The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-01-05
CITY COUNCIL.
The Electric Light Question
Brings out an Interest
ing Discussion.
Notice of $4,000 Damage Suit
Two new Ordinances
Presented Reports
of City Officers.


Saturday night was presided over by
Mayor Weaver and all OF the alder
men were present.
A petition was received from pro
perty owners in Cummings addition
asking that the north end Of B and {
streets be ripraped.
Aid. Pitcher stated that last year
the river cut off eighteen feet OF
these streets, and that the property
owners have ripraped the end of their
lots.
1t was directed that the board of
public works do the work provided the
cost shall not exceed $50.
A notice from ROsalia PietSch was
read, stating that she had been injur-
ed on n. Front street, being overturn-
ed in her sleigh Dec. 18th at the cor
ner of Front and Washington streets,
by reason of the defective condition
of thu street railway track, and that
she would sue the city for $1,000
damages. She claims that the rails
of the street car track at this point
were much above the surface of the
street, and that there were large and
deep depreSSions in the street be-
tween the rails and at the sides of
the track.
The matter was referred to the
street committee.
An ordinance was presented, re-
garding auctiOneerS' licenses. 1t
places the license at So a day. S12
week, 800 for six months and $3.50 for
year. The auctiOneer is to give
bond for $500 before receiving his
license. The bond contains several
strict requirements on the part of the
auctioneer. The penalty for offenses is
a fine of $40 to S75 for each offense
The license shall be annulled by the
conviction of the auctioneer of any
offense.
Another ordinance was presented,
making it unlawful to keep swine
within the city limits, and declaring
styes and pens to be public nuisances.
Violation of the ordinance is punish
able by fine of not less than SIS nor
more than $50. Packing houses are
exempted, and also persons receiv-
ing a permit from the council to keep
live hogs within the city limits.
10; FL
meeting.
Aid. BaShaw, for the street COM
mittee, recommended that Engineer
Haynes prepare profile of N. Front
street. A motion to this effect by
him was carried.
Aid. Higgs stated that two meet
ipgs of the electric light committee
had been held, but that no PROPOSE
tion had been received. The company
claims that there is no one in the
Northwest who is capable of testing
the electric lights. He read letter
showing THAT there are no instru-
ments for making such test in the
state, except in the state university,
and that much local preparation is
necessary before such test can be
made. In order to avoid law suit
the bills for lighting during the past
two months should be paid.
The report of the city treasurer for
December showed $3,227.52 on hand
Jan lst.
The board of public works present.
ed its report on paving Front Street.
Engineer Haynes stated that the
board is not unanimous. He favored
making start in paving.
Aid. Higgs disagreed with the re-
port. He would have Front paved
from curb to curb with one kind Of
material, making job lasting and to
be proud of.
The report Of street lights not
burning during December was receiv-
ed, aggregating S7.3l.
The chief of police reported twelve
arrests and seven dodgers during Dec.
EN- Ter.
Releases were received from Mrs.
Elch and the Mankato Manufacture
ing Co., of portions of the streets &C.
cupled by their buildings or platforms.
Engineer Haynes stated that he
could furnish twenty or thirty other
such cases in the city for the city at
torney to work on.
AID. Pitcher moved that the board
of public works report the estimated
cost Of repairing the western ice
breaker at the Minnesota river bridge.
IL was stated that the cost of a
proper ice breaker would be $500 tC
$1,000.
Engineer Haynes stated that the
ice breakers we're built as a job OF
certain aldermen and to satisfy clam
or on the street. They were I'M
necessary and many bridges do not
have them. The ice is pulveriZed be
fore reaching the bridge and the piers
are twenty times as strong as the ice
breakers.