The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-07-24
THE CITY FATHERS OPPOSE
IMPROVEMENTS.
OPPOSE
The Fourth Ttreet Grading and Sec
Ond Street Matchmaking Are
Turned Down-The Tramp Ordin-
ance Amended-WiIl it be Enforce
ed?-Other Matters of Interest Oc-
cupy the Attention of the Council

Mayor Weaver presided at the re.
gular meeting of the council Satur.
day night, and all of the aldermen
were present.
A petition for liquor license was
received from Henry Zimmerman Jr.,
and Aug. 18th was set as the date
for a hearing.
A petition for the grading of
Pearl street from Locust to Hanover
streets was received and referred to
the street committee.
A remonstrance against the propos-
ed Clark street sewer was read, COM
prising all of the property owners on
the lower side.
A remonstrance against the pro-
posed grading of South Fourth street
until after the removal of the Omaha
track was received, signed by some of
the property owners along the part
of the street sought to be improved.
A remonstrance against sidewalk
on LeSueur street was received and
placed on file.
The special order was then taken
up, and the report of the board OF
public works on the Fourth street
improvement was read. The esti-
mated expense is $1,000 for masonry,
to be paid by the city, and $4,000 for
earthwork, to be assessed on the pro-
the property owners favor the i'm
prOyement.
Aid. Andrews moved that the
board secure bids on the work.
Aid Bradley said that he would
vote for the improvement, but not
unless one-half of the assessment is
paid into the city treasury before the
work is commenced. The city has
made many Improvements in the
past, and assessments have not been
paid and cannot be collected until
the property changes hands.
Aid Andrews said that if such a
rule was to be applied, all improve
ments in the city would be stopped.
Nothing has come before the council
of more Importance than this i'm
provement. 1t is located within a
stones throw of the best part OF the
business portion of the city. The
work can be done now as well as af-
ter the last rail of the Omaha track
has been taken up.
Engineer Haynes said that one
half the money has never been COL
lected before an improvement was
made. 1t would not work satisfac-
torily, either with the assessments
or the contractor.
D. L. Clements asked Aid. Bradley
what there was about Fourth street
that it should be treated differently
from every other improvement that
has ever been made.
Aid. Zimmerman objected to the
payment of so much money that can
not be assessed on the property. The
council has been criticised for spend
ing so much money.
Aid. Andrews said that this coun-
Gil had ended it's first year with the
best financial report in years.
Gen. Baker said that it was twenty
five years since he had appeared be.
fore the council and asked for this
improvement. The council had
never before insisted on collecting
assessments as proposed, and will
never again. Sidewalks cannot be
laid, and the street must be graded
before the property back can be
utelized. Both ends of the city can
get all the Improvements that they
want Why should Fourth street, in
the center of the city, be constantly
Disseminated against? We want to
beautify the city, build houses there,
and open streets. The matter has
been hanging before the council afor
more than quarter of century,
while less important Improvements
have been made.
R. E. Brown opposed the improve.
ment at the present time, and sug-
gested that it be done only south OF
Warren street. Those on the protest
were financially unable to meet the
expense.
Gen. Baker said that there are al
ways objections to all improvements.
Improvements must be made, how
ever, and will roll over all DIRECTORS.
The work can never be done cheaper
than now, and let us enjoy the bene.
fits now instead of leaving them to
the next generation.
City Attorney Pau said that he