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Arkansas City Important Facts
[Note: There are 17 pages to read. MAW 9/13/2000]
1871
COPY OF CHARTER.
Arkansas City Town Company
State of Kansas, Cowley County, s.s.
Filed for record Oct. 5th, 1907, at 2:30 P.M., Recorded in book I of Journal, Page 99.
Hopkins Shivvers, Register of Deeds.
State of Kansas, Department of State, C. E. Denton, Secretary of State.
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
I, C. E. Denton, Secretary of State of the State of Kansas, do hereby certify that the following and hereto attached is a true copy of Charter of the “Arkansas City Town Company”, filed for record in this office on the 15th day of July, A.D. 1871, the original of which is now on file and a matter of record in this office.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereto set my hand and cause to be affixed my official seal.
Done at the City of Topeka, this 3rd day of October A.D. 1907.
C. E. Denton, Secretary of State. By J. T. Botkin Ass’t Secretary of State.
The following named persons residents of Cowley County, Kansas, have associated themselves together in conformity to the laws of the State of Kansas, for the purposes herein specified to-wit: C. R. Sipes, M. R. Leonard, H. B. Norton, G. H. Norton, W. M. Sleath [Sleeth], H. O. Meigs, Daniel Beedy, L. B. Kellogg and A. A. Newman.
1st. The name of this corporation is the “Arkansas City Town Company.”
2nd. It is formed for the purpose of selecting, laying out and platting a town site into lots, blocks, streets, alleys and parks and for the occupation, sale and disposal of the same upon the west half of section (30) thirty in township (34) thirty-four of range (4) Four east and the South-east quarter of section twenty-five of town thirty-four (34) of range three (3) east of the 6th Principal meridian.
3rd. Its place of business is at Arkansas City in Cowley County, Kansas.
4th. The term of its existence shall be ten years.
5th. The number of its directors are five of which the following are the names and place of residence of those chosen for the first year: H. B. Norton, H. O. Meigs, W. M. Sleath [Sleeth], C. R. Sipes and G. H. Norton of Arkansas City.
6th. The amount of its capital stock is fifteen thousand dollars which is divided into three hundred shares of fifty dollars each.
State of Kansas, Butler County, ss.
Before me a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared W. M. Sleath [Sleeth], G. H. Norton, C. R. Sipes, M. R. Leonard and A. A. Newman, known to me to be the persons whose names are herein mentioned and acknowledged the within instrument to be their own act and deed for the purposes therein specified. [Listed names shown above.]
Witness my hand and official seal this 13th day of July A.D. 1871.
G. H. Lafetra, Notary Public.
(SEAL)
(Filed for record July 15, 1871.)
Filed July 28th, 1871
Book A Page 26
Consideration: $581.70
Thomas B. Ross, Probate Judge
Receipts in full for the Southeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 34 South of Range 3 East, and the West fractional half of Section 30, Township 34 South of Range 4 East of the 6th P.M., for the use and benefits of the occupants of the townsite of Arkansas City.
By W. A. Shannon, Receiver.
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No. 3
United States of America
to
Thomas B. Ross, Probate Judge
PATENT
Dated May 1st, 1873
Filed January 28th, 1874
Book C Page 50
Consideration: Full Payment
Gives and grants the Southeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 34 South of Range 3 East, and the West fractional half of Section 30, Township 34 South of Range 4 East of the 6th P.M., for the use and benefit of the occupants of the townsite of Arkansas City.
By U. S. Grant, President. (Seal)
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No. 4
Thomas B. Ross, Probate Judge, Cowley County, Kansas
to
Arkansas City Town Company, whereof H. B. Norton is President and W. M. Sleath, is Secretary
D E E D
Dated October 2nd, 1871
Ack’d October ( ), 1871
Filed October 9th, 1871
Book A Page 112
Consideration: $324.53
Sell and convey Lot 27 Block 81 Arkansas City, Kansas, and other real estate.
