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

The council Getting Monday night was
presided over by Mayor Pau. Aids.
Henlein and Johnson were absent.
a largely signed protest was received
against the grade recently established
on Fifth street. Aid. Hillesheim stated
that he considered the grade to be a
poor one, and he wanted the entire
council to inspect it. City Engineer
Haynes explained that the work is not
quite done, but that it is as good grade
as can be gotten on that street, under
the circumstances, where there are 80
many conflicting interests.
The petition IN regard to changing the
width of Poplar street, read at the last
meeting was again read. The proper
ty owners along that street propose to
give the city 5SS square feet, on condi-
ton that they receive from the city 5,762
square feet. The city engineer stated
that as an exchange the matter is 80
one-sided as to be simple ridiculous.
A petition was received from the
Board of Trade and citizens along Glen
wood avenue and Warren street, asking
that action be taken toward placing
sidewalk along those tboroughfares as
far as Glenwood Cemetery. Referred to
the Board of Public Works.
The Board of Public Works was order
ed to have sidewalk laid along the
south side of Pleasant street, west of
Willard street.
The Board of Public Works unani-
mously recommended that the council
purchase road scraper of II d. Cham
berlain, for $254. 80, to be delivered at
once and to be paid for June 18th next
Dennis Sullivan stated that he used
the machine on the Fifth street grade,
and had found it a great labor saving
machine, saving 800 per cent. in this re-
gard. He considers it grand success,
and said that it would soon pay for it
self.
Aid. Jorgensen favored its purchase,
while Aid Hillesheim thought that is is
a nuisance and does not save any labor.
Aid. Pond favored the purchase, saying
: that he had seen it do work in an hour
which It would take Aid Hillesheim
week to do. Aid Lamm thought that
it made the street in worse shape, as the
cutters are harder to clean out. The
discussion became quite entertaining.
Aid. Hilleshelm moved that the re-
commentator be laid on the table. This
was carried, Aids. Hillesheim, Harring-
ton, Lamm and Schroeder voting "ves,"
and Aids Jorgensen and Pond mo"
The B ard of Public Works reported
that Dennis Sullivan had completed the
grading of Fifth street, and recommend
ing that the balance due him be paid.
The balance was ordered paid on condi-
ton that the labor is paid, etc.
A crosswalk was ordered put in across
Spring street on the south side of Second
street.
THE LIGHT QUESTION.
A number of gentlemen representing
the Mankato Gas and Electric Light Co.
were nresant and were given an OpnOr-
tunity to speak. The ordinance grant
ing a new 10-year franchise was read
again by the City Recorder.
Jno. F. Meagher said that the inter
ests of the city were protected to as com
plete an extent as could possibly be
done. The city is not bound to take
any particular number of lights. There
is a large demand from the outskirts oil
the city, which cannot be accommodate
ed until the company has some assur.
ance that Its rights will be extended for
some time. If the extension is given,
greater electric lighting power will be
put in, so as to supply the demands OF
private as well as public consumers. A
dozen applications for arc lights are on
file, which cannot be fulfilled with the
present dynamos. The length of the
extension is as small as is ever given to
any company. The rates for street
lighting are as low as any city. He had
heard it charged that the council is OPP
posed to fostering home enterprises.
Aid. Pond stated that he opposed a
ten-year franchise, though he would be
willing to give the home company a lit
tie more than an outside one for street
lighting.
Aid. Lamm moved that the present