The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-11-25
LAWLESSNESS.
THIS CHARGE MADE AGAINST
THE B. P. W..
Aids. Fowler and Bradley Call the Board
Down Hard For Doing Unau.
thOrized Work.

The counsel held prolonged ses'
sion Saturday night, presided over by
Mayor Plan and with every alderman
present. The board Of public works
came in for a severe raking over
Some time ago, property owners on
Fourth and Cherry streets presented
petitions to the council looking to
the improvement of those streets,
but on the ground that the city had
no money available the petitions
were not granted. Some OF the alder
men made the discovery last week
that a part of Cherry street is being
graded by order Of the board OF pub
lie works, without saying 80 much as
''by your leave" to the council. This
made these aldermen wrathy, and the
matter was ventilated at consider
able length Saturday night.
The matter was brought up by Aid.
Fowler asking for information in re.
gard to the grading of Cherry street.
A while ago, he. said. profile of the
grade of the street had been present.
ed to the council, but nothing done.
The street has now been graded. He
thought that the council should have
some say on grading Of streets. He
understood that the grading was be-
ing paid for by the city.
Engineer Thompson was called on
by the mayor to explain the matter
and said that an arrangement had
been made with Contractor e. V.
Walters to use the dirt in filling
Fifth street. Mr.. Walters is paid
four cents yard for dirt taken from
Cherry street and the amount is add
ed to the assessment.
Aid. Fowler said that he had heard
this and wanted to know how the
grading of Fifth street could be paid
for at greater price than the c0un-
Gil had awarded the contract. Cherry
street people get their street graded
for nothing, while Fifth street peo-
pie must pay for it.
Mr.. Thompson said that Cherry
street property is assessed some on
the general improvement.
Aid. Bradley asked why Second
street is being graded without asses
sing the property.
Mr.. Thompson said that dirt from
the fire station excavation had been
placed there and as the street would
be impossible riprap had been put
down, making a fifteen foot drive
that will be passable.
Aid. Bradley said that the council
should have been consulted before the
work was done. The work should
have been assessed on the property.
Aid. Fowler said that the work on
Cherry street had necessitated the
lowering of the water mains.
Aid. Peterson, who did not look at
the complaint very seriously. said
that he wished that a little of the
extra work would be done in his end
OF the city.
Aid. Bradley moved that hereafter
no work be undertaken without the
consent of the council
Aid. Fowler asked whether the
change in the assessment would not
vitiate the whole assessment.
City Attorney Pau thought that
the extra four cents might possibly be
uncollectable in case Of refusal to pay
by those assessed.
Inspector Halstead said that the
stone used on Second street was what
he had picked up on the streets and
taken from Lorin Cray's house.
Aid. Bradley said that 1T all costs |
money.
Mayor Pau said that Aid. Brad
ley's moIion was not in order as that
is the law now.