The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-16
COUNCIL DONATES
Votes $500 for mi-Centen-
NAL Celebration.
This, With Other Expenses, Will Run
the City's Portion of the Expense
up to $4,000.

The council held special meeting
Thursday with all the members pres
emit except Aid. Wilcox, and took ~
the matter of lending financial assist
ance to the Blue Earth County His
torical society and the Early Settlers
association in the celebration of the
fftieth anniversary of the founding Of
the ,ity.
F. M. Currier and j. A. Ewing, Of
the finance committee appointed al
the mass meeting, appeared and made
request for an appropriation.
Mr.. Currier said that he had talked
with number of people in regard tc
having the celebration, and the idea
seemed to strike them favorably. II
would be hard to rise money for the
purpose among the business men, as
they have subscribed once.
Mr.. Ewing said that it would be
useless to try to raise 81, 900 among the
business men. The Elks were taking
care of the amusements. 1t was pro-
posed to entertain the old settlers, and
there would be other ways to spend
money. All the persons he had seen
favored having the city appropriate
the money.
Aid. Taylor asked about how much
money would be required. No one
answered this question definitely.
Mr.. Currier said that any appropri-
alton should be made 70 the old set
tiers associations. 1t was for the
council to decide as to the legality of
spending money that way, and the
propriety OF it.
]. E. Reynolds, Of the Historical
society committee, said that the ap-
preparation should be outside of the
Examinations. One thing that was
proposed was to have manufacturing
exhibit of the city, in building built
for the purpose. 1t was the intention
to invite the governor, members OF
congress and mayors of other cities,
and to entertain them free, This
would advertise the city. There were
other plans, and all Of these things
would take money. He did not think
that less than 81, 600 should be appro-
priated.
Mr.. Currier thought that smaller
amount would do. It would not be
necessary to erect building, and the
manufacturers would help make the
expense of an exhibit light. The ex-
pense of Examinations is estimated by
Mr.. Patterson at 5000. This includes
arches, colored lights, etc. Probably
5000 to $500 could be raised among
the people.
Mr.. Reynolds said that the commit
tee did not want to be put off with
any measly sum of money, If it is to
be handicapped with the lack of
money, the committee would not
work. 1t is proposed to send souvenir
invitations, and nothing connected
with the affair should be considered
cheap. He did not think that 81, 600
was too much.
Mayor Petersen said that he was
heartily in. favor of making an appro-
priation. The celebration should be
done right, if at all. If the council
should see it's way clear to make a
donation he hoped that the city Off
GERS would not throw obstacles in
the way.
Aid. Deebach favored giving 81, 600,
and more if the city was able.
Aid. Taylor thought that 81, 600
was a good deal. There might be
criticism if too much was paid out.
While he was heartily in favor of
the matter, he believed in using
little precaution, also.
Aid. Heinze thought that the city's
guests should be properly entertained
Everything takes money. There
would be variety of expenses on the
city for Examinations, flags, bunting,
etc., besides an appropriation for the
historical societies. 1t would probably
take over 50, 600 in all.
Aid. Eichstaedt moved that $500 be
turned over to the Historical society
and old settlers association to be
spent by them in the observance OF
the city's fiftieth anniversary.
The motion was carried.
Mr.. Reynolds asked the city recorder
whether he would have any objections
to issuing warrant.
Mr.. Williams said that the matter
was largely one in the hands OF the
council. He had objected in good faith
to other illegal bills, but they had
eventually all been paid. This bill
would be illegal, as all knew, but a
good many illegal bills are paid and
probably will continue to be. People
had spoken to him for and against
the matter of signing. If the sum is
not too large, he would not have any
objection, but he considered a 81, 600
haul pretty big. The amount ought
to be understood.
Mr.. Reynolds said that no commit
tee could tell ahead how much money
would be needed. The committee
wants to know where it is at before it
incurs any bills.
Mr.. williams said that he would
rather settle the matter now than to
have trouble after the bills come in.
Mayor Petersen thought the only
matter now was the $500. The light
ing and other matters would come
up later.
Aid Eichstaedt thought that the