The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-25

The meeting of the council Satur-
day night was barren of results, but
was anything from common place.
Not much business being before them,
the aldermen talked the time away.
The meeting was called to order by
Aid. Petersen, in the absence of Mayor
Weaver and Vice-President Andrews.
The other aldermen were present, and
Aid. Andrews came in later.
A petition was received, asking that
the width of sidewalks on South Front
street, between Byron and Marshall
streets, be reduced from twelve to
eight feet, and that permission be
given to property owners to put in
curb in front of their property fifteen
feet from the property line. No &C
tion was taken.
A petition asking for sidewalks on
Walnut street between Fifth and
Sixth streets was received and refer
red to the street committee.
Applications for liquor licenses
were received from John Miller and
HOLMAN & Polchow, and Oct. 3rd was
set as the date for hearing
The committee on claims and &C
counts reported adversely upon claim
of Contractor Mahoney for $500 for
damages caused by the leak of water
from the mains into his Clark street
sewer excavation, and the report was
adopted.
Engineer Haynes stated that Mr..
Mahoney knew what he had to en-
counter before he made his excava-
ton.
The board of public works reported
that the Clark street sewer extension
is necessary and proper, but recon-
mended that the work be postponed
until next spring. President Burgess
said that the reason for the report
was on account ofthe financial string
ency, and opposition to the sewer on
the part of some of the property
owners.
Prof. U. o. Cox asked that the
sewer be built this fall, as the
greatest benefit from it will be during
the spring rains. Aid. Bradley, in
whose ward the proposed improve
ment is, moved that the report be &C
cepted. He said that the property
owners there are not satisfied with
the grade, and that inside of one or
two years there will be petition to
have the street cut down, as it ought
to be.
The report was not accepted, three
to two, Aids. Bradley and Lille vot-
ing yes.
Aid. Zimmerman favored putting
in the sewer this fall.
Engineer Haynes said that the
sewer ought to go little further
than is asked for, to fill out the en-
tire block.
Aid. Adams said that he would al
ways vote for Improvements where
they did not cost the city anything.
He strongly favored this sewer ex-
tension, as five property owners IA
vored it to three against it.
Aid. Bradley took his usual stand
against making any more improve
ments at this time by special assess
ments, on the ground that some of
the property owners are not very
prompt about paying their assess
ments.
Aid. Adams said that if people
build nice houses, they should be given
water and sewerage, especially when
they are willing to pay for it, as in
this case. He referred to the improve
ments going on everywhere in the
cities which he had visited during the
past summer. There were 20 unpaid
assessments in his ward, even If there
is in Aid. Bradley's ward. Little or
nothing had ever been done by the
city in his ward, although it is a
beautiful residence section.
nAld. Bradley called attention to the
$4,000 West Mankato water mains ex-
tension, there being only four con-
sumers to date, while the people had
promised to have city water flowing in
their houses. The discussion was
dropped here.
The board of public works reported
the bids for the grading of the extern
sion of Franklin street and Adams
street. 1t was accepted, and the
matter was referred back to the board
under order No. l. The board had
report ready, in favor of the improve