The Daily Missoulian

ALDERMEN APPOINT NEW OFFICER
PETER McDONALD SUCCEEDS ED LARSON--WORK OF A BUSY COUNCIL SESSION.
A great mass of detail confronted the city council at its meeting last night and, while most of the matters that received the attention of the aldermen were rather important, there were but few that stood out in any sort of relief. One of these latter--judging from the amount of public interest displayed--was the choice of a man to fill the place on the city police force made vacant by the resignation of Edward Larsen, who was yesterday appointed a deputy sheriff under Graham. Upon the recommendation of Mayor Keith, who spoke warmly of the recommendations that had been offered him, Peter McDonald was appointed a member of the Missoula law and order force. Mr. McDonald has been a deputy under Sheriff Campbell for the past two years and has established a record as an efficient officer. He has also served as bailiff in the district court. His appointment was made unanimously upon the motion of Alderman Patterson.
No Special Officer.
It was with a show of spirit that the council turned down a petition from a number of retail liquor dealers asking that J. C. Clark be appointed a special policeman, without pay from the city. The petitioners set out that they would pay Mr. Clark's salary and that his duties would be to patrol Higgins avenue. The council resented the insinuation that the city's police force, as at present organized, was not capable of handling the situation and decided that no special officer should be appointed. The opposition was led by Alderman Jensen.
Bids Are Opened.
The council received and opened six bids for sprinkling carts for municipal use, but awarded no contract, the matter being referred to a special committee composed of Aldermen Wilkinson, Baves and Patterson. Among the bids was one from Dan J. Heyfron, who is now studying law at Ann Arbor, Mich. Mr. Heyfron offered the two carts now being used on the streets for $350, saying that when he took the contract two years ago he had been led to understand that should the city at the time of the expiration of the agreement decide to take over the work itself, he would be given the opportunity of selling his wagons to the corporation.
Protests Are Heard.
The protest of Helen G. Evans against the establishment of a special improvement district in the vicinity of the Rattlesnake was received without action. It was presented by John M. Evans. A protest by 35 citizens of the Fourth ward resulted in a decision that the improvement district contemplated for the raising of enough money to construct a wing dam near the city dump should be abandoned. The question of how the bank near the city dump, which is located near the Bitter Root bridge, could best be protected was referred to the aldermen of the Fourth ward and the city engineer.
Minor Matters.
Police Judge Small reported that he had tried 118 cases and had collected $150 in fines during the month of December. The report of Chief of Police Smith was corroborative. As building inspector, A. H. May reported that during the past month he had granted eight building permits; as health officer, that he had established 11 quarantines and raised 17; as chief of the fire department, that there had been five fires and that they had occasioned losses aggregating $457.
City Engineer Mayo reported the work of his department for December, giving the details of construction work done, and City Clerk Kemp reported that he had drawn warrants to the amount of $9,610 for the month. City Treasurer Hatheway reported a balance of $30,692.31.
Permits were granted to C. A. Harnnois and Carl Greenhood to install show windows that will extend over the sidewalk before their new buildings. Business men located near the corner of Higgins avenue and Cedar street were granted permission to have laid a cement crossing. An ordinance closing certain streets and alleys in the Knowles and Sunnyside additions for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company was referred to the ordinance committee.
A petition from O. E. Peppard for an extension of his contract time allowance for the construction of the Van Buren street bridge was not acted upon, but the council ordered that an informal expression of a kindly disposition in the matter be made to Mr. Peppard, who petitioned on the ground that material shipments, ordered long ago, had been delayed. The council voted to sell the steel cables formerly used in the temporary foot bridge across the Missoula river. The Missoula Light & Water company will get the strands that helped Missoulians across the river all summer. The price is to be $175. The city clerk was instructed to advertise the wreck of the middle span of the old Higgins avenue bridge for sale as scrap iron. The twisted mass of metal lies several hundred yards west of its former location. It is declared to be so badly damaged that it cannot, under any circumstances, be used. The council will meet again Thursday night for the purpose of canvassing the vote at today's special election.