The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-17
They Express Their Views to Council
Regarding That Avenue.
General Sentiment in Favor OF Asphalt
or Macadam Pavement.
Council Passes the Vicious Dog Or
dinance With Unanimitl.
Bath Houses to Be Ready for Public
BY Next Wednesday
From Saturdays Daily.

The council had rather short session
last night.
The board of public works stated tha
they were not yet ready to present re
port on the proposed improvement O
Fifth street.
The board reported that the grading
of Marsh street from Division to Dane
streets-is desirable and will cost $l25
The report was adopted, and the board
was instructed to make the improvement
to be paid for out of the public fund.
A petition signed by four property
owners was received, asking that a sewer
be laid on Shaubut street from Florenc,
to Record, and on Record from Shaubu
to Lewis streets.
This led to considerable discussion
owing to protest having been received
some time ago. Finally, Aid. Coy of
fered to go from house to house on the
streets in question and ascertain who
want a sewer and who do not. The mat
ter was referred to him to do this.
A resolution was adopted, providing
for the opening of "A" street across the
right of way of the Chicago, Milwau
kee & st. Paul railroad This was done
after the receipt of letter from Supt
Irwin by City Attorney Daley, granting
permission for the street to be so ex,
tended. The council extended a vote OF
thanks to Mr.. Irwin.
The committee on ordinances pre-
scented a favorable report upon the or
dinance which makes it unlawfuffor any
owner of vicious dog to refuse to de-
liver it to the police to be shot
Aids Kleinschmidt and Mckinley
criticised the ordinance, on the ground
that it might prove a hardship to the
owners of vicious dogs kept for watch
dogs.
Aid. Plymat defended the ordinance
He said that a similar one has been in
force in st. Paul for fifteen years. At
present there is no protection from a
vicious dog except a suit for civil dam
ages, but he never knew of an instance
where vicious dog was owned by a
responsible person. A state of affairs
now exists that brought about the pre-
paration of the ordinance, and its pas
sage will give relief to several persons at
once and harm no one.
The ordinance was passed under sus-
pension of the rules, by a unanimous
vote
A number of Fifth street property
owners were present, and were called
upon for their views as to the improve
ment of that street.
John Klein favored grading, narrowing
the driveway, boulevarding, curbing and
guttering the street now, with sidewalk
grades. Then the council should find out
whether the majority of the property
owners want macadam or asphalt pave
ment, the wishes OF the majority to be
followed. He was personally in favor of
macadam.
W. b. Davies said that he had today
signed a petition for an asphalt pave
ment, on the understanding that the
street was to be properly graded and
that the street intersections were to be
paid for out of the general fund. The
charter gives this right to the council
on a two-thirds vote. This is the only
fair way. The property owners on. the
street have paid two assessments dur
ing the past few years, and have nothing
to show for it. The majority of the
property owners want the street improv-
ed. The difference in cost between ma
cadam and asphalt is not great The
council should pay, $1,000, issuing GER
tifcates of indebtedness for the most of
it, payable in one to five years.
G. E. Musser appeared and objected
strongly to the grade of Cherry street
between Broad and Fifth streets, as re-
Gently adopted by the council He said
that the work should be done right,
without steep grade. He wanted it
done right or not at all. He felt it his
duty as citizen of Mankato to protest
against the grade, and if this was not
effective he would have to resort to legal
means to change the grade
No action was taken on this. and
the consideration of Fifth street was re-
sumed
Mr.. Davies asked whether a thirty
foot driveway would be wide enough on
Fifth street in case street car track
was laid there. He suggested that
thirtyfve feet would be better although
he had just as soon have a thirty foot
driveway, as far as he was concerned.
Aid. Kleinschmidt said that the coun-
ell had been careful and that it was
intended to have the driveway showed
over, with terrace on the upper side,
which would tend to narrow it.
Mayor Taylor said that street car
lines often run on thirty-foot streets.
Fred Boegen said that Washington
and Plum streets should have storm
sewers to carry off the water from the
hills. This should be done before Fifth
street is improved. These two streets
should not be paved with asphalt, but
with stone, owing to their steepness 1t
is now too late to do any work this year.
The contract should be let in the win
ter, SO as to give the contractor plenty of
time.
Aid. Kleinschmidt said that it was in
tended to take care of the water, and he
thought that the property owners would
be satisfied with the plan proposed by
the council.
III. w. Palmer did not favor going
in too heavy at once. Part could be done
this year, and the rest next year. 1t
was a question of bank account with
many.
1t was explained by Aid. Kleinschmidt
that the paving would not be carried on
further than the part of the street where
there are sewers, and Mr.. Palmer said
that this would be satisfactory to him.
President Porter said that if nothing
happens, the bath house will be complet-
ed by next Wednesday morning, when
the mayor and council can go there and
take bath.
Aid. Kleinschmidt said that the city
should have new street grader, as SO
much street work is being done. He
called on Engineer Thomson for a re-