The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-09-27
but 25 cents a foot.

UuU 10 CGuUS lOUG.
The motion was lost, only Aid
Andrews supporting it.
The committee on city property re-
ported fayorably upon heating the
city hall with steam, if there is
money to pay for it. The Mankato
Plumbing Co. is the lowest bidder.
Aid. Andrews said that there is
$4,000 to the credit of the current
fund, and moved that the report be
accepted and that the committee be
authorized to close the contract with
the lowest bidder.
Aid. Peterson said that the saving
in hose in prompt drying would pay
part of the cost.
Economy Advocated.
Aid. Bradley said that it is easy to
do all these things if the city has a
pocket full of money. There is but
5000 in the city treasury, and the city
owes $4,000 in notes. The money
apparently in the funds will not be
collected for months. The city will
have to borrow money at eight per
cent. to put in this plant. If any
business man did as the council does
he would be bankrupt in year. The
plant is not all the expense, but there
is fuel and a man to run the plant.
Aid. Andrews held that it would be
economy to put in heating plant.
He said that money in process of col
lection is available. The only way to
prevent borrowing money is to stop
the wheels of the city and discharge
every officer for year.
Aid. Bradley said that at the rate
the city was going it will soon be
bankrupt. There was not dollar in
the treasury when the council came
into power, and it has been spending
extravagantly at every meeting.
Aid. Zimmerman said that if the
council waits until it has money
ahead, we will all be laid away in our
graves before a plant is put in. 1t
was talked of eight years ago, but put
off until the city had more money. 1t
would be economy to put in the plant.
The motion was carried, only Aid.
Bradley voting no.
The ordinance committee offered a
new sidewalk ordinance in the place
of the one passed at the last meeting,
on the advice of the city attorney.
The main changes make the thick
ness of stone walks not less than
three inches, and provide for the en-
forcemento of the ordinance. A fine of
800 or ninety days in Jail, as max
imum penalty, is provided. The rules
were suspended and the ordinance
passed it's first and second readings
without amendment, and was finally
satisfactorily enacted.
The street committee was given
further time to report on the Clark
street matter. Aid. Andrews stated
that it was very perplexing ques.
tion, and on his motion the matter
was made special order for the next
meeting.
A resolution for the building of Ger.
tain sidewalks was referred to the
street committee.
City Lighting.
Aid. Zimmerman read the follow.
ing telegram from Prof. Shepardson
"Will send specific ations Monday.
Have just missed train"
Mayor Weaver said that he thought
there was lot of unnecessary delay.
The present contract expires Oct.
18th, and it is time something def
mite was done.
Aid. Bradley wanted to know
whether any of the bidders on the
electric light bonds are going to stand
by their bids.
The city recorder said that the
bidders are having the attorneys in
vestigate and haven't completed it.
Aid. Peterson advocated delay, SO
that interest would not begin on the
bonds.
The park committee received further
time to report on park purchase, to
complete the negotiations.
Agency Hill Water.
The city engineer presented an esti-
mate on the water mains on the hills
and the we'll. The 5000 feet of pipe
would cost 81, 511, and at eighty cents
a foot, the laying would cost S2,4OO.
A six inch well would cost 1856, and
an eight inch we'll 81, 400.
w. L. Comstock appeared on behalf
OF the Agency hill people and said
that over 81, 100 had been pledged, and
everybody has not been seen. The
money is to be deposited in bank by
Oct. 1st, and one-half paid when the
work begins and the other half in the