The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-09-06


was the second time that the reservoir
has been partly filled, emptied again and
the holes and cracks filled up. The city
engineer believed that the sionework is
intact, and that only the cement is
cracked, and that the reservoir will not
leak. The committee did not quite feel
ready To entirely release Hubbard d Co.
from their contract, thinking that the
pump should first be tested and formally
accepted. Mr.. Casey, the Holly Co. 3
agent, is ready to turn the pump over TO
the city.
The city engineer stated that he
thought that it would be safe to release
the mill company, and did not think
that the council need hesitate a moment
about accepting the pump as il is all
right. The test should be made as soon
AS possible. He stated that never, I'M
less during big fire, would the pump
ever be run at full speed.
Fear was expressed that the running
of the pump at full speed would burst
some of the mains. The mayor asked
whether 1t would not be better to have
the mains burst in test than to wait I'M
til fire. He did not think that they
would burst, but thought that such pres
sure should be put on as might be need.
ed i'll case of fire, to know just what is to
be expected from them. The entire
pump question was talked over at length.
Aid. Henlein stated that he had spok-
en- TO Mr.. Frank Walters and that the
latter had agreed to test the pump in
case the council so wished.
Aid. Jorgenson urged that experts
from the city test the pump for several
days, and ascertain every possible fact
IN regard to the power of the pump, its
cost of running, etc.
A motion was carried authorizing the
mayor 10 set a day for an official test OF
the pump, experts in the meantime to
be engaged.
A motion was made to release Hub
bard x Co., from pumping further for
the city.
The mayor suggested that such action
might look like an acceptance of the
Holly pump.
The motion WAS carried, amended sc
as TO meet the objection.
1t was stated that Hubbard & Co.
would at any time resume the pumping
the connection with their pump will al
ways be maintained.
The committee on city property and
the city engineer were authorized to &C
cept the pump house from Contractor
NNSuIg anu pay LOT IL.
The city engineer recommended that
Contractor Brandt be allowed $500 on
the well at the foot of Washington St.
He stated that the city now has more
water than it can pump.
Mayor ffau asked whether it was adj
visable to continue the experiment OF
going deeper in the present condition OF
the finances of the city, and how deep il
was proposed to go.
Mr.. Brandt was notified not to 60 any
deeper and was ordered paid, after fur
Their discussion.
The city engineer stated that owing to
accidents to the pipes the sand we'll and
the Broad street well leak. He feared
that the water might freeze i'll the gut
tiers in the winter. The Leak was Is to
20 feet down through water and quick
sand, and it would be very expensive, il
not impossible, to stop the leak in the
artesian well. The other will be fixed.
LIGHTING PROPOSITION.
The gas committee reported that it
had had a meeting during the afternoon
with representatives of the gas and cleo
trio light company. The latter had
agreed to furnish "a arc lights of 1900
candle power, and 100 gas and incandes-
ent lights, the latter of 80 candle power,
the arc lights TO cost IS a month and the
others 50 a month, the contract to be for
five years. The cost will be about 81 ,00C
more than at present, or 81 200 a year.
The number of lights can at any time be
increased at the same price. The arc
lights are TO be suspended in the center
Of the cross streets in order to throw the
light along both streets. They are to
extend from Madison avenue to Mar
shall street, and from Front to Fifth
streets, every other block along Front
street, taking the place of the gas lights.
Aid. Johnson opposed the proposition,
and moved that the matter be left as il
10. Aid. Jorgenson seconded this, and
it was unanimously carried by vive
voce vote.
&c. Burt was allowed city water for
$40 year, provided he does not increase
the fixtures.
WATER BONDS.
The question of submitting the propo-
sition TO vote water bonds was brought
up and discussed. The fear was ex-
pressed that the bonds would be defeat
ed unless the people are enlightened.
The mayor suggested that public meet
ing be held and the matter explained
and talked over.
Aid. Henlein stated that those opposed
to the bonds would not attend such a
meeting, and urged that an election be
held at once.
The matter was thoroughly discussed
and all felt strongly in favor of the bonds.
The mayor stated that the wells IN the
south part Of the city are drying up.
Aid. Harrington stated that he was told
that on n. Seventh street but one well
was not dry. Aid. Jorgenson said that
the Pleasant Grove school needed wa
ter, rs it now has to buy it and carry it
over in pals. Other instances of lack
of water were mentioned.
A resolution was drawn up submitting
the proposition to vote $40, 900 water
works bonds, bearing tlve per cent. in
terest, payable in twenty years, the cleo
ton 10 be held on Tuesday, Sept. oath.
The usual polling are to be used. The
resolution was unanimously carried.
Aid. Johnson wanted the 10000 cleo
trio light bonds voted upon at the same
time, and believed that they would he
carried. Aid. Jorgenson favored this
plan. The other aldermen did not seem
TO take the same view of the matter.
Mayor Pfau thought that the electric
light proposition would endaDger the
water bonds, which at this time would
he a terrible disaster to the city. Next
year when there was money in the
treasury the plant might be put in.
In reply to a question, the city attor-
ney stated that if there was money IN
the treasury the council could at any
time appropriate it for an electric light
plant.
Aid. Henlein wanted to know whether
the council or the board of public works
could fix the rates TO be paid to laboring
men. If it vas the council, he insisted
that its resolution placing the wages at
81 so day be respected.
Aid. Harrington stated that the hospi-
tai ciatern is empty, and that water can
not be pumped from the well.
In regard to the wages, the board of
public works reported that it had placed
the wages at the usual rates, and that
when wages generally increase the city
wages will be increased.