The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-01-12

sickness prevented Aid Weed from
attending Friday nights session of the
council, but all of the other aldermen
were in their seats and Mayor Currier
presided,
The principal feature of the evening
was the unanimous turning down Of
the recent action of the board of pub
lie works in shutting the water off from
the watering troughs
President Porter was asked why the
water was shut off f..om the watering
troughs, there being considerable COM
plant.
President Porter said that the board
thought that it had gone according to
law. If it has not, it is willing to rec
tify its action, as it does not desire to
have any contest with the council.
Aid. Meyer held that the water could
not be shut off without the consent of
the council. The charter gives it SUI
preme authority.
President Porter said that the char
ter gives the board the whole authority
and the council none in this matter.
Aid. Meyer asked the city attorney
whether the council has nothing to say
in regard to the matter.
The city attorney was not prepared
to answer the question off hand.
President Porter said that the board
had been pounded on the back to do its
duty. The board thought that it was
doing it's duty as well as complying
with the law. The water that goes
through the six, watering troughs
would bring in So, 100 if it was paid for
at regular rates, This is one-fifth of
the income of water system. One
twentieth of all the water pumped
goes through the watering troughs.
Aid Meyer called on Mr. Porter to
stop his preaching and come down to
facts
Pres. Porter said that he was telling
facts and went on with his statement.
He said that if dry summer comes on
the wells will be greatly taxed, If
there is let up now the wells may
get rest and be able to furnish all the
water needed. If not an additional
we'll may be needed, with much ex-
pense The watering troughs in st.
Paul and every other city in the North
west are shut off during the winter
months. The troughs are merely in
tended as matter of humanity to
dumb brutes. This intention has been
lost sight of here, The water takers
pay $40, 500 into the city treasury at
present, which meets all expenses, in
Guiding street sprinkling, fire protec-
tion and nearly the entire interest on
the bonds. The board thought it fair
and honest that the men who pay
the rent eventually have reduction
in rates without throwing the money
away for other purposes People who
are Directing to the closing of the
troughs are those who are watering
their stock free at the expense of the
water renters.
Aid. Jordan said that the troughs
have run for many years, and it has
taken the board long time to find
ont the objections. Watering troughs
are running at Winona We want
trade to come here, and if it will help
trade by giving the farmers free water
it is good thing. A reservoir of water
is not created by allowing the wells
to rest in winter.
Aid. Meyer said that he was in Owa-
tonna and the troughs are running,
There is no reservoir that supplies the
wells If the city cannot furnish water
for the farmers teams we had better
sell our property. Small towns have
troughs 1t is disgrace to shut off
the water. All cities have to spend
money to get trade, and this is legiti
mate item, Very few business men
would object to the expense of keep
ing the troughs running.
Aid. Jordan said that if water is so
scarce, some of the skating Kinks might
be shut off.
Aid. Meyer moved that the board of
public works be instructed to turn on
the water again in the troughs. The