100 years ago
City Council
The City Council met in regular session last Monday evening.
By vote of council it was ordered that all obstructions in the way of fences and buildings which project into any of the streets of the city must be removed. The matter came up in connection with the improvement of Weldon street, on the hill, which is the street running east and west a block south of east Main street.
The chief of the fire department was directed to purchase seventeen rubber coats for the use of the department.
Sam Freeland raised the question of whether a person not a "freeholder," is eligible to the office of councilman. The city attorney was called upon for an opinion and held that while the statute declared that a man must be a "freeholder," it
was an unconstitutional provision and that the only qualification required is the qualification of an elector.
The unfinished business of the old council being finished, R.L. King, the out-going mayor made a short talk in which he thanked members of the council for courteous treatment during his official connection with them, referred briefly to some of the important problems facing the new council and introduced his successor, A.S. Quisenberry. Mayor Quisenberry then took the chair and made a few appropriate opening remarks.
Fire chief Fred Dunham called attention to the necessity of having the water hydrants flushed regularly.
The City Attorney was directed to prepare an election petition on the waterworks question. This will result in a vote of the people on the problem. The franchise of the waterworks company expires May 19th, 1908. This does not leave any too much time for a decision by the city as to what is to be done.
Lewis introduced a resolution which was carried to the effect that the Mayor and Council should set a day to go over the town in a body inspecting the streets, sidewalks and alleys. Monday, May 6th was fixed upon as the day.
The council was then visited by members of the Commercial Club and others in the interest of installing electric lights.
I.E. Myers spoke for the Commercial Club and asked a hearing from Mr. Loudon, of Chicago. Mr. Loudon then addressed the council and presented an electric light proposition. Further reference to this matter will be found elsewhere.
Fire
There was a fire which did considerable damage at Joe Bowlby's last Sunday afternoon. The house is the first one south of the railroad track on Third street, on the east side of the street, and is owned by John Bagby. The family had been at J.W. Bowlby's during the day and Joe and Charley Bowlby had gone to the house soon after dinner. Joe had just lighted a cigar and when he threw the match into a coal bucket which was near the gasoline stove there was an explosion of gas and the room was in flames in an instant. Evidently the gasoline had been escaping and gas had collected near the stove. It was only possible to get a few of the household goods out and although the fire department were soon on the scene the house was badly damaged before the fire could be extinguished. We have been unable to learn whether there was any insurance on the house, as Mr. Bagby is not here. There was five hundred dollars insurance on the household goods.
Electric Lights
At the council meeting last night the electric light proposition was laid over until the next regular meeting. Under the circumstances — which we haven't space or time to discuss this week — the RECORD believes this action was the wise course. The subject will receive further attention in next week's issue.
Company M. Attention!
We are advised that there are still a number of members of Company M, 21st Kansas, who enlisted from Marion, who have not claimed the money that is yet due them and is waiting for them at the Adjutant General's office. Anyone who may know the present address of the following persons, who are of the above number, will confer a favor by forwarding the same to J.W.F. Hughes Adjutant General, Topeka, Kansas: Cleo C. Seitz, James Caton, Robt. F. Coons, Lauren Crist, Joseph Eicker, Peter A. Herbst, W.F. Hill, Jacob Henthorn, Ernest Spicer, Frank N. West, George Miller.
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The Five Hundred Club met Tuesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Watson. The prizes were won by Miss Lizzie Apel and Mr. Earl Rogers.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Castle, last Tuesday, twin boys.
The first graduation exercises in the history of the school district was held at the Youngtown school house Wednesday evening, April 11th. The teacher, Miss Moulton, has labored long and faithfully during the past year and her efforts are apparent in the fine graduating class of five who took their places on the platform Wednesday evening.
Omer Marner, who was on his way to Canada to stay several weeks, writes that he has been on a train blockaded in the mountains by snow He wrote on the 6th and at that time they had been there four days with no prospect of getting out until at least four or five days more.
D.D. McIntosh has been appointed postmaster here by President Roosevelt and forwarded his bond to Washington for approval the first of the week. It is expected that the change in administration will take place the first of May.
Freeland Bros. shipped one of the best bunches of horses to Kansas City this week that ever went out of town. There were eighteen of them and the averaged 1625 pounds.
Mr. Charles Howe, son of "Jim" Howe, well remembered by old residents, was here from Topeka this week in the interest of the Capital Shirt Factory.
