The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-12
SUPPLY LESSENED
Supervision of Artesian Wells
Is Needed.
Note of Warning Sounded BY Engi'
neer Observation-Disclosures For
TIVE Skating Kinks.

Mankatos water supply is being |
diminished by the new artesian wells
that are being put down by private
parties, and the case has reachea
point where it has become serious.
This was the statement made to the
council Friday by Charles Koke,
engineer at the city pumping station
Mr.. Koke appeared before the council
in order to sound note of warning.
ne said that new artesian wells have
been put down right and left, and
that every one has lessened the pres
sure in the city wells, cutting off the
water supply proportionately. He said
| that the time had GENE for the council
to arrange for sinEing another we'll
Should next summer be dry one
there would scarcely be two-thirds
enough water to supply the demand.
Last summer there was 80 much rain
that net so much water was used.
The Standard brewery, Mayer Bros,
the Mankato Gas and Electric Light
company and West Mankato parties
have new artesiaa wells, and before
we know it there will be no water in
the city wells. "A good deal of water
from the private wells is being vast.
/ ed. When the last well was put down
at the Hubbard mill the effect was
felt at once on the city wells. When
ever the we'll at the mill is shut off on
Sundays the city wells feel it and pro-
duce more water. Mr.. Koke said that
he would suggest that new eight
inch we'll be put down on the city q
newly purchased property on Fourth
street, where the pump station will
probably some time be located, some
distance from the other wells. The
further the wells are apart the Less
they affect each other. The present
wells should also be repaired. The
new we'll at the gas works is six in
chss in diameter, and has. Sou, 600 gal
Ions capacity. The city should have
an ordinance forbidding any person tt
put down well except under city
supervision, with solid pipe sgoins
down to ufficient depth. The Man
! kato Gas and Electric Light company
. expects to supply the packing mouse
with water.
Judge Porter remarked that th'
company could not do this, as it hal
; no right to cross the street. If pri-
: vate parties were going into the water
business the city might as well quit
Aid. Deebach thought that Mr.
Koke's remarks were timely and
should be looked into He moved tina
the committee on vwaterworks and
city engineer look into the matter ant
report at the next meeting. This wa
carried.
The youth of the city will have TIVE
skating Kinks to exercise upon as sooI
as the weather gets little colder
The city will prepare the Kinks and
have charge of them, thus making
safe place for the young people to en-
joy this great winter sport.
: A largely signed petition was handed
to the council last Friday, asking
, that the city make and maintain
two skating Kinks, one at the Polchov
brick yard, and the other on thu
Minnesota river just below the bridge
= w. D. Willard appeared and address
ed the council on behalf, of the petit
tioners. He did not think that the ex
pense would exceed 500 to $3.50, ant
| it woald encourage healthful sport
He hoped that the council would no
wait until it had turned the slough
into q lake, as that might he too ia
in the future.
Aid. Heinze said that he was heart
II lily In favor of the city providing tn
I thinks. He himself had few children
, who like to skate. but it cause
4 worry, as there are holes in the ice il
: the river that are not known of. HI
would feel safer If the city provided |
place for the young people to skate
he moved that the matter be referret
to the board of public works to pre-
Q pare the Kinks at once, at the loca
! tions asked for in the petition, the ex
pense to be taken from the curren
fund. This was carried.
Seine progress is being made towar'
ascertaining the cost of turning tn
. slough into lake. Aid. Deebach re
ported to the council Friday tina
the committee on city property wa
not yet ready to report on the owner
. ship Of the slough and the value of tn
. land. There is about 15e acres in tn
! slough, and the assessed valuation
$50 an acre on the average. |. A
Pelton owns A acres and asks $50
an acre for it. The Meagher estat
has 13k acres between Front an
Pleasant streets, but has not yet bee
heard from as to price asked
Mayor Petersen said that this Ian
. ought to be cheap, as it lies very low
y and to turn it into lake would be
!" good beginning. The rest would TO
: low soon, IS the property owner
= around the slough would find it
% their advantage to buy the land /
= order to turn it into lake. If th
= Blue Earth river could be tapped
would be better than an artesian we
u "a a source of supply,