Signed: T. B. Ross, Probate Judge
Ack’d by T. B. Ross, Probate Judge, Cowley County, Kansas, before T. H. Johnson, Notary Public, Cowley County, Kansas. (Seal)
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No. 5
A f f i d a v i t
by
H. P. Farrar
A F F I D A V I T
Dated March 15th, 1916
S & S March 15th, 1916
Filed March 16th, 1916
Book Jr P Page 34
Affiant under oath states among other things: That he was acquainted with Thomas B. Ross, Probate Judge, grantee of Patent from the United States dated May 1st, 1873, and recorded in Volume C, page 509 in the office of the Register of Deeds, Cowley County, Kansas, conveying the Southeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 34 South of Range 3 East, and other real estate, Cowley County, Kansas, and knows that he was the same person as T. B. Ross, grantor in deed filed October 9th, 1871 and recorded in Volume A, page 112 in the office of the Register of Deeds, Cowley County, Kansas.
S & S before C. G. Roseberry, Notary Public, Cowley County, Kansas. (Seal)
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No. 6
P l a t
of
Arkansas City, Kansas
P L A T
Dated April 14th, 1873
Ack’d April 6th, 1873
Filed May 6th, 1873
Book A Page 12
Plats and sub-divides into Blocks, Lots, Streets and Alleys, the Southeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 34 South of Range 3 East of the 6th P.M., and the Northeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 34 South of Range 3 East, except the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of said Section 25, and the West fractional half of Section 30, Township 34 South of Range 4 East, and includes among other blocks,
Block
Streets and alleys are dedicated to the Public.
Signed: H. B. Norton, President.
W. M. Sleeth, Secretary (No Seal)
Ack’d before Rollin J. Pond, Notary Public, Cowley County, Kansas. (Seal)
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1872
Incorporation of Arkansas City
Election Notice.
State of Kansas
Cowley County s.s.
In the district court of the 13th Judicial District in and for the said Cowley County.
Whereas a petition signed by a majority of the electors of the unincorporated town of Arkansas City, praying for the incorporation of said town and city of the 3rd Class as provided by law has been presented to the court together with satisfactory proof that the said petition has been published in full in the Arkansas City Traveler a weekly newspaper published in the town aforesaid, once in each week for three consecutive weeks prior to the presentation of said petition, and it appearing that the number of inhabitants in the said town of Arkansas City is over two hundred and fifty and less than two thousand, and the Judge of the District Court aforesaid, being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of the said town are in favor of such incorporation, and that the prayer of the Petitioners is reasonable.
Now therefore, be it known that I W. P. Campbell Judge of the District Court of the 13th Judicial District of Kansas do order and adjudge and it is hereby ordered and adjudged that the said town of Arkansas City be, and it is hereby declared to be incorporated as a City of the Third Class under the name and style of “The City of Arkansas City” with the following metes and bounds as described in the petition herein before referred to—to-wit:
Beginning at the North East Corner of the west half of Section thirty (30), thence South one mile to the south line of said Section, thence west one mile to the South west corner of the east half of Section Twenty five (25) thence north one mile. Thence North one mile to the north line of said Section thence East to the place of beginning, it being the East half of Section Twenty five (25) in Section Thirty (30) in Township Thirty four (34) South of Range Four (4) East. It is further ordered the first election for the choice of city officers in said city of Arkansas City shall be held on Monday the first day of July A.D. 1872 at the Public schoolhouse in said city, and it is further ordered that the following named electors of said City shall act as judges of said election: C. F. Allen, David Thompson, Peter Pearson. And that R. J. Pond and Amos Walton shall act as clerks, and that W. J. Mowry, E. B. Kager and J. I. Mitchell shall serve as a board of canvassers at the said first city election.
In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of June A.D. 1872
(Signed) W. P. Campbell
Judge of 13th Judicial District of Kansas
State of Kansas, Cowley County
L. B. Kellogg one of the publishers of the Arkansas Traveler, being duly sworn, deposes and says that the above order of the District Court incorporating the town of Arkansas City - was duly published in the said newspaper once in each week for two successive weeks prior to July 1st A.D. 1872, to wit in Nos. 41 and 42 of Vol. 2 of said paper.
(Signed) L. B. Kellogg
Subscribed and sworn before me this 2nd day of July A.D. 1872.
