The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-11
]. A. Bowers Franchise Is introduced
and Referred.
Present Lights Are Severely Criticised
BY Aldermen.
Council Votes to Close Bath House tor
the Season.
From Saturdays Daily.

The council did not take any action on
the lighting matter last night, as the
committee on lights was not ready TO
report. The ordinance granting a gas
plant franchise to j. A. Bower was pre-
sented and was referred to the committee
on ordinances.
A number of spectators were present
at the meeting, including the business
mems association committee. The full
council was present.
A petition was received from NJ. q.
Willard and fifty nine others, asking the
council not to enter into street light
ing contract with any corporation for
more than one year, and that no fran
chise be granted to any parties to erect
an electric lighting plant unless accom-
panied by provision to street car
line. 1t was placed on file.
A lengthy communication was re-
ceived from the committee of the bust
ness mems association. the substance of
it being a recommendation that a gas
plant franchise be granted to j. A.
Bower, and that he be allowed further
time to present an electric lighting plant
franchise. 1t was placed on file.
Under the call of committees, the COM
mittee on city lighting said that it had
no report to make.
The ordinance granting franchise
to ]. a. Bower to construct, maintain
and operate gas plant, with the neces-
sary rights on streets, alleys, etc., was
presented by his attorney, w. E. Young,
and was read.
Aid. Plymat asked whether the fee of
500 had been deposited, as required by
the ordinance when franchise is asked.
The recorder replied that no fee had
been deposited.
Aid. Plymat said that the council could
not act upon the ordinance until the
fee had been deposited. He had no OBJ
lection to the reading of the ordinance.
B. G. Taylor said that the board of
trade had year ago asked that no light
ing contract be granted by the council for
a longer period than one year. He pre-
scented the resolution adopted at the
recent special meeting of the board, in
accordance with the instruction of the
board. The resolution was placed on
file.
Mr. Young said that he would pay the
500 fee. He then addressed the council
saying that Mr.. Bower had come to the
city to build gas plant, on the invita-
tion of some citizens and the business
mems association He does not ask that
any local money be put into the enter
prise. He expects to give bond that ht
will carry out the undertaking. II
makes no difference to the city what
kind of gas is made, as his contracts are
with private citizens. 1t is not asked
that the ordinance be passed at once
but that the matter be referred to the
committee on ordinances to investigate
the matter. Mr.. Pettigrew, referred tt
in a newspaper article, is not now con
nected with the company, although he
was formerly in its employ, and he has
no authority to speak for it.
Aid. Coy asked whether the plant a
Aladelia is in operation.
Mr.. Young replied that it was, ani
said that the suit which has been start
ed against Mr.. Bower and others will bt
explained to the committee, if it de
sires to extend its investigation.
The ordinance was referred to the
committee on ordinances on motion Of
Aid. Plymat.
Present Lights Criticised.
Aid. Mckinney asked Supt. Seegal
what the difference is between the gaso
line lamps in Mankato and st. Paul
The lights in the latter city are good
clean and in good shape, and <out of lS2
lamps examined by him not one was
found to be poor.
Mr.. Seegar said that the lamps used in
st. Paul are different from those in use
in Mankato.
Aid. Kleinschmidt said that there have
been numerous complaints of poor lights
The lights on the hill have not been burn
ing two hours a night two-thirds of the
time.
Mr.. Seegar said that on the Franklin
street hill the road has been washed out,
so that teams could not pass. Some one
has turned out the lights at times, he
did not know why, although he had re-
ported the matter to the police frequent
ly. There has been much breakage of
lamps, the insects We're very bad in
July, and the weather has been bad. Yet
the lights have been pretty good, and