The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-04-01
CITY COUNCIL
The Omaha Road Appears
Through Representatives
Before our City Fathers
And Indicates That it Will Re.
move Its Tracks to the Levee
If Right.Of-W Way Can be
Had.
An Important Business Session

council was held on Saturday night
for the purpose of considering the or
dinance presented and referred to the
ordinance committee, relative to q
right-of-way asked by the MankatC
& Northeastern Railway Company tC
run its tracks through the city.
Alderman Fowler, in behalf Of the
ordinance committee reported an or
! dinance that was favorable to them
1t was about in the shape of the one
presented a week previous except
that it contained the clause that was
in the resolution and not in the ordi
nance, but which has been explained
as an omission. The ordinance wa;
read for the benefit of Aid. Hubbard
who was absent when it had beer
presented.
At the conclusion of the reading
Aid. Fowler moved that the reading
be considered the first reading of the
proposed ordinance. Carried.
Aid. Hubbard thought that nc
harm would come to anybody by leav
ing the matter of further considera
tion over until another meeting. He
suggested that inasmuch as the ordi
nance covered about all the ground
now in control of the city, or liable tt
be, the council should not act hastily
in the matter.
Mr.. B. D. Smith, in behalf of the
M. & N. railway, said that there was
no purpose to rush the matter, for the
railroad wanted the matter in such
shape so that the council could vote
intelligently. He also said that he
heard that a proposition had beer
made by one of the roads now running
to or through the city, and for one be
would like to hear it read. AS it wa:
not produced, Aid. Fowler said: 81
we had the proposition from the 9th
er company, we could reflect great
deal better"
Aid. Peterson. "That is my idea
too. l would like to hear from then
if they came here for that purpose"
At this point Mr.. Lorin Cray arose
and said:
"Mr. President-The possible remov
al of the Omaha tracks to the leyee
in this city is subject with which
we are all familiar, because it has
been much discussed. | can only say
tonight that the subject Of expense
is very vital one, but that estimates
are now being made, more accurate
probably and thorough, than any 9th
ers ever have been of the expense
which would result from such move
Before definite figures can be reached
| it is imperative that a week or ter
days more Of time be consumed, after
| which those officers of the road, whose
duty it is, and who have the author
ity to speak definitely as to such re-
| mOyal, and as to proposition con
| corning the removal of the Omaha
tracks, would be pleased to consul1
| with this council, and because Of that
| would be very glad, if no serious
harm is to result, if action upon this
ordinance could be temporarily post
| poned.
1t is easy to see that with right
| of-way 100 feet in width, upon which
railroad company could charge q
| royalty to any other company fol
lowing might be serious impedi
| ment to building and operating an
other railroad.
There are places which occur to al
of us, between the business portion
of this city and the Minnesota River
that are not more than 100 feet il
width, and hence speaking from {
| railroad standpoint, as we'll as from
the standpoint of resident of the
| city, l suggest that it might be wise
to consider the feasibility of granting
now right-of-way 100 feet in width
only trackage over which is to b.
| granted to other roads,"
Aid. Hubbard. II would like t.
ask Mr. Cray if those officers whom
he referred to, will be here to meet
this council?"
Mr.. Cray said: 'As soon as it il
possible for them to talk understand
ingly upon this question of expense
they will wish to confer with thi
council, and of course in this city"
Aid. Fowler. will they have their
prof1les of grades here?"
Mr.. Spencer, of the Omaha.
replied: "They will have, probab
ly, what is necessary to deci d.
the question at that time. If they
decide adversely they will inform thi
| council of their decision: and if favor
ably, they will have their protiles
| You can rest assured that if they
have any proposition to make, the!
will be able to act Understandings.
Mr.. Cray arose when Mr.. Spencer
| had taken his seat, and said: NOW
to set US right, Mr.. Presiden t, sue
gest that it probably was not Mr.
Spencer, or myself who was referred
to by Mr.. Smith as being armed with
written proposition. think thai
it could not refer to the Omaha road
1t may be to some other road entering
the CITY,
Another effort was made to have
some mysterious letter produced, but
it was not forthcoming.
On motion, the office of Poundmas
ter was declared vacant, on account
of the illness of the man who ha!
been serving for some time.
Mayor Willard appointed r. T
Richardson to fill the vacancy, and il
so doing he spoke very highly of him
On motion the council confirmed the