The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-14
Is Instructed to See What Lighting
Company Will Do.
Paving Of Fifth Street SheIved, at Re.
quest of Property Owners.
Contracts for Grazing Wilton and La
fayeite Streets Approved.
From Saturdays Daily.

| The council worked rapidly and well
last night, and transacted good deal
of business. The lighting committee pre-
scented a report devoid of recommended
tions, simply reciting what it had as
certained at Winona and New Ulm,
which was already known to Mankato
citizens The committee was instructed to
| interview the officials of the Mankato
| Gas and Electric Light company and as
certain whether it will make reason
able proposition to light the streets,
coupled with reduction in the price
| of gas. The subject did not lead to
much discussion.
| The committee on lighting presented
the following report:
"To the Mayor and Common Council
! of the City of Mankato-G Gentlemen:
The committee on lighting with the city
attorney, who were directed at the last
meeting of the common council to visit
| Winona for the purpose of investigating
+! the contract made by that city for light
ing its streets, beg leave to report:
''That we visited Winona on the Goth
and 9th ult. and found that the city
Of Winona on June lst last entered into
Light company to light certain of its
streets and public grounds for period
of ten years from said date at $6S00 per
arc light, producing what is known as a
1000 nominal candle light. There is a
provision in the contract that if the
city should require greater number
than 200 street lamps, all lamps in ex-
cess of 200 shall be paid for at the rate
/ of $4,000 per lamp per year. The WI
mona Railway & Light company also
operate street railway in the city of
Winona. From the information that we
received the street railway was the in
ducement for the city to enter into the
contract.
''Your committee also visited the city
! of New Ulm on the 2Sth ult. We found
+, that New Ulm owned its own electric
J light plant which also furnished all the
commercial lighting for the city. The
electric light plant and the water works
plant are operated together. 1t ordinarily
requires but two men at night and three
men and superintendent in the day
time to operate both plants. We were
unable to get any reliable figures as to
+, the cost of operating the same, for the
reason that the electric light plant has
| only been in operation since September
last, and until May last private electric
light plant was operated in competition
to the city plant"
Aid. Plymat said that fall is approach
! ing, and it is time that the council should
! mark out some plan and follow it, if the
city is going to have municipal plant
| or other lights than the present. 1t is
| very doubtful whether Mankato has the
right to put in municipal plant as
| New Ulm has. 1t is said that
there are HOO consumers of gas for
lighting purposes and 700 consumers of
gas for fuel, in the city, which would
mean monthly outlay of $4,000 for gas
by our people. 1t is said that the pres
ent local company is willing to reduce
| the price of gas if it secures the street
lighting contract. Is there any reason
why the streets should not be lighted
| by the local company if it makes the
right price? 1t is question of business
and not one of likes or dislikes. He
moved that the lighting committee be
instructed to interview the local COM
pany and ascertain whether it will light
| the streets at a reasonable figure. He
| thought that the committee should also
| try to ascertain whether the company
will not make reduction in commercial
lighting. A reduction of twelve or fiji
teen per cent would mean great deal to
the consumers of lights. The motion was
carried.
Miscellaneous Business.
A petition was received from the own
ers of Bryn Mawr addition, asking that
Ramsey street be graded, and it was re-
ferred to the street committee.
A notice from Amanda r. Musser was
read, saying that she would claim dam
ages in case Cherry street is graded ac-
cording to the profile. 1t was placed on
file.
A communication was received from
the board of trade, transmitting the res
olution regarding Fifth street paving
and other matters, and it was referred
to the street committee.
Liquor licenses were granted to Boil
stein & Miller, ]. d. Brown and III. Him
melman Jr., upon their. filing proper
bonds, etc.
oIa;n, of tho county Of Rlra Earth