The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-08-16
WHAT THEY THINK OF 1T.

At meeting of the council last week
the board of public works recommended
that Front street be recurbed and regut-
tered from Byron to Vine streets, dis
lance of over mile. The board esti-
mates the cost at 80 cents q foot, which
would be $3.50 lot of 20 feet front.
| The cost will have to be entirely met by
the property benefited. Block 16 fur
nishes an example of the work, which
is great improvement over the old gut
ter and curb. A few of the heavier
property owners along the street were
seen to-day and expressed the following
opinions in regard to the work:
L. g. M. Fletcher own zoo feet
along that part of Front street where it
is proposed to do the work. 1t would
cost me about 5000, which / would rath-
er not pay this season. 1 would suggest
that nothing be done about the matter
at present. Whenever fine gutter and
curb is put down the old sidewalks
should come up, and be succeeded by
fine stone walks. That will entail an
additional cost on most of the property
owners.
Fred Kron-While it does not make
any difference to me what the council
does in the matter, believe that the
work can be done by the property own
ers themselves more cheaply than by
the city. But | am willing to let the
council decide.
Ed. Cousandier-That 10 business.
Give US new cutters, and have our city
look like something.
Mich. Lang-I am willing to pay for
more new curb and cutters. Let us put
on city airs.
J. II. Ray-The work should by no
means be done this year. The people
are already burdened with enough tax
es, and unless there is stop capital will
be kept from investing here. We have
expended enough for one year and
should rest for another year, at least.
The cutters have been good enough for
the past ten or twelve years, and We
should be able to stand them another
year or two.
L. Patterson-I want the city to make
all the improvements needed, but do
not want them all piled on in one year.
It has been hard wear for business men
and about as many improvements have
been made as they can stand. Ii might
be done in two or three years. We have
put down some fine cutters in front of
our stores, at much expense, which
would have to come up. 1t seems as
though some of the officials want to
bankrupt the city.
w. T. Mills-I am opposed to the work
this year. They should not do too much
in one year. After year or two we can
afford it.
Anton Busch-I favor the work and
will pay my share.
Jacob Kiein-We can't afford to have
the work done this year. They are
slapping on too much for one year. If
they have the cutters renewed, then
new walks will be needed, and we might
like to see better cutters, but mine has
stood seven years, and can stand anoth-
er year.
Frank Henlein-I am willing to pay
my share, and believe that this block
should have the work done. But fur
Their down town there are men too poor
to pay their assessments.
S. F. Barney-The work should not be
done now. The people can't afford it
this year, and the city should not try to
do too much at once. In two or three
years we will want the street paved, and
then the gutter must come up again. l
can speak for J. A. Willard, who is East,
that he, too, is opposed to the work this
year.
G. C. Burt-The city cannot afford to
nave tie WOTh uOllc uOW, DO IL WOulu
have to advance the money until the as
sessments could be collected. The bust
ness men along the street, think, are
generally opposed to the work being
done now. Other things are needed
more.
John F. Meagher-I am opposed to
the work being done. If the officials
don't call halt they will soon bankrupt
the city. If they want to confscate our
property, all right. We have been do
ing too much already, so now let us catch
up with our expenses.
T. Saulpaugh-The work should be
done by all means. The city is altogeth-
er too slow about making improvements,
and it is time it took step forward.
Many other improvements are needed.
I don't know that have been here long
enough to say 80, but l would say 60
ahead with the work.