The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-04-18
FRANCHISE GIVEN.
Exclusive, Except Commercial
Lighting and Power.
The Council Also Contracts With The
New Railway and Lighting Com
pany for Street Lights.

in the streets and alleys TO the ManRa-
to and St. Peter Railway and Light
ing Co, and also granted the company
q contract to light the streets for
period of ten years. Only two or three
differences arose between Mr.. Collins
and the city, but the aldermen took
their time to consider the matters,
showing a desire to concede to the
company all that it felt thew could
reasonably do.
When the council convened, without
the usual secret session, Md. Leonard,
chairman of the committee on ordi-
nances, presented the franchise with
a favorable report. The rules were
SUSPENDED and it was given its first
reading.
Aid. Heinze thought that the fran
chise ought to specify how often cars
are to be run. He was also in favor
of recurring that iron posts be used
on Front street, and feared that If the
tracks were allowed in the alleys the
cars would block them.
The ordinance was then read section
by section for amendment.
A. E. Clark explained that the COM
pany expects to do a large freight bust
ness from which it expects to derive
much profit. To get freight from the
mills, factories, ETC., will necessltate
the use of alleys occasionally. IL would
for a car to obstruct an alley for any
length of time. Regarding posts, ne
would net object to iron ones on Front
street if the company was allowed to
place them in the street.
Aid. Taylor said that the company
was composed Of local business men
and he did not believe that it would
put up posts that would be eyesores.
The section granting the company
an exclusive franchise for ten years
caused the most debate Aid. Heinze
moved that this provision be stricken
out, as it might bar competition in
commercial lighting and shut out the
present company.
Mr.. Clark said that the company
would refuse to accept the franchise
so amended The object of the section
was to assist the company to negotiate
its bonds. The franchise Of the pres
emit lighting company does not expire
for eight years, and that could not
be revoked by the new franchise.
City Attorney Daley did not think
that the present company's franchise
wonId be revoked by the section, but
as that company has franchise the
council cannot give another company
an wexclusive'' franchise. he was
not prepared to say how long the pres
ent company's franchise extends, and
thought that the council should limit
the exclusive feature to street cars.
Mr.. Clark said that it was not neces-
sary for any company to have a fran
chise to operate lighting plant in
Mankato, as there is no charter pro-
vision for it. He suggested that the
SOULFUL NC dllChoCN ~ oC " NV ~ PSS--
any present franchise.
Aid. Heinze preferred giving the
company twenty years exclusive
franchise, for a street railway and
leaving out the lighting part. His
motion to strike out the exclusive
feature entirely was lost, five to one.
Mr.. Clark offered an amendment,
granting the company twenty years
exclusive franchise, except as to com,
mercial lighting. This was amended
to read Except commercial lighting
and power" and was then adopted,
The ordinance was then read al
amended and was passed unanimously
The company presented a proposed
contract for street lighting, to extend
ten years 1t called for 125 arc lights
of guaranteed 1900 candle power a
$74 a year, and 300 incandescents of 3;
candle power, at s21 per year, the
lights to be operated according to thu
Philadelphia schedule, and to be turn
ed on until midnight all dark nights
Aid. Heinze thought that the company
was asking the city to take too many
arc lights At the meeting at tn
Saulpaugh, Mr.. Collins had said tina
80 or 100 arcs would be asked for eigh
or ten years. The people would no
stand for such an outlay as was pro
posed.
Mr. G. ollins said that at that time b.
had not made his investigation of tn
city. His proposition to the council
and business men was that the cit.
take 1000 to 1876 arc lights. The ad
vance in the cost of material woul'
make an expenditure of $500, 600 neces
sary to carry out the company's plans
and yet.he had not asked for proper
innate increase in the subscription 70
stock. He thought that it was n
more than right that the city shout
grant this increase.
Aid. Leonard said that if the cit
could not have lights that would bur
all night it did not want them.
Mr.. Clark said that he had draw
up the proposition without consultin
Mr.. Collins. The latter intends ths
the lights shall burn all night on dar
nights. and he suggested that the prt
position be amended.
Aid. Heinze saw no reason for hast
in awarding the lighting contract,