The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-09-07

large bones and muscles.
in favor of guttering Front street be-
tween Cherry and Spring streets
where this work has not already been
done, the cost being estimated at
ninety cents per lineal foot.
Aids. Widell and Peterson opposed
doing anything until the street can be
graded up
President Beatty advocated defer
ring the work until a roller is pur-
chased, when the street could be put
in good condition.
Aid. Pitcher moved that the work
be done, but only he and Aid. Fowler
voted for the motion.
The city treasurer reported S5,069.7S
on hand Aug. 31st, and the current
fund overdrawn $40,
A crossing over Fourth street, on the
east side of Main street was ordered
put in, On motion of Aid. Widell.
Chief Yates reported eight arrests
and twelve dodgers during August.
Aid. Fowler brought up the matter
of the fires north, and said that help
is needed. He moved that the city
appropriate $3.50 for the relief of the
sufferers in the northern part of this
state. Technically, the action could
not be legally done, but it had been
done before.
Aid. Higgs thought that the mo-
tive was a laudable one, but that the
action would be illegal, and a move is
on foot to raise a fund by private sub
scription.
The motion was lost, only Aids.
Fowler and Bashaw voting for it.
Engineer Haynes reported the hitch
in regard to the purchase of the re-
mainder of Sibley mound, owing to
Mr.. Burmaster's excessive demands.
Frank M. Zeller, of Duluth, agent
for the Stronger Automatic Tele-
phone Switch, appeared before the
council. He wanted an ordinance
passed permitting him to put in a
system in Mankato. The system fol-
lows the expiration of the patents on
the Bell telephone and does away
with the telephone girl. He thought
that the new system would be fully
as good as the present one, and much
cheaper. Three Instruments would
be given to the city, and authority
to nov poles would be granted to the
council.
The ordinance was read informally,
and wa referred to the committee ON
ordinances.
Aid. Higgs thought that the North
western Telephone Co. is robbing us,
and is charging two or three prices.
The company does not pay the royal
ties it used to do, and we ought to
hold ourselves open to consider any
new propositions, such as the one to-
night. The present company thinks
it has the sinch upon us, now that the
city has bought a fire alarm system
and has nothing to hang the wires up
on. The company promised the use
of the poles and the system was
bought on that understanding.
VIM. Buckholtz denied that the
company had made such a promise.
Aid. Fowler thought that there
must have been some promise, as
otherwise the council would be a set
of idiots to buy the system without an
arrangement for poles to hang it up
on. 1t looks as though the company
intended to sinch US.
Aid. Higgs said that the telephone
rates are excessive. The rates to st.
Paul have been raised from % cents
to 70 cents.
Manager Buckholtz offered to give
the free use of the wires to a council
committee to talk with h general
manager.
Aid. Fowler favored storing the
alarm system for awhile.
Mr.. Keller withdrew his ordinance,
as it was not to be passed at once, and
said hat he might return in thirty
or sixty days.
The mayor was empowered to ap-
point a committee to consult with
the general officers of the telephone
company, and appointed Aids. Higgs,
Peterson and Fowler.
The bills were allowed and 1900
was transferred from the road fund
to pay these.
The city recorder was instructed
to advertise for bids for city printing
for the ensuing year, the bids to be
opened at the next regular meeting.
The council adjourned.
- 1880.