The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-11-13
FAILS To FILE ITS BOND
Practical Gas Construction Company
Secures More Time.
Attorney Young MOI Pleased With the
Way 1t Is Acting.
Council Refers M. G. Wizards Offer
to a Committee.
More Bills Allowed Than City Has
Money to Pay.
From Saturdays Daily.


The council held a lengthy session las
night without accomplishing much.
W. E. Young appeared and said he was
embarrassed to come before the council
as he had to, and this would be the last
time that he would appear for the Prac
teal Gas Construction company of North
Chicago unless something was done by it
He said that he had received letters from
the company and from a bond company
the latter saying that the ordinance will
have to be amended, after which it would
furnish the bond. After getting the let
in Colorado to send him by wire $4,000
to be deposited with the city. He had
received a reply, in which Mr.. Bower
said that if necessary he would send
the money Saturday. He, Mr.. Young, was
personally acting in good faith. He did
not know anything about the company or
its officers, except the men who were in
Mankato. He had been led to believe that
the money for the plant would be
Forthcoming and the plant built, and
he still thought so. The company has
not offered the franchise for sale, but has
tried to raise half the capital needed,
and has succeeded in this, it to furnish
the balance. He asked that further
extension of two weeks for the filing of
the acceptance and the bond be granted,
and he presented an amendment to Sec
ton nine of the original ordinance, pro-
viding for this.
Aid. Jorgenson moved that the ordi
nance incorporating the amendment be,
adopted
AID Kleinschmidt objected to voting
on the ordinance before it was read,
and he thought that the city attorney
should look it over first.
The mayor thought this more proper
course to pursue, and the ordinance was
read. The rules were suspended and the
ordinance was given its second read
ing. 1t provides that fifteen days, ex-
tension be granted the grantee, for filing
a $4,000 indemnity bond, and guaranty
bond to insure the construction of the
plant within one year from Sept. 2lst,
1903. If the plant is not built, the COM
pany is to forfeit $1,000 as Equidated
damages.
The ordinance was passed without OBJ
lection.
M. G. Wizards Offer.
B. c. Taylor appeared before the coun-
ell and said that for several years there
has been feeling that the city should
gradually acquire the ravines around
the city, to prevent them from being
filled with small houses, barns and pens.
The Civic Improvement league has re-
Gently taken the matter up. He said that
M. g. Willard had offered to donate to
the city half a mile of the Glenwood ra-
vine for park purposes. Mr.. Willard
asks no remuneration, but only that the
land be improved as park and made
available.
Mr.. Taylor read report of the COM
mittee of the league, referring to Mr..
Wizards offer, and presenting the same
to the city. A plat accompanied the re-
port, and also the conditions. Mr.. Tay-
lor said that the offer seems to be made
in absolute good faith, with nothing
back of it except desire to preserve the
beautiful hills and ravines. A large
number of citizens are strongly in favor
of the acceptance of the offer.
DR.. j. w. Andrews said that the
Civic Improvement league has been at
work for year at various plans to beau
tify the city at little or no expense to the
city. Every one spoken to has favored
accepting Mr.. Wizards offer. The city
ownership of the hills would not only
preserve them, but would add to the
advantages of the city as place of resi-
.dence.
Rev. E. L. Heermance said that there
are excellent spots for recreation and
picnics, accessible to the city, in the
ravine. The drive along the bluff af-
fords magnificent view that will make
Mankato's park system famous in the
northwest.
F. NJ. Currier said that in the course
of events, with the growth of the city,
the ravines will be filled with small
houses and pig pens. The question OF
money is an important one, but now
is favorable time to acquire additional
land for park purposes, and very little
expense will be incurred. The twin
cities have united in obtaining both
banks of the Mississippi between the
cities for perpetual parkway. He said
that the business men would sustain the
council in accepting the offer.
Aid. Jorgenson stated that he had view
ed the ground and was greatly impressed
with the proposed gift. 1t is splendid
thing. He moved that the matter be
referred to the park committee, city
engineer and the committee of the I'm
provement league.
Aid. Kleinschmidt said that an enor-
NOUS amount of money would have to
be expended to take care of the creek.
He had always thought that boulevard
around the top of the bluff would make |
it the most magnificent residence Sec