1855 August Council ProceedingsSpecial Meeting
August 3, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition from the Directors of the Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road company
contract for the building the first Division of the road on condition that the city should subscribe $100,000 additional stock in the Board
submit to a vote of the citizens
Resolution
Resolved Mayor issue a proclamation submitted to the qualified electors of the City, the question of whether the City shall subscribe one hundred thousand dollars additional stock
paid in bonds of the city
Storing of powder by Dr. Mason in a building erected by him for that purpose in the corner part of town
H White city watchman complaint for misconduct in the discharge of his duties
Special Meeting
August 3, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Resolved that City Marshal shall have full control of the City Watch in ordering them to different beats and that each of the city watch shall obey the Marshal
Mineral Street
John Blake improvement contract
August 7, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
Samuel Ross and others Michael Hagerty lamplighter and watchman
M Morgan and others cause grade of the city north of 14th Street
City Engineer
Report of Officers
Street Commissioner purchase certain excavating tools for the use of the City in opening and improving streets
Madden Hollow Road progress
Grading of 7th and White Street
August 7, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Patrick O'Hern contract on 7th and White Streets
Settlement with the contractor
Committee on Streets
Improvement of Diagonal and Broadway streets
Petition of R Sibbach
to the plank road
Petition of William O'Hern
alley between Main and Locust Streets
grade on 1st is much lower than the alley and is now the reservoir
August 7, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition of William O'Hern
alley between Main and Locust Streets
grade on 1st is much lower than the alley and is now the reservoir
block above South of Main and up to 2nd Street
cause the water to run into the sewer over Main Street
Resolution
Resolved that the Council advertise for bids to fill up to a proper grade on 1st St between Main and Bluff
Alley between Main and Locust St. and below first
Committee on Harbor Improvements
Abrasion of City Island
Protection of that part of the island north of the ferry slough
forming an island or sand bar
August 7, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Harbor Improvement bids for paving Jones Street Levee
Description of paving
Rock from 3 to 6 inches thick on top, hammered face, 12 inches deep, slode jointed into thirds of the way down, and laid in a bed of sand or gravel
Resolution
Resolved
Council relinquish to Rufus Rittenhouse the alley donated to the City for public use by A Anderson, John Yates, William Ehrhart
July 9, 1855
Hamilton White be removed from position of City Watchman
City Marshal to collect damages assessed to the property holders
opening of South Dodge Street
Michael Hagerty appointed lamplighter and watchman
August 7, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Bills paid
Silas Sebring watchman
O Rultander
W Brown
Hamilton White
Francis Sebring
E O'Laughlin
McClure, Mills, and Co 20 maps of Dubuque City
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions and Communications
Seventh Street Harbor Improvement Company
Donate to the Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company
upper half of the outer middle island for a freight depot
extend 5th st. across the slough to the upper portion
Nadeau, Rogers and Co continue filling of the levee between 2nd and 4th streets
J B N Bougeois land for widening Julien Avenue
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions and Communications
M Morgan paving of the Jones Street Levee
Reports of Officers
Auditor
Banking house of W J Barney and Company, interest on bonds
City Engineer
Madden Hollow Road cost of building the first section from Bluff Street to Malady
Mineral Street connect with Arch Street in Finlay and Burton Addition
Reports of Committees
Bills of H C Pierce and Brothers
J Fahnesworth
Resolution
Public Schools within the City Limits
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Public Schools within the City Limits
Therefore B M Samuels, chairman of the committee on public schools
required to perform the duties
Resolution
Harbor Improvement companies, running the streets straight to the river
Resolved that John King report as early as possible
Report changing the grade of Bluff St. between 9th and 11th streets
appearance of the street is good, brought up to grade, it will be greatly improved
Changes in the grade of 9th st to 11th St.
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Dangerous in our opinion to establish a precedent for the alteration of grade at present
Established grade is a sort of compromise between the properties on either side of the street
cannot be altered to benefit one side of the street without entailing an equal amount of injury to the other
Resolution
Resolved Resolution adopted July 23 lower grade on Bluff St. be rescinded
Petitions for a grant of a portion of the islands belonging to the City for depot purposes
Report
George W Jones, Platt Smith, and F E Bissell, Pacific Rail Road Company
L Clark, L H Langworthy, and Henry Wiltse
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report
George W Jones, Platt Smith, and F E Bissell, Pacific Rail Road Company
L Clark, L H Langworthy, and Henry Wiltse
Petition of L Clark, L H Langworthy, and Henry Wiltse
public meeting of the board of trade and other citizens held at the court house'
Donate to three Rail Road Companies not more than 40 acres
Illinois Central, Milwaukee and Mississippi, and Dubuque and Pacific
contrary to the practice of public bondies in donating for the use of individuals or companies in the public domain
city derive no advantage
city would sustain in depriving itself of so much valuable property on the river
steamboat landing
north of 7th Street
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition of L Clark, L H Langworthy, and Henry Wiltse
Depot located south of Jones Street
more convenient to the business community
time enough when the companies ask for a donation of land from the citizens of Dubuque
Petition of George W Jones, Platt Smith, and F E Bissell
Committee of the board of Directiors of the Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company
donation of land not less than 15 acres
outer island between the Barney Cut and the Ferry slough
ask it as a donation
unwillinging to recommend the grant
islands belonging to the city are already mortgaged to secure the payment of a large debt
interest must be annually paid by the city
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition of George W Jones, Platt Smith, and F E Bissell
Committee of the board of Directiors of the Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company
