The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-01-05


safe ought to be purchased, but un-
til this is done box in the safety de-
posit vault should be rented. The
valuable papers Of the city have no
adequate protection. He moved that
the recorder have tin box made and
secure vault room in one of the banks.
This was carried.
The report of the clerk of the NUM-
cipal court for December showed the
total fees received S24.8O, fines SIS.
The report of the clerk of the
municipal court and city recorder for
the time from July 1st, 1893, to Jan.
1st, 1894, showed a total of Sl03 re-
ceived in licenses, and Sl7O. 80 received
in the municipal court.
The election of a vice president of
the council for the year 1894 was taken
up, at the instance of Mayor Weaver,
and Aid. Peterson nominated Aid.
Fowler, and Aid. Pitcher nominated
Aid. Higgs.
The city attorney held that the
council year began in April, when the
council takes it's office.
The ayes and nays were called
upon whether to take vote, without
a motion, and it was decided to hold
no election, thus sustaining the city
attorney.
Mayor Weaver read letter from
Prof Shepardson, Of the state univer-
sity, saying that he has instruments
with which to measure the electrical
energy Of the electric lights, and
would guarantee it to stand in the
courts The cost would be S35 to $50
The mayor stated that he had letters
from nearly twenty electricians say
ing the same thing.
The usual number of bills were
allowed.
Aid. Widell moved that the two
electric light bills, amounting to
S55l .S5 and 1868. 60. be paid. The vote
stood, ayes, Aids. Bashaw, Higgs, Pitch
er and Widell. Noes, Aids. Fowler
aud Peterson.
Aid. Fowler stated that the city
ownership of the electric lights was
an issue in the last city election. The
owners of the plant have done much
for Mankato and he did not want to
do them an injustice. He favored
buying the company's plant by
arbitration. He had voted against
the bill because he thought that the
company was not filling it's contract.
Mayor Weaver stated that he was
friendly to the members of the COM
pany, but they knew when they made
the contract that they could not fur
nish the light they agreed to. Men
like Hubbard, Meagher and Patter-
son know what they are doing when
they buy their machines. 1t is very
curious if electricity cannot be test
edYas gas is. He most emphatically
declined to sign the orders for the
money. If the company can show by
tests that it is supplying the light
agreed upon he would sign the orders.
The councilwrangled over bills for $40
and passed bills of 81, 200 without
question.
Aid. Peterson thought that not
over 1900 candle power could be fur
nished, but that this much should be
Mr.. Weaver said that coming to
Mankato from Sleepy Eye, where the
candle power is 1900, is like coming
from an arc light to an incandescent
one. Electric lights can be tested &C
although the company sits
down and says it can't do it. Let
them GO to St. Peter and all other
small towns around here.
Aid. Higgs wanted the matter ad-
justed. He did not think that the
city should expend $4,000 to 100000
to build plant if it can accomplish
as much without. 1t might be posi-
BILE that some other adjustment could
be made. He would advertise soon
for bids for lighting the city. If the
home or some other company makes a
reasonable bid, lie would let the con-
tract for term of years. Otherwise
he would have the city put in a plant.
Mayor Weaver read from a letter
from Rochester, where the city has
just put in plant at a cos of SIS, $40.
There are 1876 poles, 60 1000 candle
power arc lights, 500 incandescent
lights, and $50 horse power engine
and two 80 horse power boilers.
Aid. Higgs stated that he had en-
deavored to secure proposition from
the local company and it seemed will
ling to be reasonable and offered to
sell the entire plant or any part OF it
reasonably. He had been looking in
to the matter for long time and has
much correspondence.
The council adjourned.