Washington St. Paving

The common councü met last Monday at 7:30 o'clock with eight aldermen, but three more straggled in by 8 o'clock, they evidently having forgotten that during the coming six months sessions commence a half hour earlier. A lot of important business was crowded into the session. The first steps for the Washington st. pavement were commenced and the city attorney flled some important recommendations. Eight property owners petitioned for a sidewalk to be built on the west side of Oxford st. between Geddes ave. and S. University ave. Referred to the sidewalk ce-mmittee. The Washington st. petition was presented. It was referred to the board of public works. il oses Seabolt, David Rinsey, George Vandawarker and George Wahr sent in a communication asking that their ñames be withdrawn from the petition for the up of Catharine st., .saying that they signed the petition under a misapprehension. The petition of Ida Gollrich as a preliminary for a $3,000 suit against the city for injuries received on au alleged j defective sidewalk on Hill st., was presented. It was referred to the flnance eommittee and the city attorney. It was found that $7,620.89 was due Ountraetor Clancy on the paving job. As the cily treasury is a very big "nit" quantity, the matter was referred to the street committee and finance committee to see where the money was coming from. Aid. Hamilton evidently wanted to give the mayor a chance to get out his axe again, as he introduced a resolution appropriating $25 for a crossvvalk on Oxford st. and some little grading on the same street. It cost the city $87.99 to support its during the month of September. City Attorney Buttei-field reported exhaustively concerning the power of the city to compel the property owners in paving districts Nos. 1 and 2 to reconstruct their sidewalks to a better grade with the street. He said that when the public convenience required it, the city had the right to exercise its legislative rights in changing the grades. The report was referred to the sMewalk committee. He then made the report on the Bryant Walker vs. City of Ann Arbor case, and recommended the introduction of a bilí in the next legislature on the lines of assessments for sewers on land values exclusive of improvements. The recommendation of the city attorney was concurred in. He then submitted a contract from the Michigan Central with the city in regard to the railroad maintaining the overhead bridge on Detroit st. on the lines of their written agreimeni. Kome time ago. Aid. Hamilton thought the bridge ought to come down three or four ■ feet before the city enters into a coneract. Aid. Brown thought State st. ought to be reoper.ed across the track and the contract was laid upon the table ! subject to the cali of the ocuncil, only j Aids. Coon and Cady voting in favor jL I lts immediate adoption. Some ten years ago the city, wishingi to open up Third st, purchased some property from John Pflsterer. Christian Mack held a mortgage on this land and notified the city that he would claim about $1,017.45 from the city on this portion of the land which it appropriated. This stunned the aldermen. "What shall be done with it?" asked j President Luick. "Requiescat in pace," said Aid. Hamilton. "Support the motion," said Aid. Cady amid much laughter. Aid. Koch made a resolutie n that the bowling alley on S. Main st. be declared a nuisance whenever it is open after 10:30 o'clock at night and that the pólice enforce the resolution. The resolution was passed unanimously. Aid. Sweet made a resolution that the board oL public works be instructed to advertise for bids for the construction of a storm sewer on Washington st. between Fifth and Main sts., in order that this work can be done this fall and thus allow the work to settle before the contemplated paving is put in next spring. The much discussed alley way between. Liberty and William sts. came up again and it was ordered put in by a vote of 9 to 2, the First ward aldermen being the pair who voted aguinst it. In the discussion Aids. Hanilton and Brown had a íively altercation. These two gentlemen ' have 'been agreeing too unanimously of late, anyway, and it was only a .question of time and opportunity when they would clash. The council then ad.iourned.