Seal. E. B. Kager, Notary Public
City of Arkansas City.
July 2nd A.D. 1872
Board of canvassers met at 2 p.m. according to appointment and were duly qualified, according to law, and proceeded to canvas the votes cast for City officers.
[The rest of this statement was missing. MAW]
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[Note: Whoever typed up the following was dead wrong about the date that Arkansas City became a City of the Third Class. They had June 10, 1872. MAW September 12, 2000. I have corrected the date on this as well as some of the names.]
CITY OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS
ELECTION & APPOINTMENTS OF OFFICIALS
SINCE DATE OF INCORPORATION
The City of Arkansas City was Incorporated as a City of the Third Class on July 1, 1872, following a petition signed by a majority of the Electors of the Unincorporated Town of Arkansas City, Kansas. This was signed by Judge W. P. Campbell, Judge of the 13th Judicial District of Kansas.
The following is a listing of the Councilmen showing the year of election or appointment.
Year Name
1872 A. D. Keith [Mayor]
W. F. Benedict
J. I. Mitchell
Henry Endicott
L. H. McLaughlin
George McIntire
1873 A. D. Keith [Mayor]
A. N. Denning
E. D. Eddy
C. R. Mitchell
W. A. Hallett
1874 H. O. Meigs [Mayor]
A. K. Milton
E. P. Kinne
I. H. Bonsall
W. S. Packard
J. T. Shepard
1875 S. P. Channell [Mayor]
H. W. Godehard
E. D. Bowen
J. H. Sherburne
Dr. J. T. Shepard
I. H. Bonsall
1876 S. P. Channell [Mayor]
T. H. McLaughlin
W. M. Sleeth
H. B. Kelley
J. A. Loomis
J. I. Mitchell
1877 H. D. Kellogg [Mayor]
James Benedict
J. P. Farrar
J. T. Mitchell
I. H. Bonsall
H. Godehard
1878 James Benedict [Mayor]
J. T. Shepard
Wm. H. Speers
Thomas E. Berry
C. R. Sipes
I. H. Bonsall
1879 J. T. Mitchell [Mayor]
J. T. Shepard
I. H. Bonsall
H. Godehard
George Allen
Wm. H. Speers
L. Knight
1880 Dr. A. J. Chapel [Mayor]
M. Rexford
James Benedict
Stacy Matlack
H. D. Kellogg
Charles L. Parker
1881 H. D. Kellogg [Mayor]
James Benedict
J. B. Nipp
H. Godehard
O. S. Rarick
Wm. Speers
Police Judge: I. H. Bonsall
1882 A. A. Newman [Mayor]
H. D. Kellogg
James Benedict
O. S. Rarick
V. M. Ayres
John Ware
Police Judge: I. H. Bonsall
1883 H. D. Kellogg [Mayor]
O. S. Rarick
Timothy McIntire
Frank Schiffbauer
E. D. Eddy
James Ridenour
Police Judge: I. H. Bonsall
1884 Franklin P. Schiffbauer [Mayor]
C. G. Thompson
Frank C. Leach
O. S. Rarick
T. Fairclo
A. A. Davis
Police Judge: W. D. Kreamer
1885 Franklin P. Schiffbauer [Mayor]
Jacob Hight [First Ward—long term.]
James Hill [First Ward—short term.]
Calvin Dean [Second Ward—long term.]
Archie Dunn [Second Ward—short term.]
O. S. Rarick [Third Ward—long term.]
C. G. Thompson [Third Ward—short term.]
A. N. Davis [Fourth Ward—long term.]
H. George Bailey [Fourth Ward—short term.]
Police Judge: Chas. Bryant
Justice of the Peace: S. C. Lindsay
1886 Franklin P. Schiffbauer [Mayor]
A. D. Prescott
O. Ingersoll
A. A. Davis
C. T. Thurston
C. G. Thompson
J. Hight
James Hill
Calvin Dean
1887 James L. Huey [Mayor]
L. J. Miles [First Ward]
Calvin Dean [Second Ward]
J. P. Johnson [Third Ward]
D. L. Weir [Fourth Ward]
[Note: This is as far as my records go at this time. MAW 9/12/2000]
Arkansas City Republican, September 20, 1884.
