Down Comes Gas!

The members of the Common Oouncil wete slow in gathering Monday evening to altend the regular meeting, sldermen Dieterle, Horz, Martin, Snow, Spokes, lliller, O'Mara ard Spafford beicg the only ones present when President Belser's gavel feil at eight o'olock. A eommunication was received from the Board of Public Works offering the following recommendations: That the proposition of Mr. Sipley for straightening west Huron-st. on the north side from Allen's creek to Chapin-st be accepted, Mr. Sipley to deed the land to the city and the counciltoapprop;ia:e $300 to grade the same: That $325 be eppropriated to complete the sodding and grading on st. from North to South University-aTes That a new sidewalk be ordered built on the west side of Fourth-st from Huron to Washington-sts : Tbat $100 be appropriated to build plank cross-walks on the eastsideof south Main-st across Madison, Mosley, Hill, Philips and Elm-sts : That $20 be appropriated to pay the water tax for the 5th ward cemetery. The Fire Commissionners asked that the chief of the fire department be notified by anybody granted permission to use the streets for, moving houses, laying water pipes, gas mains or other purposes. They also asked the privelege of selling oce of the hand engines. Mayor Beakes returaed to the counuil, not approved, the ordinance passed at the last meeting relative to gas works. In his veto the mayor presented raany reasons for his action. The main reason of the veto wes because the ordinance did Dot reduce the cost of gas to our citizens to as low prices as other cides are beir.g furnished with this article. The veto called attention to the fact that the gas company has had the monopoly ofjthe business in this city, and has not reduced the price to the same amount that surrounding cities have. The chacee now res's witn the council, ar.d it should see to it that no higher price is eharged in our city than in others around us. ïhe cost of gas and the profits derived by the company were estimated. The mayor stated that he was in possession of a communication from Detroit capitalists offering to furnish pss to this city at lower rates than those cffered by the local company. The committee on ordinances reported an ordinance relative to ücenses to take the place of the one recently vetod by the mayor. In order that the ordinance rnighl take effect as soon as possible, the rules were suspended and the ordinance was given the three readiiïgs at this session. The ordinance provides for granticg licenses and does not discrimínate betvveen parties as the first ordinancs did. Aid. Allmendinger, chairman of the ordinance committee, presented another ordinance relative to gas works to take the place of the one vetoedbythe mayor. This ordinance had been dictated by Mayor Beakes and was agreeable to the companyso that all parties wiïl now be suited. The ordinance places the maximum price of gas to be charged to private consumera at $. per 1000 cubic feet, and to the city at $1.50 per 1000 cubic feet. Where consumera do not use to exceed 400 cubic feet per moDtb, the company are allowed to charge at the rate of $2 50 per 1000 cubic feet lt provides that if the pnces nf o h 1 nd oil shall advance to exceed 20 per oent over the present rate the price of gas may be advanced pro rata in the proportion that the cost of cosl and oil enters into the cost of the manufacture of gas. It also provides that the price charged private consumera shall not at any time exceed the average rate paid for gas by contumers in other cities of Michigan. The compnny are toextend themains whenever a sufflci ent number of persons on the line ehal agree to be consumers of gas to nïake ex tensions pay an interest of five per een' on the investment After the seconi reading the ordinance was referred to the city attorney for examiuation. The street committee reported in favo of widening west Huron-st, and $300 wa appropriated for this work. The lighirg committee reported in favor of rejecting the bíds for lighting the city, and the clerk was authorized to insert adverüsement for new bids in Detroit. Chicago and Philadelphia papers, the bids to be in by Oct. 1. The fire committee was authorized to detail a man to examine the cbimneys about the city as the majority of fires occur from this cause. The Bum of $150 was appropriated to build crosswalks on south Main-st. The Board of Public Works was authorized to employ such leeal talent as may be necesearv toprotect the city's rights in the old cemt-tery at the head of Huron-sf. This is the flrst step towards placing this property in shape so that it may in time be used as a park by our citizens. A resolution was presented granting $325 for finishiDg the sodding and grading of State-st. This amouut was cut down to $275 when it was pased, but not until Aid. Herz had left the chamber in disgust aiter being called to order by the president for trying to speak three times on the question. Aid. Spokes introduced a resolution appropriating $20 for paying the water tax for the 5th ward eemetery. Amendments were made and supported giving an equal sum to Forest Hill and the Catholic cemetery. The entire matter was then laid on the table, the amendments beiog made simply to kill the original motion. The council then adjourned.