The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-02
new ACCEPTANCE
Street Railway Company
Meets Objections.
Proviso Inserted, Which Allows the
City to do Municipal Lighting
After Ten Years.

A meeting of the board of directors
of the Mankato and st. Peter Railway
and Lighting Co. was held Saturday
afternoon at Secretary Clark's office to
consider what changes, if any, could
be made in the franchise in view of
the agitation going on. 1t was decided
that it would not be advisable to open
the franchise up for amendment at this
time, as such procedure would prob
ably brighten the men who are think
ing of putting their money into the
enterprise. and they would hold OH to
see what other amendments would be
agitated. If it was opened up for
amendment, it was also felt that
Everybody who had a pet amendment
would come forward and the result
would be food of amendments.
In view of the circumstances, and
being DESTROYS of doing the right
thing and not tying up the city, the
directors decided to withdraw the
company's acceptance of the franchise
and file a new one, which would meet
the principal objection raised to the
franchise and accomplish the same
purpose that an amendment would.
1t was decided to file the following
acceptance:
"Whereas, The common council OF
the City of Mankato, did, on the 10th
day of April, 1902, grant to the under
signed Mankato and st. Peter Railway
and Lighting Company, a franchise
being ordinance No. 50, and entitled
AN ordinance to authorize the con-
struction and operation in the city OF
Mankato of street railway, power,
lighting and heating systems and
, | granting to the Mankato and st. Peter
Railway and Lighting Company GER
tain rights and privileges in relation
thereto, and the said company did
, heretofore file an acceptance, which
, acceptance has been by authority OF
, the board of directors, withdrawn:
, Therefore this company does here
, by accept said franchise and all condi
tions therein contained.
This acceptance is upon the ex
press understanding and Interpretation
of said franchise that nothing therein
9 contained shall be construed as requir
, ing the city of Msnkato to contrac
, with said company for the municipa
lighting of said city for longe'
: period than ten (1O) years from
. December 1st 1902, or from establish
. ing a plant after ten years from sai'
. date for the municipal lighting o
q said city.
: "In witness whereof saidMankato..an
, st. Peter Railway and Lighting Com
pany has caused this acceptance to b
q signed by, its president and atteste
by it's secretary this 26th day of April
1902"
II The directors have at all times con
strued the franchise as not tying tn
e city up in the manner that goo
many people have feared that
would be tied up.
Owing to absence of the villag
attorney, the Kasota council did nc
take up the company's application fc
a right of way at its meeting Tues
day night.
II In view of the amended acceptanc
t. of the franchise to be filed by the CON
II pany, it is doubtful whether the cour
=, !, Gil will consent TO the opening up {
,r the franchise for amendment Th
10 most important objection to the frar
;. chise is met by the new acceptance
q While other amendments that ha1
n been proposed would be desirable
Of there are grave objections to the opel
Or ing up of the franchise for amendmen
= now, that can just as we'll be mao
4 after the sale of the bonds has bee
consummated.
u J. b. Collins telegraphed W.
Hixon Saturday that negotiations II
the sale of the bonds to Cleveland
Ne Ohio, parties, are we'll along. II
c. sale will undoubtedly be subjected to
., thorough investigation from both g
0 engineering and legal standpoint, b
OF fore one is made and the none
70 actually changes hands.