They Bought A Roller

The regular meeting of the couneil last evening was in the inain a quiet one. It was only for a few 'minutes that something like the old time flre I and enthusiasm was shown wheu Aid. Koch in a manly way told his brother aldermen how the citizens feit about the purchase of a steam roller. It seemed for a minute as if the members were receiving a cold shower batfa. Aid. Koch was re-enforced by Aid. Coon who said he had spoken with many and the citizens generally were opposed to the outlay. The effect of these appeals for j more time were met by a passionate j appeal f rom Aid. Prettyman who ; ged the aldermen to be consistent. They had given the companies to understand that a roller wonld be purchased and the companies had gone to au expense in treating them well. They should not now act like school boys. Aid. Taylor also asked for a unaimous vote. These efforts were in vain, however, and the vote was not unanimous, Aid. Koch, Laubeugayer and Coon voting no. The first man to appear among the audience was Justice Gibson. The members of the board of public works were conspicuous'by their absence. Promptly at eight o'clock President Hiscook called the couneil to order. A majority of the couneil were present and a few minutes later the remaining members appeared. A report of the board of public works was read estimtaing the cost for building the gutter on the south side of Cathrerine street between Thirteenth and Observatory streets at $77, being $2 per rod. Refered to the sidewalk committee. A petition wsa read from residents of the third ward askiug for cross walks on Main street on the north side ef Kingsley street and on the south side of and for a fire hydrant on Brook street and au extensión of a water main, which were all referred to the proper committees. The clerk reported that the only bids receivedfor the city printing were from the Register and Democrat. Aid. Prettyman thought the report should come through the finance committee. Aid. Maynard was of the same opioniou and the two bids were left uuopened, The sidewalk committee reported favorably on the grade of sidewalks on Oxford street from Hill street to the south line of Myrtle street, and permission was given to Dr. Lombard to lay his sidewalk three feet out of line so as to save a fine tree. Adopted. The same committee reported a change for grade of sidewalk on the south side of E. Washington street between the east line of División street and west line of State street. Aid. Coon explaned this was some little change that the city surveyor thought necessary, but he did not kuow exactly what it was. On motion of Aid. Cady it was ref erred back to the corumittee f or f urthev investigatiou. Aid. Coon, of the sidewalk coinniittee, further reported on a nuniber of new sidewalks, which were ordered built. Aid. Taylor, of the street corumittee, reported on the bids received on steam rollers and stone crushers and recommended that Pitts 15 ton steam roller be piorchased for $2,950.60 and an Aus;in stone crusher for $650. Aid. Maynard moved that the report of the committee be accepted and the board of public works be directed to purchase the machines recommended. Aid. Koch moved to lay the resolution on the table for two weeks. He understood that the bids had not been legally advertised for and they wanted more time to look into it. City Attorney Kline gave as his opinión that the advertising was legal. On the vote being taken the motion was lost, Aid. Koch, Laubengayer, Coon, and Cady voting yea and the rest of the council voting no. Aid. Taylor thought the resolution should be separated and the resolution to purchase be carefully drawn. It was divided. Aid. Koch said he was sorry to have to get on the floor once more but he jected to traying the roller at this time. Many of the citizens oousidered the expense too great. If taken out of the street fund there would be little left f or street work. He thoiight the citizens should vote on the question. Aid. Coon said he had taken the pains to talk with mauy oitizens and they expressed themselves opposed to the purchase of a steam roller at this time. He wished the matter could be postponed for inother year. Aid. Laubengayer said the taxes were pretty high aud they had better let the pnroliase go until the spring electon. Aid. Cady asked if a roller would do nmeh good without a orusher. Aid. Koch said he had lived in large cities and was acquainted with the work. In Detroit the stone crusher was run by a private individual. They could hire a steam roller for $2 a day, aud besidés a roller would not do much good this fall. He was not.opposed to improvements, but what httle inoney they had they ueeded on the streets. If the citizens raised $25, 000 for theiu, to improve Detroit street -alone would take from $10,000 to $12,000 of it. He w-is sorry that the companies liad gone to the expense and he would rather go into his pocket and pay sorne of this expense than buy a steam roller. President Hiscock called attention to the fact the original resolution instrnotinjí the street cominittee to receive bids had been passed by a unanimous vote. Aid. Koch said he had been opposed to the resolution at that time but he liad voted for it because he saw there was no use in opposing it. Aid. Allmendinger said he wished to correct the statement that it wonld cost $12,000 a mile to maoadamize the streets. On the trip he had learned it would only cost $5,000 per mile. The report was received only Aid. Kcch and Laubengayer voting no. Aid. Prettyman moved that the board of public works be instructed to pnrchase the machine recommended. Aid. Maynard said nothing had been said against the propositiou when the committee was instructed and he did not know