The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-12-09
A STREET BLOCKED.
L. G.. NJ. Fletcher Places a Barricade
Across Minnesota Street.
He Proposes to Use His Land Cum
mings Addition Up In Arms
and Trouble May Result.

and Trouble May Result.
The dispute over the ownership OF a
portion of Minnesota street assumed
an acute phase Saturday. L. G. M.
Fletcher, who claims to own that por-
tion of the street just west OF Cherry
street, where it crosses his property,
decided to exclude travel from the
thoroughfare and gave orders that a
large amount of stone be hauled onto
the street, forming barricade across
it, and rendering travel by team i'm
possible, as there is steep embank-
ment at one end of the stone pile and
a raised sidewalk at the other. The
barricade does not yet extend to the
travelled portion Of the road but it
will be completed Monday, and large
amount of stone is to be placed on
the highway.
The effect of this pile of stone will
be to prevent travel from approach
ing Minnesota street and the forty
residences that line it. Delivery
wagons, hay, wood, ETC., will be shut
off, and those who own carriages can
not get in or out except by clrcuitu-
Gus route around by the brick yard, even
if they can gain passage that way.
The inhabitants are quite naturally
arc FUSED and express their indignation
quite freely. They thought at first
that the stone was being hauled for a
foundation, but when they found out
it's object they gathered in little
groups and angrily discussed the stu
alton. 1t was common and often
repeated declaration that they would
tear down any obstruction or barricade
that might be placed in the street.
One gentleman went even so far
as to declare in positive terms that
Mr.. Fletcher's life would not be safe
if he was successful in isolating the
residents of Cummings addition.
Such intemperance of statements
were not generally countenanced,
however, and other settlers vented
their feelings upon the city. One said:
81 have lived in the addition for
twelve years, and during all of that
time we have been fighting Mr..
Fletcher. The city has not listened
to US until this last year, and now we
are told that it will be two years be-
fore the matter is settled. If we are
shut off all that time, | don't know
what we shall do. I think that we
ought to be protected in this matter
by the city, as we are all poor people
and cannot afford to stand out against
Mr.. Fletcher by ourselves"
Mr.. Fletcher was seen by the FREE
PRESS reporter, and he stated that
the property was his and he proposed
to use it. He had several times asked
the city to settle with him, and made
it fair propositions, and as it has seen
fit to reject his offers he had decided
to use his land. He has seven acres
and will find use for the roadway.
''The land is my own" said he, ''and
1 shall occupy it, as / have a right to
do. l ordered the stone put there,
and if any one mOlests it, he will lay
himself liable to arrest and punish
ment. | shall see that it is not re-
moved and shall proceed against any
one who attempts to remove it. Tues
day [ shall enclose the stone with a
fence. The courts will decide in my
favor in my effort to control my own
property"
The city attorney has served a notice
upon Mr.. Fletcher that he will appeal
to the Supreme court from the recent
decision of Judge Severance in over
ruling the ddmurrer to the injunction
against the city which Mr.. Fletcher
obtained.
The action of Mr.. Fletcher today is
likely to complicate the matter, and
must cause hardship to innocent peo-
pie in Cummings addition. If there
is any way in which they can be given
an outlet, the city should adopt it, to
avoid much suffering.
Further developments will be await
ed with much interest.