The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-05-29

that there was no use paving until the
city was ready for it. All connections
for.water and gas should be made.
New sewer pipe would have to be
laid, and this should be done before
the street was paved. 1t should be re-
paired with properly broken stone,
| well rolled down with the steam roll
| Ter.
Engineer Haynes asked that tn e
| specifications for the North Front
| street work, that were approved by
the council at the last meeting by a
unanimous vote be read. He then
stated that if the council would stop
gigging around the board would do
something, but when they changed
their minds so often little could be
done. When the council approved of
any work the board was never sure it
would.stand through the.neXt meeting
of the council
Aid. Peterson moved that the board
of public works shut the street on the
next block off from public traffic, put
on the roller and spike it up thorough
| ly, then surface with crushed lime
stone as necessary, and then to be
thoroughly rolled and whole to be
covered with screened gravel.
Engineer Haynes said that this was
just what the board of public works
is now doing. and the specifications
approved last week called for just such
work.
Aid Andrews said that he thought
at first that the matter should be
postponed until after the 1Ith of June,
but that was too much like boys play,
and he believed the work should not
be delayed, even though the majority
of the council voted to postpone the
improvement until after they were
cited to appear before Judge Severance
in regard to the lighting bonds.
Aid. Bradley spoke at some length
on the matter of the necessity of good
Improvements, when the resolution
was passed.
AID Andrews called up his resolu-
tiOn introduced some three or four
weeks ago that the board of public
works abolish the perpetual plumbers
license of 800 and substitute there
for reasonable license.
Aid. Zimmerman said he did not
understand that the council had any
thing to do with the matter. 1t be-
longed to the board of public works.
President Burgess said there would
soon be suit that would test the
legality Of this license, and while he
did not particularly care what the
council did, as it was only advisory,
thought it would be best to put the
matter over until after said suit. The
motion was withdrawn.
Aid. Andrews said he had a some
what delicate matter to call up. Said
that in riding over the city he had
noticed gravel and stone hauled here
and there, but never could find out by
whose authority it was done. He
would like to have the matter eX-
planned. The president of the board
of public works said that he had not
ordered the work and knew nothing
about it. The city engineer said he
had not ordered it and the mayor said
the same.
Aid. Adams said that he thought
the street work was run very loosely.
Said men were hired and put to work
and time checks issued without the
knowledge of the council. Thought
all of the bills should be presented to
the council before being paid.
Aid. Bradley wanted to know what
position Mr.. Halstead held, and by
whom he was appointed. This work
Of hiring men to work on the street
belongs to the board of public works.
President Burgess, of the board of
public works, read new meter rate
for water, for the council to act on.
After some discussion a slight change
was made in the rate, and the same
approved.
Following this there was more dis
cussion of the street work, and Mr..
Halstead was called upon by the
mayor to explain some of the bills
which had been presented for street
work. He said these bills covered the
street work for the entire city for the
time specified, and not for Front
street alone, as had been reported.
The heavy rains had caused much
work this spring in cleaning cutters,
but he believed the bills were no
larger than they had been in years
past for similar street work.
The explanations seemed acceptable
to the council, but Mr.. Halstead was
instructed by the mayor to hereafter
keep in close communication with the
board of public works, and enter on
no new work except by order Of the
board.
The council then adjourned.