The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-26

ferred to the committee on ordi-
nances, and were by it favorably re-
ported.
One of the ordinances reduces the
license fees to be paid by auctioneers.
The fees are made So per day, 81 per
week, $40 per month, $50 for six
months, and 800 for a year. The
yearly fee under the old ordinance
was $500, and the others for terms
greater than one day were also higher.
The ordinances all passed their
first reading, the rules were suspend
ed, and they passed the second read
ing and were enacted.
The claims committee reported
favorably upon the bill of Wagon Bros.
for $50 for broken cement sewer pipe
and wrong setting of the elbows. The
committee reported adversely upon
the bills of Daniel Stern and ID.
Baker for flooding of the Model build
ing. The report was approved.
The board of public works reported
building permits granted to A. @.
Barney and Martin Wiltgen.
The bills were read and allowed, ag-
gregating about $500.
On motion of Aid. Peterson, the
committee on ways and means was
authorized to borrow 81 ZOO.
Ald.Adams held up the bill from the
National Meter Co. for SIG, for
water meters, and wanted to know
whether the board; of public works
has the right to purchase 500 worth
of material a month and run the city
into debt without any authority OF
the council. There had been COM
plants Of the money spent in improv-
ing the St. Peter road, which had been
ordered openly and above board. The
board of public works had run a snide
game on the council. He wanted an
opinion from the city attorney on the
purchasing power of the board.
Mr.. Pau says that the charter al
lows the board to purchase with the
approval of the council, aud to pur-
chase necessary tools and implements
and material to the extent of not over
300 in any one month, without bring
ing the matter before the council.
The purchases meant are the small
things which are needed in the opera
tion of the city, and which it would
| be inconvenient to bring before the
council.
President Burgess disclaimed any
intention to do anything other than
above board and fair, and said that no
snide game was run on the council.
1t was understood that this was a
bill that the council was willing to al
low. There is more water wasted
than is used, and by stopping the
waste the coal bills will be reduced
With a meter the consumer pays for
the exact amount of water used. Some
consumers pay less with meters, be-
cause they are careful and watchful
and allow no waste. Meters save the
indiscriminate land wasteful use Of
water They develop leaks that
otherwise would not be discovered
for some time. 1t is expected that
these meters will reduce the coal bill,
because this is the experience else
where.
Aid. Zimmerman said that Engi-
neer Haynes had come back from an
engineers convention and reported
that meters are now being generally
done away with. The place to put a
meter is on the lawn sprinklers,
which are the most expensive thing
for the city outside of leaks.
Aid. Bradley said that if the city is
going to use meters it should be for
manufacturing places and wherever
a large amount Of water is used aud
wasted. He did not believe in put
ting meters on lawn sprlnklers and
private houses. He did not favor
charging the owners of lawns such
high prices that they would not beau
tify their lawns.
Aid Adams did not think that the
city would gain anything by havlug
meters. A meter costs SO, and al he
end of year has to be repaired Il "A
cost of SO more.
The meier bills were laid over uu-
til the mkt meeting.
! Aid. Bradley said that tie rity