The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-03-23
CITY COUNCIL.
The Council Votes to Improve The
Public Park and Definite Plan
is To Be Adopted.
North Second Street Grading Sure
GO-Water Rates Discussed-im=
portant Matters Acted On.

ing of the council Saturday night, and
all of the aldermen were present.
An application for liquor license
from Louis Johnson, proprietor OF the
American House, was received, and
April 2lst was set as the day for a
hearing.
A petition for new street in west
Mankato was received, signed by }. o..
Fowler and several others. This was
accompanied by plat and Aid. Fowl
er explained the matter to the coun-
Gil. The petition was referred to the
street committee.
A petition for stone crossing at
the southwest corner of Sixth and
Hickory streets was received. 1t was
referred to the street committee.
Two letters from Ringing Bros,
and the Forepaugh shows, opposing
the raising of the circus license, were
read, one being addressed to c. H..
Griebel and the other to G. III. Saul
paugh and already published. They
were referred to the ordinance COM
mittee.
Mayor Weaver stated that he had
been served with summons in the
$4,000 damages suit brought by Mrs.
ROsalia PietSch. The matter was re-
ferred to the city attorney.
DAld. Peterson urged that the dam
ages suits against the city be fought
as hard as possible, and the best legal
talent be secured to assist the city
attorney, if necessary. He did not
think there was any just ground for
the suits being brought.
A. Il. Pfau, who was present in the
absence of the city attorney, stated
that the city had been sued many
times, but had been fairly successful
of late years, paying but little. There
are no cases on hand now that need
scare the council or the city.
The Board of Public Works report
ed in favor of the extension of the
proposed Byron street sewer from Lew
is to Shaubut streets, the cost being
S4O7.9O all of which can be assessed
on the property benefited. One
member voted ''aye," one mo-" and
one did not vote. The council re-
ferred the matter back to the board
to secure bids and make a contract.
Mr.. Pfau held the council could do
this. no matter how the board may
have divided their vote, lnaSmuch as
they had reported the matter back to
the council.
The Board of Public Works reported
in favor of the grading of North Sec
Ond street from Vine street to the
north line of Parsons addition, eSti-
mating the cost at $3.50, all Of which
can be assessed upon the property to
be benefited The improvement was
not asked for by the majority OF the
property effected. The board was
unanimous. The matter was referred
back to the board to secure bids and
contract the work.
Health Officer JacOby reported upon
the cost of crematory as follows:
Ingle Sanitary Crematory Co., Des
Moines, Iowa, Sc, 800 to $4,000.
Dixon Crematory Co., Findlay, o.,
25 to 80 tons daily capacity, $4,000 to
$4,000.
DIR. Jacoby stated that he was not
there to urge the immediate purchase
of crematOry, yet fire is the ultl-
mate mode of getting rid OF garbage.
The question of the immediate dlspO-
sition of garbage is an important one.
The cost of cremating garbage is 10 to
II cents cubic yard to IL cents ton,
and is a, saving over hauling 1T away.
The auctiOneer'S license ordinance
was laid aside until the next meeting.
Aid. Widell reported that he had
had no time to look into the circus Ii
cense ordinance, and the ordinance
committee was given two weeks more.
President Swan suggested that the
rates for lawn sprinkling might be
doubled, and the rate on the yard n.y.
drants be raised where no other water
service is received. He was not fully
settled upon the lawn sprinkling, as it
is both public and private benefit,
vet the rate is not high enough for
the service rendered.
Aid. HiggS advocated raising the
rates on yard hydrants, where no 9TH
er service is paid for: but opposed
raising the lawn sprinkling rate. In
Fargo, n. D., the city related the
sprinkling tax wherever the lawn is
kept green and moved. tits a benefit
to the city to have nice green lawns.
Aid. Peterson advocated water in
spectOr, as there is much waste.
Aid Pitcher favored raising the rate
on yard hydrants. He believed the
inspector, if there is one, should exer-
else his authority, instead of merely
shutting off running water, as was
done last year.
Engineer Haynes stated that the
average price of yard hydrants in the
cities of the northwestern states is ST.
Aid. Higgs thought there is great
waste and favored employing an in
spectOr, who should use his authority
and cut off the water where it is be-
ing wasted. This would quickly stop
the abuse.
Aid Higgs brought up the question
of improving Hickory street, between
Front and Second streets. Some of
the property owners want that block
paved, and had told him that the ma
jority of the property owners now ia
Yor this. This might be an Opportu-
nifty to make the coveted start in paw
ing.
!, resident Swan stated that it would
Aoe safest to have petition, even il
only signed by one man.
: Aid. Fowler moved that commit
tee of three be appointed to draw up
proper resolutions regarding the death
of Fred Widell. This was carried,