The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-10-20
THE CITY PUMP QUESTION.
Views of Some of Our Business Men
and Taxpayers.

pump LOT UQo ClUy WOTKS las D6o0
leading topic in conversation on our
streets during the past few days. be-
cause of the action of the council Sat-
urday night, FREE PRESS reporter,
in view of the fact that Mr.. Hubbard's
pump will be tested next Monday
to find out if it will give sufficient
teryiewed number of our business
men and taxpayers as to their views
upon the matter. 1t will be noticed
that the sentiment among them is OPP
posed to the purchase of a pump un-
less absolutely necessary. There are
! many others we would like to have
seen but time and space fOrb
STEPHEN LAMM: l think it best to
go slow in the matter of buying a new
pump. If the test with Mr.. Hub
bard's pump next Monday proves sat-
isfactory the city does not need an
other pump for some time to come,
and in our present financial conditio n
any such expense should be avoid
ed if possible. No, am opposed to
buying another pump if Mr.. Hub
bard's pump will give US The fire pro-
lection we need in case of any acct
dent to the one the city now owns.
GEO. e. BRETT: 1t seems to me
that we should first find out positive
ly whether the city needs another
pump before move is made to buy
one. The city has a contract with
Mr.. r. D. Hubbard for She use of his
pump free for period of five years,
in case of any accident to the city
pump. If the test to be made next
Monday shows that Mr.. Hubbard's
pump will give US the fire protection
we need and must have, it would sim
ply be folly in the present state of our
city finances to shoulder the expense
of another pump upon the city which
it would have no real use for.
O. 0. PITCHER: | do not see why
the city should incur the expense of
a new pump at the present time. The
pump and it is very unlikely that
both sides would be disabled at the
same time, so that with the help of
Mr.. Hubbard'S pump, if the test
proves all right, the city would have
ample fire protection in any event. In
view of this it seems to me that we
had better wait a year or two at least
Then we will know better what we
want. and will be in better condition
financially to get 1t.
JOHN H. RAY: 1t seems to me that
it would not be good business policy
to invest money in pump unless
there us actual need for it. If the
test Monday shows that Mr.. Hub
bard's pump will give US adequate fire
protection, in case of emergency, that
will be sufficient and it would hardly
be good, business policy in the present
financial condition of the city to
spenu money for another pump. 1t
ought to answer all purposes for a
year or two at least
DIR. J. W. ANDREWS: I should say
that if. upon thorough test, Mr..
Hubbard's pump will give pressure
sufficient for fire protection and the
present city pump is in good condi-
tion, the purchasing of another pump
by the city had better be postponed
for a while.
GEO. III. CLARK: l haven't given
the matter much thought, but it
strikes me this is matter that should
be carefully considered. We want
ample fire protection. If our present
city pump, in connection with Mr.
Hubbard's pump, will give us that,
no extra expense should be put upon
the city at present. But we should
be sure everything is all right.
L. G. M. FLETCHER: 1t seems to
me that as long as the city has this
contract with Mr.. Hubbard it should
make some use of it. The test of the
pump should be thorough one, and
if the pressure is sufficient for fire
protection the buying of new one
should be postponed. The cost of a
pump is small matter compared
with big fire, but if the city is guar
anteed through this contract, suf-
Gent fire protection new one is not
needed and the city's finances will
hardly warrant any such indulgence.
WV. P. MCCONNELL: If Mr.. Hub
bard's pump will give us fire protec-
tions temporarily in. case of an acct
dent to the city pump, that will an
swer every purpose, and in the present
financial condition of the city, and
the close times which exist, we ought
not to increase our burdens for things
we can get along without.
G. III. HIGGs: have taken the posi-
tion all along that our.pumping facili-
ties are adequate for the present