The Mankato free press., 1903-10-23

, UakeH up
General Superintendent 3. w. Christie
of Minneapolis, representing the company
explained what it was proposed to do.
He said, in reply to a question from Aid.
Plymat that no new distributing poles
are to be erected on Front street. 1t is
intended to take down the poles that are
not needed. The work contemplated in
Mankato will cost $4,000 to $4,000,
which was as much as the company could
afford. He thought that the city would
be reasonable as to time, as the company
has not been able to get to the work as
early in the season as possible. 1t has
been a very busy season for the COM
pany. and the location of the central Of
fees had not been decided upon until re-
Gently. 1t is intended to take down
many pole lines, some on streets that
have not been mentioned, but which
will be important later Cables are to be
put up instead of poles where heavy
work is necessary. The request comes
as result of the councils demand that
the wires be placed under ground. The
change is not necessary from physical
or electrical standpoint, as the present
system can be connected with the new
Offices The company did not desire to
spend any more money than was abso-
| luteIy necessary If the resolution is
passed, the material would be shipped
| today.
! Aid. Plymat said that he was stock
holder and director of the Mankato
Citizens Telephone company, but did
not intend to allow this to swerve his
Judgment. There is demand by the
citizens that the wires come down out
of Front street. In Minneapolis two
telephone companies and electric light
wires are in the alleys, and there is room
for the same in the alleys in this city.
1t is matter of public concern that the
conduits be placed in the alleys, for if
placed in Front street they will remain
there. The notice to the company to take
the wires down was given by the council
six months ago, but for five months no
and then it wanted a resolution passed
in fifteen minutes. The company now
| offers to take the wires down for two
and a half blocks, whereas the council
! had directed it to take them down for a
mile and half. If the company is go
| ing to put down only two and a half
blocks, he was in favor of denying the
petition. He moved that the petition be
not granted.
Aid. Coy said that the telephone poles
and wires on Front street are not only
rnsightly, but hinderance to the fire
j personal experience.
| City Engineer Thompson, replying to a
question from Aid. Schroeder, said that
he did not understand that the plan pro-
posed by the company complies with
/ what the council directed last spring.
! Aid. Kleinschmidt said that there is a
very strong feeling in favor of the wires
coming down out of Front street. He
could not vote to grant the petition as it
now stands. He thought that the COM
pany could arrange another plan, and
even if the company did not do it all
at one time he would favor being lenient.
Mr.. Christie said that no city in Am
erica has opposed the laying of con-
duits under its principal streets-New
York, Chicago, Minneapolis or any other
city. They are under Broadway in New
| York He had noticed other wires on
Front street that had evidently not been
{ ordered down. Unless prompt permis-
sion is given for the work proposed it
will be too late to make the change this
year.
AID Schroeder asked the city engineer
what objection there would be to laying
| the conduits under Front street Mr..
/, Thompson said that he was not posted,
but he saw no objection, except where
the wires come out to be distributed.
AID. Kleinschmidt saw no objection to
the conduits being laid under Front
street. The only objection was the short
distance covered.
Replying to a question from Aid.
Schroeder, Mr.. Christie said that the
conduits would be laid ahead of the paw
ing.
The motion to deny the petition was
carried by unanimous vote.
Liquor licenses were granted to the
Kleinschmidt Brothers for the Stahl
House bar and d. j. Brown.
The hearing on the petition for the
vacation of portion of Liberty street
was had. There were no objections,
and resolution vacating the portion of
the street was adopted
Police Appointment.
Mayor Taylor announced the appoint
ment of Joseph E. Robb as police officers
to succeed Walter Daniels, resigned, to
take effect Nov. lst. The appointment
was confirmed. Mr.. Robb has been act
ing as special officer for some time, and
he was backed by the laborers' protec
tive union and the trades and labor coun-
Gil
A communication was received from
some of the property owners in Bryn
Mawr addition asking that the council