The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-08-05
The Mayor Would Have the Council
Remove Mr.. Haynes From Office
Unless He Can Explain Ger
tain Matter.
Minnesota Street to be Opened by Con-
demnatiOn Of Mr.. Fletcher's Prop
erty.-That Fair Ground Lease.
Aid. Saulpargh Again ROasts Mr.
Haynes.-The Sewer Ordinance
Passes its First Reading.
The Board of Public Works Directed
to Have the Weeds Cut Down.


Last nights meeting os the Council
was one of the most important ever
held, and the present council never
before furnished so much entertain
ment for the spectators. Several mat
tiers of great public interest were
acted upon, and several sensational
episodes were thrown in. A large
audience were present.
Mayor Willard presided and all of
the alderman except Aid. Hubbard
were present at roll call, and he after
wards came in.
Applications for liquor licenses
were received from Thos. Saulpaugh
and VIM. O'Grosky, and the date of
hearing was set for August 18th.
The street committee reported
fayorably upon the petition for side
walk on Willard street. W. r. Ged-
des appeared on behalf OF those who
demonstrated against the petition.
Aid. Saulpaugh thought that too
many remonstrances were being made
moved that the report be accepted.
Carried.
1t was ordered that sidewalks be
built along the south side of Washing
ton street from Fourth to Sixth.
MINNESOTA STREET.
Ald.Schlingerman reported that the
majority of the street committee ia
vored the petition for laying out the
Minnesota street extension. Aid.
Fowler of the committee, favored buy
ing the land which Mr.. Fletcher offers
at 1000. He thought that One-third
Of the cost could be collected from the
property owners. He would condemn
the land. He thought it would be
cheaper to buy it as the city needs the
market. Aid. Schlingerman thought
that public sentiment was against
buying it.
In reply TO question from Aid.
Saulpaugh, the city attorney stated
that the Board of Public Works would
make the appraisement if the land
was condemned, and that MIR. Fletcher
could appeal it. The city would have
to give what the court said, and would
have to take the land.
Mr.. Fletcher stated that he did not
want the city to purchase his land
and that he did not want to get into
a jangle with the city. He knew that
he could establish before any court
that his price was reasonable, he now
expected trouble, and had prepared
for it. He had now moved building
into the straight street. in accordance
with his agreement with the Board of
Public Works.
10
er the matter is delayed the deeper
the council gets in the mud. ltshOuld
have been settled last year, when the
Board reported upon 1t. Every old
settler who can tell the truth knows
that this road has been Travelled for
35 years, but by some hocuS pOcuS the
court decided that it is not street.
He and other old settlers had not been
asked to testify. The people settled
there in good faith and they should
have the street which they have ira
yeled for so long. One mans interests
should not stand in the way of those
of % or 30. A building has been put
longer delay is made. The council
should do something at once. He
would also recommend that the cOun-
Gil proceed to condemn the necessary
land on that part of Fifth street which
is but IS feet wide. so as to make it so
feet wide.
Mr.. Fletcher stated that Mayor Will
lard had made statements not war
ranted by the facts. which might do
damage. He explained his side Of the
case to show that the road had not
been travelled in the same place all the
time.
Mayor Willard refuted Mr.. Fetch
er's facts and said that he was not in
the habit of making wild statements.
Old settlers will testify that substan-
italy the same road has been travelled
for So years and that this should make
it public highway.
W. r. Geddes appeared on behalf Of
the Minnesota street property owners.
He stated that Mr.. Fletcher had not
put up his building upon the street
until a week after his proposition was
voted down in the council. His price,
$500, is eXtOrtionate. The property
interested will pay S25 for each So foot
lot, toward opening the street. They
do not want the crooked street in any
event, even for nothing nor will they
pay SO to $50 front foot for Mr.
Fletcher's creek bottom.
Mr.. Fletcher corrected these figures,
and said that they were two or three
times too high. He stated that he
had claim against the city for the
use of the hay market for nine years
and five months, which he would be
under the necessity of collecting.
Mr.. Willard sarcasticallY suggested
that he supposed that the council was
present to be bulldozed.
Mr.. Fletcher disclaimed any inten-
tion to bulldose the council.
Aid. Longini wanted to see the
straight road put through, as the peo-
pie want it, and it is but just to them.
Mr.. Fletcher thought that jackson
and Cherry streets should be extended
through to the river.
Mayor Willard said that Mr.. Fetch
had dotted so loncr on his rrnnertV