The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-07-05
MANKATo FREE Press.
LIGHTING BONDS.
OPPOSED in THE COMMERCIAL
CLUB LAST NIGHT.
Rev. L. w. Beattie, e. G. Burdick,
DR.. Webster and Others Pour Hot
Shot, into the Bond Proposition
The Council Touched up--Commit-
tee of Investigation.

tCC VI luNCStiSdtiOhs
The Mankato Commercial club held
it's regular, monthly meeting Monday,
with President Alleman in the chair.
The committee on securing club
rooms submitted propositions from l..
I p. Hunt and Lamm & Merchant. One
proposition from the latter firm was
looked upon favorably. 1t offered the
two front rooms on the second floor
over the new store for $40 per month,
with heat and fixtures. The rooms
are each about 2Ox30, and will be fin
ished off by Aug. 1st or Aug. 18th.
The lease is to be for five or ten years.
On motion of Dr. G. S. Talbert, this
proposition was accepted.
Some discussion followed, some OF
the members thinking the action
hasty, especially as it had come to the
attention of the club that rooms over
the Mankato National bank could be
secured. The motion was reconsidered,
on motion of DR.. l.. d. Webster, and a
motion by w. L. Comstock that the
committee be continued to investi-
gate further and that the question of
rooms be made a special order for a
special meeting to be held next Mon
day night was carried.
DR.. Webster gave notice of an
amendment to the constitution to re-
duce the treasurer's bond from So, 900
to $1,000, saying that it was not fair
to require so large bond when there
is no salary attached to the office.
All other business having been dis
posed of, E. G. Burdick brought up
the proposition to bond the city for an
electric light plant for city lighting.
He said that the club ought to take
hold of the matter and look into it
and give the proposition push-not
a push forward but push downward.
Any reasonable man knows that the
city cannot be lighted by plant cost
ing only $4,000, and the council in
tends to use the money from the S15,-
900 of water bonds to help out in put
ting in an electric light plant, the
water mains extension being merely a
blind to draw votes. The city will be
"queered" in ten years if it puts in it's
own plant. What the people want to
do is to ''queer" this bond proposition.
If the proposition was to issue $50, 900
bonds there would be more sense to it,
and the voters would have fair
chance to express themselves on the
proposition put fairly. This was the
amount voted on for the same purpose
at Winona last spring, and the people
voted it down. A $4,000 plant would
be one that would do the service
wanted, and such proposition would
be another thing from the one under
consideration.
Mr.. Burdick concluded by moving
that a committee of five be appointed
to investigate the question, ascertain
the actual cost of proper plant and
prepare and publish statement be-
fore the election which could be a
5 guide to the voters.
Rev. L. w. Beattie said that it was
beneath mans intelligence and dis
guessing to read what some of the
papers are saying on this subject and
the way they compare Mankato with
little towns all over the prairie, as
though what was sufficient for them
would be sufficient for this city. He
had visited some of these towns and
knew whereof he spoke. At Fulda is
a 150-light plant that cost $4,000 to
$4,000 and it was nice thing for that
little town. But the idea of compar-
ing the lighting of that little place
with Mankato is preposterous. The
small wires are attached to house cor
ners and anywhere to save expense.
Everything was done as cheaply as
possible. To talk of such a plant for
Mankato is ridiculous. The committee
should be given power to act at once
Messrs. KenaSton and Crandall
wanted the committee to make fair
statement of the case, and one that
would be unprejudiced.
Mr.. Comstock said that he felt much
much like Mr. Burdick on the ques-
tiOn of voting the bonds. Inquiry of
the council had brought forth no re-
liable information to sustain the
proposition that $4,000 as proposed is
sufficient to equip plant. Many con-
Trajectory statements have been made
Yet it was question whether it would
be wise for the club to take I'D this
matter. If the club was fully organ
lied, it would be entirely within the
province of the club. There are many
people on the street who think they
understand the matter, but who don't,
and they cannot be convinced, and
these might censure the club.
DR.. Webster thought that the club
should not be afraid to take hold of
anything pertaining to the welfare of
the CITY, There is no reason for hold
ing back on this question. We ought
to watch out for such opportunities as