how they conld now go agaiust it. It passed uuauimously and if they were not a lot of boys they would go on and not back out. It was a poor time to back out now. It looked like boys play Aid. Koch said he did not think so. Great men made mistakes and it was never too late to mend. He asked that they should not buy then as the I zens were against it. Let them put in their sewers bef ore going to that expense. Let the citizens vote on the question. Aid. Pretryman said he did not propose to enter into a discussion of the steam roller question bnt the original resolution instructing the committee had passed the couucil uuanimonsly. Then was the time for the council to investígate the question. They had talked steam rollers for four years. Every man on the council was convinced that they needed chese things. They had gone on and made au examiuation. The companies had paid the expenses of the street committee, mayor, and clerk am' a citizen and the compauies expected the city of Ann Arbor would give one of them a chance to sell. He would say right there that the city had a chance to buy a roller for 500 less than one had ever been sold before in America. The committee had put in a week of good hard work. They had tried to investígate f aithfully. He could not understand how any rnemebr of the council cernid one month ago vote for the resolution and now go back on it. Such a man could not be trusted and no member of the street committee wonld trnst him. If the' machines would not do the work they need not buy, bnt they should not stultify themselves. There should be an absolute unanimous vote in favor of the purchase of the machine that evening. Aid. Coon said that really when he votei for the resolution he had not uuderstood that they were bound to purchase a machine. There was no doubt it was a good thing, but it was questionable if the people wanted the machines. Aid. Laubengayer said he uuderstood they must have another engine to run the stone crusher. When he voted for the resolution he did not understand that they must buy. After Taylor thought the resolution ought to go throiigh unanimously. The stones could be crushed in the winter when the steaiu roller was not at work on the streets. As a matter of fact the distribution of not over 25 per cent. of the street fund was voted upon by the council. The balance was used by the board of public works for clean - ing streets, gutters, etc. The resolution then passed, only Aid. Koch, Lanbengayer ana Coou voting no. The flre committee reported adversely on the request of Anthony Schippicasse to put up an iron ciad building in the fire limits. Affcer many aniendrnents were suggested the resolutiou of Aid. Allmendin?er passed to advertise for five year blds for lighting the oity with eleufcric lights. The bids to incltide all night and utitil 12 :30 o'clock lighting. For the first time in many months the park conimittee made a report. It reported in favor of sprinkling the grass in Hanover Square. This gave rise to u discussion. Aid. Prettyman wanted the grass cut in Felch park. Aid. Butterfi eld called attention to the sprinkling of the courfc house square from the fire hydrants. If not stopped the city would be involved in litigation. The receiver of the water company was willing to put m boxes at cost price and the city would use band hose to run all the time but there was nothing in the contract with the water company permitting the fire hydrants to be used. The question was referred back to the park committee for a more fnll report. City Attorney Kline submitted the receipts of Florence Van Zandt Smith and Harían S. Smith in the settlemeut for injuries received from a defective sidewalk. It only cost the city $1,000. On motion of Aid. Butterfield as the city had not the right to get water from the fire hydrants the board of public works was instructed to make arrangements with the water company to put in boxes and purchase hose and sprinklers. It had agreed to put them in at cost. , Aid. Mayuard offered a resolutiou that a challenge be sent to the connty officials to play ball July 1. Ad. Butterfield ' moved that it be referred to the water committee. This stin-ed up Aid. Ferguson who wanted to kuow what the water committee had to do with it. On motion of Aid. Butterfield the clerk was directed to omit in his proceedings any refereuce to the base ball resolutiou aud the anieuduaèuts to the same. City Treasurer Manly addressed the council in reference to a desk. He was now occnpying au office in the city building and found no furniture there. The clerk was directed to purchase a desk for the treasurer at a cost not to exceed $24. City Attorney Kline, reported on the opening of State street across the Michigan Central tracks. He showed thac to do so the land must be condemned aud the crossiug arranged by the state crossing board. The city had entered into a contract with the Michigan Central. At that time the city was represented by Judge Kinne and Judge Cooley. He recommended that the bridge be repaired at once. Aid. Prettymau severely criticized the heigth of the Beakes street railroad bridge. It was one foot higher tb ui the extreme limit of the law. In Detroit the bridges were only 16 feet high. The former resolution that the board of public works repair the bridge was taken frotn the table aud repassed. City Attoruey Kline said he was not yet ready to report on the status of the Saline and Lodi plauk road. He had not found out if it was ineorporated imder a special charter or not The fiuance committee was directed to audit a bilí for $35 for expenses of pardes who had gone to Lansing to look after the legislature. The council adjourned promptly at 10 o'clock. Another half honr was spent n talking base ball.