The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-04-13
After a Warm Discussion the
Council Approves the Con-
tract for the North Sec
ond Street Grading.
The HOrSemen Make one Last
Futile Effort to Save the
Sheds on the Park.
The rlayor Appoints and the Council
Confirms Library Board
Street Roller Question.

Weaver, and all of the aldermen were
present. There was an unusually
large attendance of property owners
interested in various matters TO be
considered AS was expected, large
number of important matters came
up for consideration, and the session
continued until after midnight.
A petition for the paving OF Front
street with vitrified brick between
Main and Jackson streets was recely-
ed. containing number of signatures
of business men along the line OF the
proposed improvement.
Aid. Higgs moved that the petition
be referred to the board OF public
works, and this was carried without
opposition.
A petition for the increase OF the
compensation of the night watchmen
was received, signed by large num-
Der of business men who now pay the
watchmen a portion of their salaries,
and who desire that the city shall
relieve them of this burden on the
ground that they pay their share OF
taxes.
Aid. Fowler moved that the petition
be granted, but this received no sec
Ond.
The city attorney stated that the
salaries could only be fixed on one
night in the year, the second regular
meeting in April, or when the term of
the officials begins.
AID Bashaw moved that the petit
tion lie on the table, and this was car
ried
A petition for the grading of Cherry
street between Broad and Fifth
streets was received, and was referred
to the board of public works.
The liquor license bond of John
Smithson, with AdOlph Pagel and w.
G. Hoerr as Sureties, was approved
and license ordered granted on the
payment of $500.
n. SECOND ST. GRADING
The board of public works reported
the bids on the grading of North Sec
ond street, recommending that the
contract be awarded to Jacob Effer
at his bid, 81, 1876.
A remonstrance against the grading
was read, signed by many of the
property owners, on the ground that
the expenditure is untimelY, unnec-
cessary and burdensome. Thirty lots
were represented on the remon-
STRANGE.
A statement was received from T.
r. Coughlan, offering to make a cut
some $50 feet long, without cost, on
eighteen months time, providing that
he could have the stone taken out.
J. A. Willard stated that this was
the first time in twenty-five years
that he had appeared before the coun-
Gil to oppose 0anything that would
cost him anything. He thought that
whenever assessments are to be made,
the property owners should be person
ally notified of proposed improve
ments, as he had just heard about it.
He considered this work I'M
necessary, and that uOrdinarily i'm
provements ought not to be
made unless the majority of
the property wants them. When the
public needs an improvement
the public should pay for it. A man
should not be specially assessed unless
heis pecially benefited. This grading
would benefit nobody, as the street
ends with the north line of Parsons
addition, unlike Front and Broad
streets. There is no occasion to
make road there. The remonstrance
contains the names of three-fifths of
the property owners. The property
would not be benefited by the grad
ing, and therefore how is the board of
public works to levy assessments on
the lots as being a benefit? A man
can trot team up the hill now. Ex-
cept that the stone quarry has en-
croached upon the street, it is all
I1SuU. InlS 10 uOU IL UuOIOuS llldIC,
and to improve it would be putting a
burden upon those who are unable to
pay.
Aid. Peterson stated that the mat
ter had been agitated for three or four
months and that everyone should
have known of it, 1t is not a thing sud-
denly sprung on the people there, but
the action had been taken slowly and
coolly. The improvement is as much
needed there as on Front or Broad
street. The street is unsightly and
ought to be improved. The most of
the property owners there are rich,
and the opposition is in order to get
out of paying the assessment.
Aid. Bashaw stated that some of
the property owners are rich and can
well afford to pay for it. If the city