The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20
Town Charter Meeting.

On Saturday evening, the nth INST, pursuant ~ q
call published in our last issue, the citizens OF TINS town
met together at fremont Hall, to take into consideration
. Charter for Nininger. S. s. Eaton, Esq, was called
to the chair, who called the meeting to order.
While waiting for the committee who were to prepare
the draft of an appropriate charter, the propnety OF
having q chartered government was taken, ana the al
yantages and even necessity for 1t were let 1orth ID lot
chile language by NJ. A. Miller, Esq.
The document being reported ready, /. DonneiIy'
Eco as one Of the committee, stated that there was
some difficulty in coming to a decision as to whether a
C;tv or Town Charter would be most advantageous for
the town at this present time. City Charters were only
suitable for populous places-say Of ten to twenty
thousand inhabitsnts; the duties under it were multi
farious. requiring q great number OF officers to give II
the ,east operative effect, and therefore would be too
cumbersome in the management OF the affairs OF a town
With less than q thousand Inhabitants. With 3 Town
Charrer for the present, all the necessary improvements
could be made that are here required, and IN a simple,
economical manner--suitable for a town a little more
than a wear old. It was desirable, it was true, to Min
soip the presen, designation of the place it seemed I'M
proper even to appear to retrograde; but it must be
recollected that the designation of city was assumed De-
fore the first dwelling was put up. And until the Popu'
lation a~ttains a suitable number, a system adequate to
our necessities should be adopted whenever It becomes
necessary the powers of government can be enlarged
and extended to meet our growing wants. One unan-
swerable objection to assuming the powers of chartered
city. Just yet, is the injury sustained almost by every
town, where it has been tried. Their example should
nc. be lost upon US their feeble efforts to work their
government, machinery have entirely failed and apathy
and Indifference have resulted, preventing all useful adj
vancement.
A number Of gentlemen advocated such a govern
meut as would best suit our present condition, and IN
good time it could be changed. A strong desire was
expressed that some form OF government should be I'M
uediately assumed, and on . motion for the Town Char
ter being submitted te the meeting, the entire body
With the exception Of two SUSTAINED it.
The chairman, with Aessrs Donnelly and Case, were
then appointed a Committee to have the town incorpo-
rated in accordance with the views expressed by the
meeting
1t will afford the creates. satisfaction to our citizens
to be able to 60 on improving the town with legal pow
er. They have laborcd under the disadvantage Of an
snorganized body and while they would, willingly &C;
"a enc man IN improving the town, the hindrance they
encountered from non residen. property holders pre-
vented them. Before the boats begin to run, we now
expect to see the leyce extended and improved, aad the
streets and avenues graded, and the town in view Of the
river made to appear in keeping with other portions, and
with the number and character of our people.