The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-31
A FRANCHISE.
The Council Grants One for a
Street Railway.
Exclusive Feature Struck Ont and City s
Interests Guarded 10 Other
Ways.

/
Saturday night passed the ordinance
granting a franchise to number OF
citizens who petitioned for it week
ago to build and operate an electric
street railway line and a lighting and
power plant. Three of the aldermen
were at first indisposed to vote to sus
pend the rules and proceed with the
second reading, but finally yielded to
! the arguments that if the ordinance
was delayed until another meeting ii
would never be adopted, as there would
then be no time to pass it over the
mayors veto should the veto be placed
upon it. The ordinance was amended
to the satisfaction of all and then
unanimously passed after lengthy ses,
sion, lasting until nearly midnight.
The exclusive feature of the ordi.
nance was eliminated, poles are not to
be erected in the center of the streets,
and the city's interests in case of dam
age suits are guarded
All of the aldermen were present and
Vice President Petersen presided.
AID. Zimmerman, of the ordinance
committee, said that the committee
had held meeting and agreed on some
changes in the proposed ordinance.
With the changes,it reported favorably
| and the ordinance was given it's first
reading,
Aid. Fowler said that there was moth.
ing in the ordinance regulating light
ing plant. He offered several amend
ments.
Aid Himmelman moved that the
rules be suspended and that the ordi-
nance be given its second reading.
Aid. Fowler counseled against haste.
He thought that the ordinance needs
amending in many particulars He was
in favor of a street railway, but wanted
to guard the citys interests. The pro-
jectors are men of wealth and should
show something more than words. All
the streets would be tied up for two
years if the ordinance passed.
Aid. Bradley advocated going slowly
on so important a matter. He favored
getting together with the attorneys of
both sides and talking the matter over.
Aid. Zimmerman said that the matter
had been up for week. When Wal.
kins wanted to come here, people were
breaking their necks to get him. Now
there is chance to get line, the sec
ond reading can be given. and final
passage can be had later. if desired
Aid. Fritz thought that no harm
would come from delaying the second
reading for another week In the
meantime, he advised that the alder.
men and the city attorney and attorney
for the company get together during
the week
Aid. Petersen asked whether there
! was any reason for haste on the part
of the company.
| Attorney Clark said that the COM
pany has an option on a plant that
would construct three and half miles
of track, which expires during the
week. The ordinance read is the one
as amended by the ordinance commit
tee and passed upon by the city attor-
ney. 1t is acceptable to the company.
Aid. Fowler asked why year was
wanted to begin work.
Mr.. Clark said that if it was passed
upon by the committee he was satisfied
with it, 1t was not his fault if the
time was year.
Aid. Zimmerman said that the com.
pany wants leeway in case it's option
falls through and it is necessary to &C
elsewhere to get material for first
class plant.
Aid. Bradley thought that year is g
long while if the company has an option
on a plant.
| Aid. Petersen said that there is nc
sign of any other electric line coming
There are now citizens representing
81, 100000 asking for franchise. Il
this falls through, it will be many
years before we get another chance
The city is spread out, and needs line
badly. Travelling men come here look
ing for houses and go away because al
cannot live in Security flats. They
would go on the outskirts and build il
they had street car service. We are
losing factories owing to the the trust
and should welcome any thing that
comes. The people asking for the fran.
chise are not grabbers from outside, but
are interested in the city.
Aid. Bradley said that this was a nice
little speech He.was for home capital
and enterprises as far as he could rea.
sonably go. The men back of this
are men of capital, but they have not
signed the papers without expecting to
make something. There is nothing to
hold them to build the line There are
millions of dollars in the east seeking
investment as we'll as home capital. Oul
home companywould sell out to trusts il
it could make money out of it, as the
latter are getting everything. He
| would do mora fo,. howe oo,;+o1 H..