The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-14
MATTER LAID OVER
Vacation of Walnut Street Is
Talked Over.
Fire Limits Building Ordinance VioIat-
ed.---More of the Floating Debt
Paid Off.

The council did not accomplish
much at its meeting Friday night, al
though several important matters
were talked over. Mayor Petersen
presided and all of the aldermen were
present. aa. "
The hearing on the application for
the vacation of the end Of Walnut
street was the first matter taken up,
the hearing having been set for 1880
o. m. The recorder read the petition
of the Omaha and G. & N. W. roads
for the vacation of the portion of the
street opposite the union depot.
]. 81. Long, representing the Mer-
chants Protective association, pre-
sented petition asking the council
not to grant the vacation of the street
unless the Omaha road will convey or
lease to the city its North Fourth street
property. Mr.. Long said that the city
needs the Fourth street property badly,
and the railroad company has little
need for it and should not continue to
use it as it now does. The three half
blocks from Mulberry to Spring streets
are wanted. The property is used for
small warehouses and for unloading
bridge timbers, etc. 1t might and
should be made..into beautiful park.
Mr.. Long thought that the road would
look upon this favorably if brought to
it's attention in the right way. He
suggested that negotiations be begun,
as the giving of the end of Walnut
street might not be considered sufii-
cient inducement to the road, in
which event some further concessions
might be made to the road. The petit
ton bore something over hundred
signatures.
A. R. Pau Jr. appeared for the rail
road companies and said that he had
heard little or no unfavorable COM
ment upon the petition of the roads
or the end of Walnut street. 1t was
unnecessary to say that the Omaha
company would not give to the city
the most beautiful three half blocks in
the city, as they had been called, in
exchange for the flag end of a street
that was of no value, and which it was
questionable whether the city now
owns. He did not know whether the
road would be willing to lease the
Fourth street property to the city, but
it would improve it. He suggested
that the matter be held open until the
feeling of the citizens can be ascer.
tanned, giving time for the roads tc
bring in petition signed by repre-.
sentative business men asking the
council to grant the request of the
roads absolutely. This would also give
time to ascertain the feelings of the
company in regard to leasing the land
to the city The land is already leased
to other parties, and cannot be touched
at present. ...
Mr.. Long favored leaving the mat
ter left open until there is distinct
binding understanding. The present
leases of the property are cancelablt
and will not stand in the way of tn,
railroad leasing the land to the city.
Mr.. Pau said that he knew nothing
as to whether the company would b
willing to lease the land to the city
under any consideration, and it wa
merely to ascertain its feeling abou
this that he had suggested delay.
On motion of Aid. Taylor, the mat
ter was laid over until the next ECU
lar meeting.