The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-07-12

the purchase of eight drinking foun-
tains at $40 each, and recommending
their location. The committee was
unanimous on the location of the
fountains as follows: On Front street
at the corners of Rock, Washington,
Main, Cherry and Byron streets, the
city hall, and on Second street at the
corners of Jackson and Main streets.
No action was taken on either report.
The water committee recommend
ed that an inch or II inch pipe be
laid on Hanover street from Hickory
to Pearl streets.
The city engineer opposed laying so
small pipe, which, would be at city
expense, as an assessment could not
be made on it.
The ordinance committee reported
upon the telephone ordinance with
out recommendation, as it hardly
knew what to report, so the chair
man, Aid. Zimmerman, stated.
Agency Hill.
Mrs. A. f. Smith was present and
presented petition from Agency
hill residents asking the council to
sink a well on Agency hill at the cor
ner of Hinckley and Mulberry streets,
erect stand pipe, build pumping
station, lay mains and put in n.y.
drants. Mrs. Smith made some ex-
tended remarks on the danger of fire.
She spoke of the fire of July 18th
there, and spoke of the calamities
that might have followed if the fire
had spread. She said that the whole
eastern and northern half of Manka-
to might have been swept away. She
said that it was the merest chance
which prevented such a fire. She
said that the hill is so dry that any
spark would set it on fire and sweep
it away. That end of the city had
paid taxes long time. She said that
many of the families would take
water. If there is any opposition,
should the gOne-by spirit of a few
elderly men who would rather walk
many blocks for water be allowed to
defeat the matter? She asked the
council to consider this matter to.
night and push it, for perhaps the
welfare and very existence of the
city rests upon the decision reached.
New Telephones.
A. B. Smith was then given a hear
ing on the telephone ordinance. He
explained that the PoheniX National
Telephone Co. will begin work within
sixty days and complete it's work
within six months. Ii the ordinance
passes tonight, man will be here
Tuesday or Wednesday to begin &C
tive work. He said that the new
companys rates would save 81, 200
year to the city. Wherever the
name of A. B. Smith appears in the
franchise he was willing to have it
stricken out.
The ordinance then passed it's first
reading. 1t grants franchise to the
Phoenix National Telephone Co., of
and A. B. Smith for
fifteen years. The provisions are SIM
liar to those of the franchise of the
Northwestern Telephone Co.
A motion by Aid. Bradley that the
be given it's second reading
received no second.
The council voted to hold an ad-
Journed meeting next Saturday at 80
o'clock
The trustees of the Tourtellotte
hospital presented report for the
period from Jan. 1St, 1894, to April
lst, 1895. A report from the superin-
tendent was also received, and both
were accepted.
Aid. Himmelman made report of
the changes made in the assessed val
uations by the council as board of
review. The report was accepted and
placed on file.
The street committee asked fur
ther time to report on the Fourth
street grading, owing to the probable
removal of the Omaha tracks.
Aid. Andrews moved that the
report on drinking fountains
be accepted. Aid. Lille moved that
the majority report be accepted. The
first motion was withdrawn, and Aid.
Andrews moved that the whole mat
ter lie on the table until there is suf-
ticient money in the water fund to
purchase the fountains, and this was
carried.
The board of public works was in
structed to advertise for bids for paint
ing and repairing the Minnesota river
bridge, and report next Saturday
night.
The board of public works presented