The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-05-25
THE COUNCIL.
AnElectriC Fire Alarm System Pur-
chased, at a Cost of $3,IOO-
Fifteen Alarm Boxes.
The Action Ordering The Curbing and
Guttering of Front Street Rescind-
ed-Pres. Beatty's Statement.
West Mankato Water Mains Defeated
Adverse Report on The Crema-
tory-No Action on The North
Front ST. Sewer.

Mayor Weaver presided at the meet
ing of the council Saturday night, and
all of the aldermen except Aid. Higgs
were present. City Recorder Brown
was absent on account of sickness IN
his family, and Aid. Pitcher perform
ed his duties.
A proposition from John A. Willard
was read, offering to pay the assess
ment along a block of sewer IN case
the North Fourth street sewer is con-
structed, from Washington to Rock
street.
The health committee reported that
while a crematory is very necessary
thing. on account Of its cost 1T did not
see where the city could get the money
to pay for it now. An adverse report
was made.
The matter of reaching a settlement
with Albert Frenzel, who claimed $3.50
damages for falling into an open ex-
cayation on Fifth street, was left IN
the hands of City Attorney Young.
The fire department committee
stated that it had no reason to change
it's favorable report of the last meet
ing upon an electric fire alarm system.
AID. Pitcher moved that the COM
mittee on fire department and the
chief of the fire department make a
contract for the purchase OF a Game
well fire alarm system, to consist OF
not less than fifteen boxes. Aid.
Peterson seconded this.
Aid. Fowler stated that he thought
that the council ought to know the
terms.
Ex-Chief Black, of ST. Paul, repre-
senting the company, stated that he
would take one-half the price, $500,
as soon as the system is up, four
months from now, and the other half
in one year, at six per cent interest.
Aid. Bashaw thought that the city
should advertise for bids, as it might
get better thing at a lower price.
Aid. Widell stated that the city
should Get the best, or none at all, and
he had heard everybody say that this
is the BEST
Aid. Pitcher stated that this is the
ONLY system that will stand the cold
of winter.
Chief Phillips corroborated this and
said that the fire department was so
well satisfied with this system that it
was willing to put $1,000 of it's own
money into it, while the city has topay
only 81, 800. There is no way to give an
alarm in case of a fire at night, except
by going to the city hall, and by that
time fire might be well under way.
Aid. Peterson's motion was adopted,
Aid. Fowler voting mo"
Albert Emerson appeared before the
council on behalf of the High School
Athletic Association and asked the
use of the race track for the bicycle
races May 25th. This was granted.
Engineer Haynes presented plan
for the improvement OF the city park,
as already reported in these columns.
Aid. Fowler moved that the report
be accepted and the Board of Public
Works be instructed to proceed with
the improvement. This was carried.
WATER MAINS EXTENSION.
Engineer Haynes reported the cost
of the West Mankato water mains eX-
tension, at $2,077.45.
City Attorney Young stated that he
had no reason to change his views,
that the supreme court would hold
that the slough property could not be
assessed for the laying of water mains.
VIM. Irving appeared before the
council and said that not more than
one person in West Mankato wants
the extension of the mains. There
are but ten houses on the proposed ex-
tension, and they are far apart, and no
danger of fire. Anyone can get fire in
surance. Aid. Fowler wants the eX-
tension, but will not have to pay any
thing.
Aid. Fowler stated that there was a
large petition asking for the extern
sion.
AID Widell stated that he would
not vote for the West MankatO extern
sion unless there was money enough
in the treasury to extend the water
mains into Dukes addition, as both
pay taxes equally and need the water
equally.
Aid. Fowler stated that he never
made such qualification when he
voted for the Second street grade or
anything in the mort part of the city.
AID Bashaw said that in the north
end of the city it costs $3.50 to put
down a well, and only SIS in West
Mankato. He thought that Dukes
addition needs water extension more
than West Mankato.
The motion was lost, receiving only
three votes.
Aid. Bashaw moved that the mat
+or IF tho aytantiOn of the Sawar to