ARKANSAS CITY A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS.
In the local columns of the REPUBLICAN last week was the announcement of Gov. Glick’s proclamation declaring Arkansas City to be a city of the second class. Now, in the state of Kansas there is an existing law to the effect that all names of voters of a city of the second class must be registered with the city clerk, before a certain date, or they cannot cast their votes. The law also says that the registration books shall be opened for the registration of names on the first of January of each year and continue open until within five days, we believe, of the election. It seems that the proclamation making this a city of the second class came too late to be put in successful operation this year. The city attorney has decided that registration books, according to law, will not be needed until January 1, 1885. The voting of the city and township in November will in all probability be the same as heretofore. Arkansas City would have to be divided into wards, and voting precincts established in the township if we should do otherwise. Time until the election occurs is too brief to accomplish this, and secure the registry of the names of our voters. Our next spring election will occur according to the provisions of a city of the second class. Arkansas City is really a city of the second class in name, but not in practice.
Arkansas City Republican, December 20, 1884.
Arkansas City is a city of the second class now. Registration books will be opened by the city clerk sometime in January.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 4, 1885.
Mr. Editor: We are now a city of the second class with nearly, if not quite 4,000 people, are getting a national and state reputation which, under the right kind of management in our local affairs, would soon place us among the first cities of the state. I am a strong party man, voted all my life national and state tickets straight, but in local matters I am for good and honest government, and want the very best and most efficient men for the places and I think the time has now come when some steps should be taken in that direction in this city. I don’t care what a man’s politics or religion are if he is only the right man in the place. I would like to see a citizens caucus called by the leading men regardless of party and good men nominated for the city offices at large and the different wards follow suit. Yours in behalf of good Government. CITIZEN.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 20, 1885.
New Ordinances.
We publish some city ordinances in this issue, and under the requirement of law, the publication will be continued. The creation of Arkansas City as a city of the second class necessitates the enactment of our whole code of municipal laws. The revision is now being made by a committee of the council, under direction of the city attorney, and on their adoption by the council they will be published in the TRAVELER. When the revision and re-enactment are completed, the ordinances will be re-published in collected form, in order that all persons amenable to their penalties may be duly informed of the municipal rules and regulations binding upon their conduct. There has been some laxity in the conduct of our municipal affairs, we now hope to see better order established.
Ordinance No. 1.
Relating to certain petty offenses, defining the same and providing for the suppression thereof and punishment therefor.
Be it ordained by the mayor and councilmen of the City of Arkansas City:
SECTION 1. That any person drawing a pistol, revolver, knife, or any other deadly weapon upon another person, unless an officer of the law in the discharge of his duty, shall, upon conviction, thereof, be fined in any sum not less than $10 nor more than $100.
SECTION 2. That any person who shall, by words, signs, or gestures, provoke or attempt to provoke another to commit an assault and battery, or other breach of the peace within the limits of the city, shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not less than $3 or more than $25.
SECTION 3. That any person who shall curse, swear, quarrel, or use violent and threatening language, or make any great noise so as to disturb the peace of any person within the limits of the city, shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not exceeding $25.
SECTION 4. That any person who shall be found within the corporate limits of the city of Arkansas City in a state of intoxication or drunkenness, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $10.
SECTION 5. That any person carrying any deadly or dangerous weapons, such as loaded fire-arms, slung-shot, sheath, or dirk-knife, or any other weapons which when used are liable to produce death or great bodily harm, unconcealed, within the corporate limits of the city, shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not less than $1 or more than $10.
SECTION 6. That any person or persons carrying any of the weapons mentioned in section 5 of this ordinance, concealed about his person, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not less than $5 or more than $25.
SECTION 7. That any person or persons discharging any fire-arms, letting off any fire-crackers or squibs, or throwing any fire-balls, or making any bonfire in the limits of the city, shall upon conviction, be fined in any sum of not less than $3 or more than $10, provided, that the section shall not apply to the 24th or 25th day of December, or the 1st day of January, or the 4th day of July, or the 22nd day of February; and provided further, that this section may be suspended on other days by the mayor; neither shall this section apply to the discharge of fire-arms in licensed shooting galleries, nor to the shooting of dogs running at large in violation of city ordinance.
