The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-22
CITY
Municipal Lighting Discussed by
the Aldermen.
Andrew Carnegie's Library Donation is
Accepted. --.C0m. Paddock Touch
cd lin

The council held an interesting
session Friday night and Mayor Currier
kept business moving. All of the
aldermen except Aid. Taylor were in
their seats.
Aids. Jordan and Meyer INDUCED in
a heated discussion of the municipal
Ownership of a lighting plant, but
after it was over good nature returned
and they laughed and joked about their
wordy contention.
The matter came up when the light
ing committee reported u~nfavorably
upon the proposition to light the city
hall and fire station and public library
with a city plant. Aid. Meyer, who
made the report, stated that such a
plant would cost 81, 600. The pump sta
ton is not fitted to attach a lighting
plant, and to hitch on now would
cost a dollar a day, according to En-
gineer Koke, which would not be pro-
ftable.
MI. Meyer said that the net earn
ings of the st. Peter water and light
ing plant last year was 1893. The
charges for commercial lighting are
about the same as in Mankato. Six
teen candle power lights running until
8 D. m. cost 65 cents a month, So
cents if run until 10 p. n. and 81 if
run all night. The city credits itself
with $50 a z, 1000 candle power lgiht
a year, running until II p. m. The
lighting plant is worth about $50, 600.
The plant at Waseca cost 1875, 600,
and the income is S., sos, with run
ming expenses of 81, 22S, not counting
interest and depreciation. The city
arc lights burn until II p. m. and the
charge for arcs to II p. m. is S. a
month. Meter rates are ten cents a
thousand watts.
The plant at Sleepy Eye cost SD, 600,
and the charges are 81 a month for
arcs running until midnight, and so
cents a month for 16-candle power
lights. The meter rates aress1212 cents
a 1, 900 watts.
Aid. Meyer said that his investiga-
tions led him to conclude that if no
politics are mixed up in the matter it
would pay the city to have its own
plant, otherwise it would not.
Mayor Currier thanked Aid. Meyer
and asked him to continue his ~investi-
cations.
Aid. Jordan said that Mankato is
paying more than any other city in the
Northwest for its street lighting.
There is plenty of boiler capacity at
the pumping station for a city plant.
The city is paying STA a year per arc
lamp for all night lighting, but the
lights are not turned on when the
moon is shining. He did not take
stock in ''fy by night figures.
Aid. Meyer said that if the city
puts in any plant it should put in one
to light the streets as we'll as the city
buildings. He had not been opposed to a
city lighting plant. He wanted to do
what was best for the city, as his in
terests are here and he would always
stand by the city.
Aid. Jordan said hat an extra five
or six horse power at the pumping
station would light the three city
buildings, and that it could be done
for 70 cents a day. 1t was reports such
as Aid. Meyer had made that had
killed the proposition for a city light
ing plant before. Mr.. Jordan said that
he was not a heavy tax payer, but that
he had the interest of the city at
heart.
Aid. Meyer heatedly denied that he
was working in anybody's interest.
He was a heavy tax payer and was
anxious to look after the city's best in
~terests, which were Identical with his
own. There was a wastage of light in
the city hall and he moved that the chair
man of the committe on city property
see to this. This was carried and the
matter was dropped.
Contracts Signed.
The Second street improvement was
taken up, and Mayor Currier asked
the city attorney whether the recent
supreme court decision would effect
| this.
Mr.. Daley held that the decision
would not affect the collection of the
assessments in such a cas- as this.
The mayor then signed the contracts.
which were lacking only his signature
to become binding.
The bond of Jacob Effer for 81, 600
for the grading, with John Trenheuser
and Mic Petersen as sureties, was ap-
proved.
The bond of T. Jefferson for 81, 500
for the curbing and gathering, with
]. A. Lulsdorf and Lawrence Henline
as sureties, was approved.
The board of public works re-
ported the sprinkling bids and the
award of the contract to VIM. Page.
the lowest responsible bidder.
Aid. Deebach said that he had in
vestigated the matter and found MI.
Page the lowest.
The award was approved. and Mr..