The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-16


commenced the action.
The public indignation, as expressed
by citizens up and down the streets,
is largely directed at the Mankato Gas
and Electric Light Co., on the be-
lief that it is back of Mr.. Meagher's
suit and the instigator of it. People
who have not expressed themselves
freely hitherto on the street railway
matter, came out today and openly
declared that they were for the new
company and denounced the old COM
pany. -a.
Some fear was expressed that the
starting of the suit would deter the
eastern gentlemen from going ahead
with the improvement, as they might
not care to buy law suit. The-gen
eral belief was that the suit was
started at this time to frighten@the
eastern capital and thus head loft the
enterprise.
In their anger. at an attempt which
might result in .depriving the city OF
it's street railway line, patrons of the
pres emit company declared that they
would rather use kerosene than take
| light from the company If the suit OF
Mr.. Meagher results in the defeat OF
the street railway project. They de-
| clared that their business would go TO
a new lighting company, if one was
organized, or they would favor a
| ,onpicinal LIGHTING Dlant.
There is no doubt but that the start.
ing of the suit will give municipal
lighting plant big boost forward In
case the street railway project should
be thrown from the track. 1t is not
thought probable that the council
would give the present company an
other street lighting contract . If 1t
could possibly secure light elsewhere.
Some people went so far today as to
say that the council ought to declare
the present lighting contract Cancelled
at once and put in gasoline lamps.
Officers of the commercial organiza-
lions and business men conferred last
evening and this morning, and 1t was
decided to call mass meeting OF cltl-
zens for tonight to take such action on
the situation as seems best. Hanc
bills were gotten out announcing the
, Manager Griebel kindly gave the
free use of the opera house for thu
meeting. 1t will undoubtedly b
, crowded Speeches will be made
, and no doubt some strong resolution
will be passed, and perhaps othel
! action taken.
Every citizen and tax payer is in
vited to be present
. "A strong effort is to be made +
j secure the building of the street rail
: wav line in spite of the injunction
suit. Steps will probably be taken {
largely increase the amount of com
mercial lighting that will go to tn
new company. and it will probably 3
9 urged to put in a gas plant with tn
t assurance of large patronage, as 1t ma
o the right to do so under its FRANCHISE
Public sentiment is so one sided Q
o the question that the Free Press ia
: not secured individual views. 1t ia
n given in general form what 1t ha
: heard from numbers of people. In
feeling that prevails will undoubtedl
be expressed fully at tonight,s mas
meeting,
CITY Attorney Daley will put in
r answer to the suit. He would like
- have it disposed of as soon as possib
and would like to have the trial occr
= at the June term of court 1t res
q with Mr.. Meagher and his attorney
whether the trial shall come off i
June or whether it is delayed until tt
Il November term. The council wi
ID back up the city attorney in defen'
d. ing the case.
The complaint in John B. Meagher
suit to restrain the city from procee'
ing with its street lighting contra
"a with the Mankato and st. Peter Raj
e way and Lighting Co. is a vel
:. similar to that part of the first paviII
10 Injunction complaint relating to Il
s. city finances, except that the est
mates of city expenses are more Col
sentative. 1000,
n The complaint says that the reas0l
;. able value of 2, 600 candle power igIn
o. with the present number used Is %
- each. and with the number contracte
:: for ii is 500 each. Thirty-two cand
h mower incandescents are reasonaD
" worth s17 each year. The complain
saws that the city does not need mo
lights than it now has, to proper
TO light the streets.
e. The complaint says that the pric
4. of lights arc and incandescent, ha'
g been and are now constantly decrea
s. ing by reason of the discovery and u
% of new, improved and cheaper proce
q SEES for the development OF electric
It, energy.
0. A Street railway plant would not
}; a paying investment, the complai
saws, and in order to reimburse &
company for its losses on the sire
railway, J. 81. Collins and the CT
y, officials entered into conspiracy
@ award the company street nghtii
g; contract at excessive prices as
2; bonus
9; A ten year contract is unreasonao!
c. and excessively long, and long pr
D; to it's expiration the prices named
l., it will be still more exorbitanta al
n, excessive, and will impose great al
y, uniusti6able burden on the city al
It, on each and every tax payer
lS The Mankato Gas and Electr
r. ITioht Co. the complaint states fu