The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-11

about $50 month, the fire station
about $50, and the public library SO to
81 month.
F. A. Peterson, representing the
White Light Co., appeared and said
that the buildings could be lighted
more cheaply with such plant as his.
A plant to light the police depart
ment would cost $3.50 and would cost
three cents an hour to operate.
Aid. Jordan thought that sue b a
plant would be all right for the city
hall, but would not do for the fire sta
ton, where hay and the like are
stored. The city can light the fire sta
tion cheaper than anyone else can, and
could pay for dynamo in one year
with the saving in cost.
Aid Meyer said that new engine
would have to be purchased to do the
lighting from the pumping station, as
Engineer Koke states that the present
pump would be too slow and is needed
to pump the water. If the city puts
in plant to light the streets when the
present contract expires in September,
1902, whatever is done now would be
thrown away.
Aid. Jordan said that the city is
paying four times what it ought to to
light these buildings. The cement
works are lighted much more cheaply
with it's own dynamo than the city is
getting light for.
The matter was left with the light
ing committee to investigate further
Mayor Currier said that it would
be we'll to ascertain what the senti-
ment of the people is on municipal
lighting, as the next council might
not favor municipal ownership but
would renew the contract with the
present company. He was in favor
of city ownership.
Shifts Responsibility.
John Engesser, of st. Peter, applied
for an auctioneer's license for one
month from Jan. Sth. A bond for
81, 900 was presented with John K OIL
mann and F. j. Mention as sureties.
A. R. Pau appeared on beha If of the
petitioner. He did not think the char
ter provision requiring a bond was
legal. He held that if license was
not granted the auctioner could go
ahead anyway, if his application was
properly made and there was no partic-
ular cause for not granting it. These
remarks were drawn out because Aid.
Meyer had moved that the bond be not
approved. Mr.. Meyer said that the
city could not be too careful about
bondsmen, and favored surety bond.
The most of the votes were "no, -
but the mayor said that he would re-
fuse to declare the motion lost, as the
aldermen evidently had voted under a
mistake.
Aids. Jordan and Meyer said that
they had voted for the motion, and the
other four against it.
The mayor reconsidered his judg-
ment and declared the motion lost.
Aid Deebach moved that the matter
be referred to the committee on license
and the mayor with power to act.
Mayor Currier said that he did not
like to have the matter shouldered off
upon him, and Aid. Meyer thought
that the council should decide the mat
ter.
The motion was carried, Aids. Meyer
and Weed voting ''no
Aid. Deebach moved that Park Su
perintendent Blake be given power to
close the main park entrance during
the winter, as teamsters hauling ice
are damaging the shrubbery. The
motion was carried.
Chief Bowen reported nineteen ar
rests and fifty dodgers during January.
The bills were allowed, including a
pay roll of $111.01, and the council
adjourned.