acting in bad faith to the creditors
no other means of securing the debt but by heavy taxation
cutting off from the use of the city the very best part of our steamboat landing
30 to 40 steamboats at our landing at one time
necessary to construct two large draw or turn bridges across the inner and outer sloughs
If the depot is located at this place, it would be more convenient to the commercial or business community
6th and Main street to the depot ground south of Jones Street
Barney Cut
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition of George W Jones, Platt Smith, and F E Bissell
Committee of the board of Directiors of the Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company
loss of valuable property and most valuable steamboat landing\
land asked for by petitioners is more than is absolutely necessary for depot purposes
P Quigley and M McNamara
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Minority Report
Communication of L Clark, H A Wiltse, and L H Langworthy
Platt Smith, George W Jones, and F E Bissell
grant lands to the Southern Wisconsin and Illinois Central Rail Roads
question Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company north one-half of the island between Waples and Barney Cuts be submitted to a vote of the people of this city
allow the people to whom these lands belong to decide
Resolution
Resolved Mayor issue a proclamation to the qualified electors of this City
Ferry and Barney Cuts and the Mississippi and outer slough shall be appropriated to the DPRRC
an entire levee 150 ft in width shall be reserved to the City
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Weigel, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Amendment 7th Street Company run out and bridge 5th Street
Contract between Jones Street Harbor Company and Hurly and Sherman for the paving of the levee
Judges of the elections
1st Ward
Edward Keas
Hugh Treanor
2nd Ward
J M Harrison
William Young
3rd Ward
John Parker
Henry Grimm
4th Ward
L L Wood
David Baird
5th Ward
Charles Rose
A McKee
Ald Weigel resigning his seat
Election to fill the vacancy
Nominated George L Nightingale, George W Scott
August 13, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
George Nightingale elected Alderman 2nd Ward
Bills Allowed
J W Clark salary as market master
G W Rogers nightwatch
F Sebring watchman
H Sidel
H Krohl gigging graves
William Coleman street commissioner
M McMahan
Andrew Cisel
John Flynn
John Cosgrove
Frank Klapper
Albert Langanager
Jacob Helmiller
Anton Helmiller
John Carroll
Timothy Garvey
William Cleary
Tim Ryan
Patrick Lang
Jerry Pigel
Michael Flanagen
Martin Flanagen
Patrick Consadine
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Nightingale oath of office
Petitions
Peter Kearney grading of Mineral Street, water turned upon his property in Blake's addition
cause serious injury
Watchmen of the City salary in scrip or money
M B Cullen change in 17th St as shown by a diagram accompanying the petition so as to avoid an abrupt point of bluff
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
Charles Corkery bad condition of streets around the public square
cause the streets to be graded so as to carry off the water and to constuct a sidewalk around the square
Gilliam and Emerson and other merchants, difficulty of getting freight from the outer island
ends of the Jones Street Bridge
P McDonough proposing to make a single track at both ends for drays and teams
Richard Sibbach shop for sale of meat, below A Yager's
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Officers
Engineer grade of Spruce and Jefferson streets in Farley's Subdivision
11th Street west of Bluff St.
Extension of the cemetery street accompanied by a plat
map of the road as surveyed
rapidly growing vicinity of Lake Street
James Potter engineer
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition R C Waples grade between 6th St and 7th St.
Market House Committee
Committee on Finance interest to Barney and Co for collection
borrowed portion of Harbor Fund
payment of interest
Filling on levee near Nadeau, Rogers and Co Mill
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Madden Hollow Road
Resolution
Resolved that contract and appropriate $2000 on Madden Hollow Road
Resolution
Resolved Finance enquire into amount of scrip in circulation
Gilliam and Emerson
August 20, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
License of Brook's Firework and balloon ascension exhibition fixed
Resolution providing for a revision of Ordinances of the city
Bills of John McCann for breaking rock, H Hunt and F St.Clair for killing dogs, Merritt Mahony and Dorr for printing
Returns of loan elections
For and against the subscription of $100,000 additional stock
Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company
1011 votes for
109 votes against
Bills allowed
Booth and Shine for lumber
Smith and Parker cistern pipes for market house
August 27, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
William J Neely and others, grade and improve 14th St. west of Bluff
George W Scott grade of Air Hill Street
George W Jones ascertain intention of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail Road Company
Sarah Young remit City tax
August 27, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
F V Goodrich and others not to permit theatrical exhibitions in the Globe Hall
Street Commissioner bad condition of 7th and White Streets
Engineer proposed change to Mineral Street
Accompanying plat alteration in Mineral Street
Right of way given by Newman
sanction of Parker with his promise of relinquishment
Bills of John McCann, Henry Hunt
August 27, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Bills of John McCann, Henry Hunt, F St.Clair, Aaron Baptester
5th Ward Schoolhouse
Mr. Schrum continue the work by piece-work
Resolution
Resolved Mayor appoint suitable person to ascertain the number of children in each ward
Census of children who may entitled to the benefit of common schools
August 27, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Resolved Powder house, suitable place for the construction for keeping and storing powder
Resolved Engineer examine the Jones and 7th Street Companies' bridges
Resolved paying a certain judgement in favor of J Trudell
District Court of Dubuque County
Resolved abatement of taxes claims in writing
Judges of elections
1st Ward Edward Keas, Hugh Treanor
2nd Ward William Young, T F Gilliam
August 27, 1855
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Judges of elections
1st Ward Edward Keas, Hugh Treanor
2nd Ward William Young, T F Gilliam
3rd Ward Henry Ricketts, Henry Grimm
4th Ward L L Wood, E Spottswood
5th Ward Anton Heeb, Ira Hulbert
Bills Paid
Henry Grimm market house
William Baumer
P Coghlen transcribing assessment list
Peter Lischet street commissioner
Joseph Schumacher
Herman Tema
John Kremer
Lawrence Trischler
Anton Gell
Martin Ryan
Samuel Henny
Jerry Pigel
Michael Lawrence
Simon Cohen