The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-04-13

stone quarry it would cost more than
to grade the street. One man has al
ready fallen into it. Only two of the
actual residents oppose the grad
ing, a rich man and poor woman.
Henry Henline advocated the inn
provement, but opposed letting L. r
Coughlan take stone from the street,
as that is taking public property for
private use. 1t is proposed that the
street shall be blockaded for eighteen
months, while Mr.. Coughlan is taking
out the stone. Second street is a
thoroughfare as much as any other
street in that part of the city. He
said that he had three times as much
money invested on that street as Mr..
Wizards lots are worth. He pays
more taxes, and he wanted the i'm
proyement made. Mr.. Willard had
secured the lots on tax titles at very
little cost. The speaker said that the
property owners are willing to pay for
it, and ask nothing from the city.
Mr. Willard stated that he had not
signed for tax title lots, but only for
those that he had absolute
title to. The last two blocks were put
in the petition for the purpose OF rob-
bling some to pay the assessments OF
those further south, including MI.
Henline. He only objected to paying
taxes where there was no need for it.
B. f. Pay stated that the further
two blocks could be graded for $3.50 to
5000, while if it all goes in together,
the cost to each lot will be about S44.
Mr.. Coughlan's proposition was very
reasonable.
Mr.. Gary thought that it was but
lust that the street should be graded
in order that the people could get to
their homes. Nine out of ten Of the
petitioners for the grading are actual
residents. 1t is believed that the
grading will increase the value of the
lots. The poor woman who remon,
strated against the improvement is
willing to pay her share.
Aid Bashaw thought that Mr..
Coughlan was pretty late with his
proposition.
Aid. Higgs wanted further informa'
tion on the subject. He suggested a
compromise.
Aid. Peterson held that owing tC
the quarrying out of the property
above is almost worthless.
Aid. Bashaw stated that about
twenty of the girls employed in Mr.
Wizards mill are disconnected in go
ing to and from work by the condition
of the street.
J. r. Beatty held that it would not
be right to allow an individual tC
block the street for eighteen months,
when the work proposed could be done
in six weeks.
Dennis Hayes opposed the grading,
as he did not want to pay an assess
ment. 1t would take all his money to
pay for lot, which he proposes to
buy there If he did not buy it, the
poor widow who owns it'wOuld have
to pay the tax. Aid. Bashaw would
not have to pay the tax but is voting
assessments on those who have nc
money to pay with. Men who have
been out of work for six months in
hese Democratic times should not be
aXed.
President Swan stated that all OF
the property would be equally bene-
fitted, Fifty lots would be assessed
about S44 a lot.
Aid Pitcher moved that the award
of the board of public works be ap'
proved and the contract signed by the
proper officers. This was unani.
mously carried.
A PUBLIC LIBRARY,
AID Higgs presented the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the common council
of the city of Mankato do hereby de.
termine and decide to establish and
maintain a public library and reading
room in said city under the provisions
of chapter 100, of the general laws OF
1879: and that his honor, the mayor,
be respectfully requested to appoint,
at the earliest possible date, the board
of directors, as provided for in said
act.
Rev. Lee w. Beattie explained the
matter fully. He said that city of
10000 people needed public library.
1t would be beneficial to all. Owing
to the hard times, it was not proposed
to make any assessment at this time.
Gen. Pope thought that the acUlon
of the council on this matter would be
more lasting than the pavements be-
ing laid, and would be more elevating
than the grade Mr.. Henline had OBJ
jected to.
Prof. U. o. Cox stated that he had
investigated the matter thoroughly
and that Mankato is about the only
city of it's size that has no public
library. Only a beginning is intended
now. 1t is disgrace to the city that