The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-01-13

Cost to city Sl,477 90
Total improvements. ................ $2,450 "
WATER WORKS.
Our water works are now in complete
working order, and with our firemcn
thoroughly equipped with hose and
prompt to respond to an alarm, we are
ready to successfully combat with fire
whenever it may appear. There is now
a constant water pressure upon the mains
of forty pounds, and this can be instant
ly increased to eighty pounds-thc most
effective fire pressure. There are now
only six private water takers whose ag
gregatc rents amount to $135 per an
mum, and of this amount Woodland L.
Foss pay large share. The number of
takers will he increased next season. and
would he largely increased were it not
for the popular delusion that the water
is unfit for general use. While it is true
that il cannot be used during a small
portion of the year, when the storm
waters and melting SHOWS are cleansing
our city and washing the filth into the
river; it is also true that running streams,
are by their own action, quickly and
thoroughly purified, and l venture the
assertion that during ten months in the
year our water mains will supply purer
and better water than is drawn from a
majority of the wells within the area
reached by our water system. ! am
supported in this opinion by the testi-
mony of our physicians, one of whom,
Mr.. Davis, has given the matter careful
study and investigation, and who is pre-
pairing a report for the public. Your
honorable body should take such steps
as are necessary to cause all slaughter
houses to be removed to points below
the reservoir, as our ordinances require
and as the public good demands.
have collected and paid into the city
treasury for
Tapping mains and outfits. $3l 80
Bonus from mains to street centre...... IL 90
Less credit for same. .................... w
Bonus balance. ....................... sl3 90
For skating rink and building purposes$32 80
Total collections except rent. ........... n ~
SEWERS.
Intimately connected with the subject
Of water supply, is the matter of provid-
ing our city with complete sewer sys.
tenn, for before the water from service
pipe can be applied to all the uses de-
sired, the sewer must be at hand to take
the waste Mankato is so located that
it is not difficult to devise an excellent
plan of sewerage at moderate cos, and
the benefits accruing in the health and
comfort of our people would, in my
opinion, more than offset the expense.
The first step to be taken is to adopt
plan and system which shall include
the entire city, and then build from time
TO time such portions as our resources
will allow. 1t is the province of this
council to consider whether we are ready
to inaugurate this improvement or not.
Within the last few years there has been
a new departure in the sewerage of towns
called the separate sewerage SYSTEM"
which is now the subject of much dis
cussion among sanitary engineers. 1t is
in brief the laying OF small glazed pipes
for carrying off the sewage from kitchens
and privies, with appliances for frequent
flushing, and leaving the rainfall to
cleanse the surface by the gutter and
other surface drainage. There is much
to recommend the system, and the topo
graphy of Mankato is admirably apapted
to the successful working of this plan of
sewerage.
STONE MONUMENTS.
The monument system commenced by
my predecessor in office, Capt. Howe,
has been extended by me until it en-
braces considerable portion of the city.
There are now forty-onc stones in posi-
ton, thirteen having been placed the
past season. These have been located
with great care and only after the closest
measurement. A record of these measure
mcnts, and of the position of each mon
ment, has been kept. that any excess or
deficiency from true distance can be put
where it bclongs. This should be con.
tinued until the boundary lines of the
different additiOns--which in some cases
are yet uncertainties well as the impor-
tant street corners are definitely and
permanently fixed.
STREET CROSS SECTION.
Some difficulty has arisen the past
season on account of the fact that no
deiinatc cross section has been adopted
for some of our important streets. This
matter should receive the attention Of
the council, and the width and position
of sidewalks, cutters, and road way,
should be determined upon and the
proper record made. Property owners
should then be required to build their