The City Council

If the rnernbers of the city council did not feel when they left the conncil chamber Monday evening that tbey were much in a need of a bath, it was not because they haft nofc dwelt long enough on the question of dirt. Dirt seeined to penétrate most of the early evening's deliberations, and, although the most modest man in the city might have Deen present aud heard nothing to have shocked his most innocent soul, still tbe conncil talked dirt for fully au honr. Of course the taxpayers have a right to know -who indulged in any such talk. They were Alde. Prettyman, Koch, Snyder and Mr. Ballis. Their reasons for talking dirt were well gronuded. A communication was read f rom the mayor in which he vetoed the council's action relativo to ihe dirt dra.vn to grade Mr. Bullis' sidewalk at the city's expense. The veto of the mayor brought Aid. Prettyruan to bis feet. He indulged in a figure of speech and said that the city was hanging betweeu heaven and earth in a peculiar way. He thought the city should grade its own streets, especially at the sidewalk grades. Mr. Bullis onghfnot to be held to pay for the dirt if it was drawn on the street and not on bis own property. Mr. Bullis, a meniber of the board of public works, was present. He in turn took up a handful of earth, or rather grappled the dirt question. Saidhe: "I have put over 600 loads of dirt on this place in question at my own expense and nearly all is on the street. The city has put on 206 loads which I paid $25 for. If I had not a membor of the board I would never have paid auythiug. It bas been done repeatedly throughout the city. Dirt bas been drawn on Aid. Koch's place and others." Aid. Koch then proceeded to make a rnurl pie. He said tliat he thought everybody should get the cross walk dïrt for nothing. It was the city's business, on the establishment of a grade, to arrange the street at the crosswalks so that the walk might be constructed without other oost to the builder than its own oqnstruotinn. Aid. Snyder contended that the board of public works overstepped its bonndaries when it had dirt filled iu anywhere without order of the council. He said that áOO loads had been drawi for bis walk bnt that he had paid for it. When it oame at length to a yea and nay vote, M ayor Walker's veto was sustained by nino yeaa to four nays. Tbe mayor's veto of the orosswalk ordered on Kast Uuiversity avenue across Washtrnaw avenue wís also sustained. The oounoil round until nearly midnight and the following are among the other thiugs they did : Bills to the aiuosnt of $3,891.98 were orderM paid. The sum of 60 was appropriated frotn the liriilge (inlvpYt and orosswalk fnnd fór a plank crossnicr f.o be built across Fourth avenue on the north side of Catherinë street, also across the public alley betwaen North Fourth aveuue and North Main streef and for the repairs of four gutter erossings on said street. Mouday, November 18, was set as the time for tbe connoil to sit as a board oL review for the coasideration of the speoial assessment of sidewalks constrncted during 1895. Ou reoomtuendatiou of the board of public works the contract tu grado Easfc Washington street near Felch park waa let to Mr. Wheelock. The following brick crosswalks were ordered built : Along the north side of WashiugtoD street across Main, along the north side of Liberty street across Main, along the south side of Huron, street aoross Fourth aveuue, each to cost $75. The one vetoed by the mayor on South University avenue was ordered built at $50.