The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-13
The Annual Report Of City Engineer
Thompson.
More Sewers Laid Last Year Than for
Eight Years.
Over Mile of New Water Mains
Put Down.
More ThanFive Miles Of Cement Side.
walks Laid.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The annual reports of City Engineer
Thompson, Park Superintendent Blake
and Health Officer Hielscher have been
neatly printed in pamphlet form for dis
tribution.
The city engineers report shows that
during the past year 1890 feet of sewer
extensions were made, divided into seven
contracts. Much of the work was for
small extensions. Mr.. Thompson states
/ that these should have been included in
previous contracts. He says: Cali the
sewers in any one street or district
should be built under one contract, thus
making an even distribution of the cost
at all points Of the system" The cost
of new sewer work was S4,2lS, and the
number of permits issued 40, making the
total up to date 543.
Sewers were laid last year on Broad,
Clark, Pleasant, Locke, Walnut, Lewis,
Record, Marshall, Carroll and Van Brunt
streets. Since 1897 all sewer pipe used
has been vitrifed clay.
The total length of main sewers in the
city is 40,670 feet, and the total cost $780,
4S9.36. More sewers were laid last
year than in any one year since 1894.
Waterworks System.
The extension of the water mains the
past year were 1921 feet, of which 1888
feet was three Inch pipe, and the balance
six Inch pipe, laid in nine different streets.
The number of permits issued was l6l,
of which IS We're for new connections.
The number of water takers is 1906,
an increase of 63 for the year.
The mains laid last year cost 81 1885,
81 for labor, and S4,Sl892 for material,
total of $6,7S2.42. The total length
of the water mains is fourteen and four
fifths miles, and the cost of the system to
date is $l2l, O5l.57.
The running expenses of the pump sta
ton were $4y679.46 and maintenance of
the system 81 ,4S5.62. The estimated
population using water is 7,24S. The
average daily consumption is S70,39l
gallons, and the average per capita is
100 gallons. The total amount Of water
pumped in 1902 was 3l7 $3.50 900 gallons,
of which 100000 was furnished free
in six water troughs, street sprinkling,
Lincoln park fountain, city hall, eight
drinking fountains and AS MIGRANTS.
The greatest amount of water was pump
ed in July, 3O,96O,OOO gallons, and the
least amount in November, 23,lO4,OOO
gallons.
Sidewalks.
The year has been one of unusual ac-
tivity in sidewalk construction. There
was built l62,707 square feet of cement
walk, and 1924 square feet of wood
walk. Of the cement walk, 26,340 square
feet was built by the city and assessed
to property benefited. The price was
ten cents per square foot. The appro-
pirate cost of all cement walks built is
$40 ,l4S, of which the city paid $2,877. go
for extra filling under walks for street
approaches to block corners and cement
alley crossings. This added to the ten
per cent rebate allowed on walks built
and assessed makes $3,l4l, equal to
seventeen per cent of the total cost, and
which is the city's contribution to good
walks. The cement walk built in 1902
is the equivalent of five andnl3-l00 miles
of walk six feet wide.
All walks are made under city inspec-
ton, both in the shop and on the ground,
thus making uniform standard of pro-
duct. One barrel of cement will make
from 80 to 90 square feet of walk, de-
pending on grade of sand used. Tests
have been made of all cement used.
Repairs to wooden walks were made by
the city without notice to property own
ers, and the lumber So used was charg-
ed and assessed to the property at uni
form price of $50 per 1000 feet. The
amount so assessed was $3l4.79. But
one claim far damages arising from de-
fective walks was made during the past
year.
Streets.
The expense of this department for
1902 was $l3 1868. 10, divided as follows:
Stone and cement .. 456.02
Lumber $3.50. I,O2I 80
Hardware and blacksmithing ;. 266.lO
Cement walks and filling under
same .-........... ........... 2,o1.6O
Miscellaneous .... 953.2O
| lOIdl .. -. -. .Vlos@oo'Ao
'No new work of magnitude was un-
dertaken during the year, the object
sought being to keep the city as cleanly
as possible, and to beautify it by inn
proving crossings, street approaches,
| m,fta and grass n1ots A yerv notice