SECTION 8. That any and every person who shall ride or drive any horse, mule, or other animal at an immoderate speed, or at a race within the city limits, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $25.
SECTION 9. That any and all persons riding, driving, or leading any horse, mule, ass, or neat cattle upon or across any sidewalks within the city limits, shall upon conviction, be fined for each offense any sum not less than one or more than ten dollars.
SECTION 10. That any man or woman who are not married to each other, who shall lewdly abide with each other, or shall sleep or occupy the same apartment for lewd and lascivious purposes, within the city limits, shall upon conviction, each be fined in any sum not to exceed one hundred dollars.
SECTION 11. That every person who shall make an indecent exposure of his person within the city, shall upon conviction, be fined any sum not to exceed one hundred dollars.
SECTION 12. That any person or persons who shall in any way obstruct the street crossings in the city, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not less than one dollar or more than five dollars.
SECTION 13. That any person or persons destroying or damaging any city property shall upon conviction, be fined in a sum not less than the amount of damage committed.
SECTION 14. That any person or persons who shall knowingly or willfully create a false alarm of fire within the city of Arkansas City, by building bonfires for that purpose, or by ringing the fire bell, or by the cry of fire, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not less than five dollars or more than fifty dollars.
SECTION 15. That any person beating, injuring, or treating any animal in an immoderate, cruel, or unnecessary manner, shall upon conviction, be fined in any sum not to exceed fifty dollars.
SECTION 16. For hitching any team or animal to any lamp post, awning post, or growing trees along the streets of Arkansas City, or training or breaking any horse or mule on any street, or between the 1st day of March and the 1st day of October, hitching, training, breaking, or displaying or showing any stallion on any street, a fine of not less than three or more than ten dollars.
SECTION 17. That any person who shall be convicted and fined, under any provision of this ordinance or any ordinance of the city, who shall fail to pay such fine and costs of prosecution, shall perform such work for the city as the mayor shall direct, and all prisoners working for the city shall be allowed 50 cents per day to be applied in satisfaction of such fine and costs.
SECTION 18. The fines specified in the foregoing ordinance shall in no case include costs.
SECTION 19. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER.
Approved May 11th, 1885.
F. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.
Attest: JAS. BENEDICT, City Clerk.
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Ordinance No. 2.
An ordinance concerning the public health.
Be it ordained by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Arkansas City:
SECTION 1. That it shall be the duty of the committee on public health to make a personal inspection of the city as often as once a month, and at such other times as may be ordered by the council for the purpose of examining the sanitary condition of the city, and they shall report to the city council at their next meeting or to the city marshal all lots or premises with the owners or occupants thereof, so far as the same can be ascertained, Where any dead carcasses, privies, pig-pens or pig-houses, stables, or any other outbuildings, filth, manure pile, stagnant water, decayed or decaying vegetables, or other matters exist which is calculated to create sickness, or in any other manner prove detrimental to the public health.
SECTION 2. That under the direction of the city council or the committee on public health, the marshal shall require the nuisance referred to in previous section, to be cleansed, removed, or abated as hereinafter provided, and in case the owner or occupant of such premises shall refuse to so remove or abate such nuisance, then the marshal shall immediately commence proceedings against such party for the recovery of expenses, fines, or costs, before the police Judge.
SECTION 3. That the owner or occupant of any hotel, restaurant, saloon, boarding house, or other public house where refuse or filth is liable to accumulate, shall deposit the same and all such filth, slops, sweeping waste water, offal, or refuse, vegetable or animal, or other refuse dangerous to the public health that may accumulate upon or be the product of such premises, in a box, barrel, or other receptacle, and shall remove or cause the same to be removed so such place as may be provided or designated by the city council, as often as every Monday and Thursday during the months of July, August, and September, of each year, and at such times as may from time to time be designated by the city council.
