The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-04-14
READY FOR BUSINESS.
The New Council Organizes and
Listens to an Address from
rlayOr Weaver.
DIR. Jacoby Appointed Health Officer

The new council held its first meet
ing last night, special one held Tor
the purpose of effecting an organiza-
ton. Mayor Weaver, was in the chair,
and Aids. Bashaw, Higgs, Peterson.
and Widell were present.
Mayor Weaver opened the meeting
by giving the following address:
GENTLEMEN:-The charter makes
it the duty Of the mayor TO give TO the
1 council from time to time such in
! formation and recommend such meas
ures as he,may deem advantageous to
the city.
In assuming the responsibility OF
the office, | ask your attention to
few suggestions within the limits OF
this req uirement.
| confess to a want of experience
and familiarity with the duties OF the
position which L assume this day by
authority of my tellOw-citlZenS eX-
pressed through the ballot box, and
while most of you are also new TO the
I offices TO which you have been chosen,
we can, each and all, best familiarlZe
ourselves with our duties, and best
discharge the trusts committed to US,
by thorough and thoughtful study OF
the provisions Of the city charter and
I ordinances enacted under it, than by
J irving to initiate or follow example S
and precedents followed by our prede-
ceSSorS
Our fellow-citizens have reason to
EXPECT that we will not only do this
much, but see that the laws of the
tate and ordinances of the city are
enforced, and those holding positions
ever which we have supervision, shall
promptly, faithfully, and impartially
discharge their respective duties. In
these endeavors / hope and believe we
shall act harmoniouSly.
Z Two prominent and important issues
4 entered to a controlling extent IN the
recent campaign. One the improve
ment and OrnamentatlOn OF the puDllc
grounds purchased and designed Tor
the purposes of park, in the south
westernly part of the city.
lam, and have ever been, in hearty
sympathy with this object, having
personally drawn the petition signed
by taxpayers, and presented to the
city council, praying them to purchase
the grounds above named for park
purposes.
| commend it to your early and
favorable consideration with the
assurance that every practical
measure looking to that end
( will receive earnest cooperation.
The other is the erection and oper-
ating of lighting plant by the city.
The present contract for lighting
the city extends, l understand, until
October, 1895, period six months be-
yond the limit of our official terms.
We owe it, however, to the electors
and tax payers of the city to investi-
gate the matter, and lay the result
before them, so when the time comes
for action, they may be enabled to do
intelllgently and wisely.
The present charter provides that
the common council may erect and
maintain such a plant for lighting
the city and its public buildings, also
to furnish light for private consumers
within the limitation of section 3, ar
tcle s, of the charter, viz:
'sIn order to carry out said system
of lighting said city and putting in
said electric plant, il authorized &c
do so by majority OF the electors OF
said city, who at general or special
election may have voted on the ques
ton of issuing bonds, may issue the
bonds Of the city in amounts not eX
ceeding ten thousand dollars ($lO, OOOl
to run such length OF time and tt
bear such rate of interest mot to eX
coed five per cent. per annum) as the
council may determine, and such cleo
tion for voting on such question may
any time when in their judgment
public necessities SO require"
The cost of lighting the city, now
exceeding Sc, 900 per year, is heavy
burden upon tax payers, and will in
crease with the extension of the city's
r improved limits. For this reason the
subject merits our serious and careful
! consideration at an early date and
should not be overlooked.
) The promotion and protection OF
public health is amongst the most i'm
portant matters entrusted to us.
: While our city is naturally favored
in this reg ird and we have pure
bountiful, water system, with sewers
throughout the most thickly' settled
portions of the city, in view of the
threatened dangers incident to care.
less sanitary condition, special effort
should he Immediately made to thor
oughly cleanse the city and rigidly
maintain perfect conditions.
The aid of every good citizen is in.
voked to this end and so far as ouI
authority extends land L believe ii
ample, it should be eXerted vigorous
ly and impartially.
Our apprebensions of last fall ano
winter are being realized as to the
cholera danger. We are well aware
I of the extent to which preventative
measures have been and are being
taken to protect the country from
this scourge, but we must go farther
and be prepared for an emergency.
therefore recommend to your honor
able b dy the early and careful con
siderati0n of the ablishment and
maintenance Of quarantine hospital
This thought in my judgement
should be considered second to none
save that of the sanitary condition OF
the city.
In connection with the fact that a
large part of the city's bonded indebt.
edness falls due in December, 1894,
I desire to call your attention to the
provisions of the charter relative to