for
heavy damages. The man renting from
the city is getting $40 a month rent
from this floor. | understand that in
all he is getting about $50 a month by
sub-rentlng and recently asked the city
to reduce the rent charged him to 500
Returning to the argument, Alder
man Joyce said:
The top floor is used as a club for
colored folks. Now You know the col
ored people of the city don't have much
in the way of entertainment and I'd
like to see them continue 10 have this
place 10 meet. OF course. il shouldn't
be used as a dance hall. Certainly it
isn't safe for large aggregations Of
persons 10 get on the floor. especially
when they get to dancing"
Alderman Advised to Inspect 1t
iH' bpitNlH5 hiLtI LldH SuSStSltu
that the building be repaired. Calvert
said that the only way to make it safe
would be to make it a one-story build
ing.
Mayor r. NJ Armour interposed to
order the question held over until the
next meeting and urged the aldermen
during the week to inspect il.
The council. acting upon suggestion
Of the public Improvement committee.
decided to notify owners Of lots in the
Third avenue north paving improve
ment district TO put in water service
pipes or make repairs on present ones
nj once. and if this is not done in 10
days. the city Will do the work and
charge it against the lots.
New electric lights for Second ave
nue. north nj Twenty-first, Twenty
third and Twenty-fifth streets were
approved. The public welfare commit
tee recommended that the city sell the
old city scales, accepting an offer made.
Would Put in Seats
Call of the meeting of the Montana
Municipal league August 81 to Sep
TENDER > was referred TO the public
welfare committee TO report back next
week.
Complain, was made against the con-
dition of the alley OF Second avenue
north between Eleventh and Twelfth
streets. the ST. konstantine church
heading the list of complainants. They
said the alley did not drain and the
water became %stagnant. The COM
plant was referred to the public i'm
provement committee.
Request of the Boorman Lumber
company to place - seats in convent
emf places about the city. at pointe