SECTION 4. From the first day of July to the fist day of October in each year the sale of unripe fruit, stale, or unwholesome vegetables is absolutely prohibited and persons offering for sale any such unripe fruit, stale, or unwholesome vegetables after the same shall have been exposed for sale for two days previous, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty dollars and costs, and the fruits and vegetables so offered shall be forfeited to the city. Potatoes, tomatoes, and onions are excepted from the operation of this ordinance.
SECTION 5. It shall be the duty of the city marshal during the time specified in the foregoing section to personally inspect every morning every place where fruit or vegetables are sold, and take possession on behalf of the city, of all such unripe fruit, or vegetables, and forthwith arrest the person or persons for violation of this ordinance.
SECTION 6. It shall be the duty of all owners or occupants of any premises in the city of Arkansas City when requested so to do by the city marshal or health committee, or any member thereof, to use as often as once a week chloride of lime or other sufficient disinfectant, in cellars, privies, stables, yards, and otherwise about their premises, from the 1st day of July until the 1st of October in each year, for the purpose of thoroughly cleansing said premises from all matter calculated to invite cholera or cause any sickness in the community, and all persons who may be thus notified to use such disinfectant upon their premises as aforesaid, and shall fail, refuse, or neglect to comply therewith, shall be subject to a fine of not exceeding twenty dollars for each and every time they fail, refuse, or neglect to comply with such notice.
SECTION 7. The marshal and members of the committee on public health shall in the discharge of their duties under this ordinance, have full power and authority to enter any house, shop, cellar, or public or private place in the city during the day time and for that purpose may break doors or other obstructions upon reasonable demand for entrance having been made and the same refused, and any person resisting any such officers in the discharge of their duties shall be dealt with in the manner provided for by ordinance for the resistance of an officer.
SECTION 8. The city council shall have power to cause any lot within the city of Arkansas City on which, or part of which, water shall at any time become stagnant, to be raised, filled up, or drained, and to cause all putrid substances, whether animal or vegetable, to be removed from said lot and said council may for such purpose, from time to time, direct that such lot or lots be raised, filled up, or drained, and that such putrid substance be removed from such lot or lots by the owner or owners thereof, respectively in such manner and within such reasonable time as the council may by resolution deem proper and sufficient.
SECTION 9. It shall be the duty of such owner or owners, his, her, or their agent or attorney, upon service of a copy of said resolution by the duly authorized agents of the city, to comply with the directions of such resolutions within the time therein specified. In case if by reason of absence or from any other cause personal service cannot be made upon the owner or owners of said lot or lots, him, her, or their agents or attorneys, then said resolutions shall be published in some newspaper of general circulation in said city for four consecutive weeks, which publication, so as aforesaid made, shall be deemed and held to be of the same force and binding effect upon the owner or owners of said lot or lots as if service thereof had been personally made.
SECTION 10. In case said owner or owners of said lot or lots, his, her, or their agents or attorneys shall after service so as aforesaid made, fail, refuse, or neglect to comply with the direction of such resolutions within the time therein specified, then the said lot or lots may be raised, filled, or drained, or such putrid matter or substance be removed at the expense of the city, and the amount of money so expended shall be a debt due to said city from the owner or owners of such lot or lots in proportion to the amount expended on the lot or lots owned by him, her, or them respectively, and said debt shall from the time of the adoption of said resolutions become a lien upon said lot or lots and said sum shall be deemed to be a special assessment on said lot or lots and shall be certified to the county clerk of Cowley County, to be by him placed on the tax roll for collection subject to the same penalties and collected in like manner as other taxes are by law collected.
SECTION 11. The raising, filling, or draining of said lot or lots shall be done by the city and the same shall be under the supervision of the street commissioner, and all work of raising, filling, or draining of said lot shall cease, whenever in his judgment the said nuisance shall have been fully abated and thereupon he shall report to the city clerk for presentation to the council a careful statement duly certified to, showing the amount of money due from each lot or lots, so as aforesaid raised, filled, or drained.
SECTION 12. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER.
Approved May 11th, 1885.
F. P. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.
Attest: JAS. BENEDICT, City Clerk.
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Ordinance No. 3.
