The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-09-19

reading be declared the first reading.
Aid. Pond moved to amend that it be
laid over until full council shall be
present.
Mr.. Meagher asked the council not to
delay action, but proceed to accept or
reject the ordinance, as it had already
been laid over for month.
Aid. Hillesheim opposed giving 10
year franchise, and said that Aid. Hen
lein also opposed it. The city will soon
be able to put in its own lighting plant.
Aid. Harrington stated that the city is
not in shape financially to do its own
lighting, and that when it is.it can prob
ably buy out the company. He favor
ed early action.
Aid. Pond stated that the aldermen
are representatives of the people, and
he did not think that the l0-year propo-
sition would receive 200 votes if the
matter was left to them.
Mr.. Meagher stated that the company
did not ask for an exclusive franchise.
1t takes time and money to make the
excavations and string the wires, and
no company would do it for less than
ten years.
Aid. Jorgensen saw no urgency in TAX
ing the action. He would oppose the
ordinance on the ground of the length
of time. and would not vote away the
public interests. He referred to the
success that the city has had with its
water works, in support of the city's
putting in its own plant. He thought
that the city could furnish its own light
for one-half what 1t now pays. No one
can tell how cheaply electric lights can
be had in two or three years. He re-
sented the idea that the council does not
believe in fostering home industries,
but none granted him franchise in his
business, and he opposed 10year fran
chise for the lighting company.
A vote was had on Aid. Ponds amend
ment, the vote standing "ayes'-Alds.
Hillesheim, Jorgensen and Pond;
"noes"-Alds. Harrington, Lamm and
Schroeder.
Mayor Pfau could see no objection to
the ordinance being given its first read
ing, as it could not affect the question,
a second reading having yet to be had.
He voted "no," but this was not to in
dictate how he might vote on final sub
mission of the ordinance.
Aids. Schroeder and Hillesheim stat
ed that they wanted to act simply as
representatives of the people, and did
not wish to do anything to which they
were opposed.
The motion to pass the ordinance up
on its first reading was then passed by
the same vote, and the ordinance was
referred to the city attorney and ordi-
nance committee, for investigation,
amendments, etc.
The bid of the Sun Vapor Street Light
Co. for gasoline lamps was again read.
Mr.. McGune, agent for this company,
-, haIolf Of hic 1fnhf Hn hoH
been informed by scores of business
men and citizens that the present sys-
tenn of lighting is wholly inadequate in
summer and almost perfectly worthless
In winter. st. Paul, Minneapolis, GIN
cinnati, and hundred cities and two
hundred incorporated villages have
adopted the system. He compared the
cost under the present and his system
as $24 to $27 per month for each light to
S14 with his company. His light is bet
ter. The electric light is luxury,
though beautiful, while gas is costly.
The city cannot afford to extend the
present lights into the suburban dis
tricts. In view of the oaths which the
alderman have taken to serve the in
teretss of the citizens they cannot ig-
more one or the other of his PROPOSE
tons.
Aid. Jorgensen stated that he would
like to let the home company put in
these gasoline lamps at the same price
as the Sun Vapor Co. bids. He moved
that the city purchase so Sun Vapor
lights and put them on the outkirts of
of the city. This was seconded by Aid.
Pond.
Aid. Hillesheim protested that addi-
tional lights are not needed, Aid. Pond
wanted the lights anyway, as he be-
lieved that competition is good thing.
The motion was lost, Aids. Lamm,
Harrington aud Schroeder voting "No."
and Aids. Jorgensen and Pond "aye,"
Aid. Hilieshelm declining to vote.
Aid. Pond moved that the Sun Vapor
Co.'s bid be referred to the committees
on ordinances and lighting. This was
carried without opposition.
Fred Grout was granted the balance
due him on the Byron street grading, to
be paid when the work is done and the
proper affiidavits are filed.
A number of bills were read and al