The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-05-21

The regular meeting Of the council
Saturday night was presided over by
Mayor Pfau, and all of the aldermen
were present.
A petition was received asking for
an incandescent electric light at the
corner OF Spruce street and Third
avenue. Referred to the lighting
committee.
A petition was received asking that
water mains be extended to the cor
ner of Fifth and Warren streets on
those two streets. Referred to the
committee on water works.
A petition was received asking for
sidewalk on the north side of War
rem street between the Omaha track
and L fifth street, and was referred to
the street committee.
A petition asking that the curb line
on Cherry street be established
twelve feet from the property line.
between Front and Second streets,
+ was received and referred to the
street committee.
A petition asking that the name OF
May street, connecting Glenwood ave
nue. and East Main street, be changed
to Bruels avenue, was referred to the
street committee to report during the
evening.
A petition for the grading of the in
tersection of Fourth. Lincoln and
Parsons streets, was received, ano
Col. VIM. Thomas appeared and made
few remarks in advocacy of it, say
ing that there would be no cost tC
the city. 1t was referred to the board
of public works.
A protest against the forcible
opening of Fifth street between Lime
and Thompson streets, and the por
tion of Fountain street between
Fourth and Sixth streets, on the
ground that it is not needed, was re
ferred to the street committee.
Martin Weltgen presented a bill
against the city for 1896 for walls O.
I his burnt barn torn down, $40 To-
ioists broken, and SIS for cut ston,
broken, a total of 1920.
Attorney Cray appeared on behal
of Mr.. Wiltgen, who said that it wa
generally admitted that the from
wall should have been torn down, bu
that the side walls could have beef
braced as new walls are sometime
braced, and that the side walls wer
no more unsafe than the next da
after they were constructed and be
fore they were tied together witt
joist. The loss was peculiarly sever
on Mr.. Wiltgen. 1t is said that tn
side walls were hard to tear down. W
do not in the least reflect upon tn
fire department. 1t was a time of ez
citement, and to avoid further dan
ger, perhaps the fire department pro
ceeded to tear down the walls, whe
if they had waited they would hav
acted differently on deliberate jude
ment. In making out the bill, tn
salvage is taken out of the actual loss
and the amount asked of the city
very small when the loss is taken int
account. No account of the eXtr
work in removing debris is made, an
there is no intent to pad the bill.
the walls could have been saved, M
Wiltgen should not be called upon t
stand the entire loss. Half a Ger
each from the tax payers would go
long way to help Mr.. Wiltgen.
Aid. Himmelman moved that tn
claim be referred to the committee G
claims and accounts, and this W;
carried.
Laird Norton Co. petitioned for pc
mission to build another shed, ire
covered on top and both sides, WI
received.
Aid. Bradley said that the city hi
a fire limit ordinance and that the p
tition should go before the board
public works. On his motion, the p
\ tition was referred to the city eng
neer.