An ordinance prohibiting certain persons from climbing upon moving trains in the city of Arkansas City.
Be it ordained by the mayor and councilmen of the city of Arkansas City:
SECTION 1. That no persons except an employee or passenger of any railway company shall climb or attempt to climb upon any moving train upon any railroad within the city.
SECTION 2. Any persons violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall on conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not less than $3 or more than $15 and cost of prosecution.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER.
Approved May 11th, 1885.
F. P. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.
Attest: JAS. BENEDICT, City Clerk.
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Ordinance No. 4.
An ordinance fixing the salaries and compensation of city officers and employees.
Be it ordained by the mayor and councilmen of the city of Arkansas City:
SECTION 1. That the officers and employees of the city of Arkansas City hereinafter specified, shall receive per annum, payable monthly, to-wit: The mayor nor any councilmen, nor any member of the board of education, shall receive any compensation exceeding the amount of one dollar per annum, either as such officers or as councilmen, or otherwise; city clerk, one hundred and eighty dollars; city attorney, $200; city treasurer, no salary; treasurer board of education, no salary; city marshal, seven hundred and twenty dollars; assistant city marshal, three hundred dollars; street commissioner, one dollar and 50 cents per day for all days actually employed for the city; police judge, three hundred dollars, to be paid by the city, and in addition thereto he is hereby allowed to retain not to exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars per month out of any fees collected by him, and any amount of fees collected by him during any one month exceeding the sum of twenty-five dollars shall be turned over by him to the city treasurer the same as other city moneys coming into his hands by virtue of his office; he is also to furnish his room furniture, fuel, and lights.
SECTION 2. Any officer or employee drawing pay under the provisions of this ordinance, shall forfeit his right to compensation for such time as he shall neglect or be unable to perform the duties of his office or position, or while suspended or relieved therefrom.
SECTION 3. Any appointed officer or employee absenting himself from the city of Arkansas City, or who fails or is unable to perform the duties of his position, may with the consent of the mayor and councilmen, provide a temporary substitute, but absence or failure to act without such provision of a substitute shall be construed as a resignation, and his position may be declared vacant at the option of the mayor and council.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER.
Approved May 12th, 1885.
F. P. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.
Attest: JAS. BENEDICT, City Clerk.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 20, 1885.
Council Meeting.
The city council met on Monday evening, and after acting upon a number of bills, proceeded to the revision of ordinances. The ordinance proposed by the mayor imposing an occupation tax was first read by the clerk. It is a lengthy document and prescribes a license tax upon every occupation allowed by the statute, even to fortune tellers and corn-doctors. After the reading, the council proceeded to set the amount to be taxed upon each occupation. The tax on druggists was a stumbling block. A charge of $100 a year was suggested, because these dealers by the sale of liquor make all the profit formerly gained by saloon dealers, and the city treasury is deprived of the license formerly imposed on saloons. Councilman Dunn argued the amount was excessive; if druggists abuse the permits granted them, it remained with the probate judge to deal with the offenders. He did not believe in punishing the innocent with the guilty, and thought that some discrimination should be made. At his suggestion the tax was fixed at $25 to $100 at the “discretion of the mayor.”
The session was prolonged till midnight, and several ordinances were passed.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 20, 1885.
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
The City Council Again Laboring With the Question.
The water question has become a hackneyed subject in the newspapers of the city; and with the rivers overflowing their banks and threatening widespread destruction, we can understand that a prolonged discussion of the question may seem excessive to some readers. But old Aquarius, who carries the watering-pot of the gods, may withhold his hand before long; our present surplus may turn into drouth, and then the subject of a water supply will not be turned from with aversion.
When the report of the committee on water works was made to the city council a week ago, through its chairman, Mr. James Hill, the question of the location of the works was referred to the council, and became the subject of prolonged discussion. Mr. Hill, as an expert, recommended the Walnut River as a source of supply, suggesting that three acres of ground at an eligible point be purchased; that the same be fenced in, cleared, and scrupulously cleaned off, and the necessary buildings and machinery erected. He recommended the Walnut River, he said, because the spring which furnishes our present supply of water is not to be depended on for the future needs of the city; and because a present saving of several thousand dollars can be made in the machinery and a considerable permanent saving in the cost of fuel.
The debate that followed brought out an expression of conflicting sentiment. The water in the Walnut was condemned as impure and unfit for culinary use. Dead carcasses, decaying trees, and vegetable debris are borne along its surface, and the several hog wallows in the vicinity of the mills taint it beyond means of purification. One or two members suggested that the water could be filtered before it was turned into the pipes, but others contended that it was so charged with vegetable and animal matter, that during the hot months, it became putrid; and no process of filtration could relieve it of its offensive odor.
Diverse views were expressed on the fitness of the spring for the supply of the city. It was asserted by Mr. Hill, and assented to by some of his brother members, that an excavation must be made to arrive at an increased supply, and in sinking down, there was danger of losing the water entirely. But others declare that large portions of our city are under flown by seepage from the Arkansas River, and that a thin stratum of rock, extending from one river bank to the other, is interposed between this subterranean inflow and the surface. In proof of this the case is mentioned of a workman drilling through this shell of rock, who lost hold of his drill when the rock was perforated, and it disappeared in the underlying water. Taking this geological formation as a basis, they insist that the rock has but to be removed from the spring where the city now obtains its supply, and water will be found in sufficient quantity to meet all our future wants should our present population be decupled.
This diversity of opinion was brought to an issue in the council last week, by the introduction of a motion to locate the water works on the Walnut River bank. But no definite vote was taken because two of the members (Messrs. Hight and Bailey), were not able to vote intelligently, not knowing anything about the prospective capacity of the spring to supply the city inhabitants. A day was granted to inform themselves, and when they came to a vote on the motion, the ensuing evening, it was sustained by a vote of four to three. This seems to have given the coup de grace to Mr. O’Neil, who has been hanging on the ragged edge for upwards of a month; he saw that his franchise to build a water system was knocked higher than a kite, so he gathered his belongings together and lit out, forgetting, in his haste to get away, to pay his debts to several confiding creditors. This puts the water works question all at sea again, and the question is, what is it best to do about it?
ARKANSAS CITY. ESTABLISHMENT OF WARDS.
Arkansas City Republican, December 20, 1884.
The city council convened last Monday evening in the council room. The following is a report of the business transacted.
C. G. Thompson, mayor pro tem, Theo. Fairclo, and A. A. Davis were the members present. Several bills were allowed.
ORDINANCE NO. 126, Entitled an ordinance dividing the city of Arkansas City into wards, and numbering the same. Be it ordained by the mayor and councilmen of the city of Arkansas City.
SECTION FIRST. That the said city and the addition thereto shall be and is hereby divided into wards and numbered as follows, viz:
All that portion of said city and the addition thereto lying east of the central line of Summit Street and north of the central line of Central Avenue in said city, shall constitute a separate ward and shall be known and numbered as the First Ward.
All that portion of said city and the addition thereto lying east of the central line of Summit Street and south of the central line of Central Avenue in said city shall constitute a separate ward and shall be known and numbered as the Second Ward.
All that portion of said city and addition thereto lying west of the central line of Summit Street and south of the central line of Central Avenue, in said city, shall constitute a separate ward and shall be known and numbered as the Third Ward.
All that portion of said city and the addition thereto lying west of the central line of Summit Street and north of the central line of Central Avenue in said city shall constitute a separate ward and shall be known and numbered as the Fourth Ward.
Moved and carried that the salary of the city marshal be increased to $50 per month, and that the appointment of W. D. Johnson as special police be revoked. The council then adjourned.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
November 8, 1870: L. B. Wamsley elected first Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A. S. Blanchard appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction, in
place of L. B. Wamsley, resigned, in 1871. [Date not given.]
November 7, 1871: E. P. Hickok was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Total vote polled: 935.
November 3, 1874: General election. Total vote: 1,526
T. A. Wilkinson, Republican, elected Superintendent of Public
Instruction.
November 7, 1876: General election. Total vote: 1,681
Allen B. Lemmon elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
R. C. Story, County Superintendent of Public Instruction.
