The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-11-27
WILLARD Gift ACCEPTED
Council Votes to Accept Generous
Offer Of Parkway.
Practical Gas Construction Company
Files Two Bonds.
From Saturdays Daily.

The council held one of the most pro-
ductive meetings of the year last night
compliments from members of the au-
so far as results go. 1t took several
meritorious actions, and received more
dience than it has ever before received.
The meeting was preceded by a
lengthy secret session, wherein the most
important subjects for consideration were
talked over with the mayor, city at
torney and those interested.
The first bunch of citizens to be in
vited in was the committee of the Civic
Improvement league that was pressing
upon the council the Importance and
lforesightedness of accepting Nj. G. Will
ards offer to donate the ravines and
sidehills along Glenwood avenue, to be
added to the park system. The alder
men felt that Mr.. Willard conditioned
the gift upon the making of too many
| improvements, and the offer was revised
to the satisfaction of the council. The
only requirements now are; that three
driveways be graded up as many of the
side ravines, one to be graded this fall
or next spring at a cost of not to exceed
800, the second next year, and the
third in 1905. The council can do as
much more as it desires to but need
not do any more than grade the three
driveways. Mr.. Willard also, agreed to
give a deed to the property to the city.
The rights of future residents above are
protected.
The second delegation to be admitted
to the secret conference was composed
of j. A. Bower, secretary of tie Prac-
teal Gas Construction company, and his
attorney, w. E. Young. There was some
question about the wording of the guar
antee bond submitted by the company.
1t guaranteed the carrying out d the
provisions of the entire ordinance. 1t
was finally concluded that this way all
right.
Manager Buchholtz and General SUPER
ntendent j. w. Christie of the North
western Telephone Exchange company
were next admitted. They met with "a
more cordial reception than when last
before the council, and had no troubh
be proper to grant their company per-
mission to lay its wires underground
along portion of Front street, removing
some of the poles.
It was nine o'clock when the council
emerged from its private room and the
session began. The work was then push
ed along rapidly, and to the satisfaction
of all who had been in conference with
the aldermen.
Judge Cray's order filling vacancies on
the charter commission was the first
thing presented and it was placed on
| file.
Wires Under Ground.
| The following communication was
read:
"The undersigned would respectfully
call your attention again to the COM
munication which was presented for
your consideration on Oct. I'd, 1908, re-
garding the placing of this company's
wires underground.
at is respectfully suggested that in
view of the pronounced public interest in
this proposition that you may be will
ing to give the plan further considera
ton with view to granting the request
which was made at that time
Yours respectfully,
Northwestern Telephone Exchange Co.,
By j. w. Christie, General Superinten-
J tendent."
AID Kleinschmidt moved that the
application of the company for permits
sion to lay its wires under ground fo1
three or four blocks along Front street
be granted. This application was made
at previous meeting The motion was
carried unanimously. A resolution to
carry this into effect was also adopted
by the same vote.
Bonds Furnished.
The acceptance of the amendment to
the ordinance granting it franchise
filed by the Practical Gas Construction
company of North Chicago, was read
1t was signed by G. w. Alt, president
and j. A. Bower, secretary.
The company also presented two
bonds, furnished by the Fidelity and
Deposit company of Maryland, one fol-
$1,000 to insure the building of the plant
as provided by the franchise, and one
for $4,000 to indemnify, the city against
loss through accidents.
The bonds were approved.
Liquor licenses were ordered granted
to Otto Schmidt and Fred B. Kent, ant
the council approved their bonds. Tn,
sureties on MIR. Schmidt's bond were II
Zimmerman Jr. and C. Zimmerman, an,
the suretes on Mr.. Kent's bond wer,
Orange Little and Clarence Saulpaugh.
Donation Accepted.
The Civic Improvement league com
mittee presented an amended offer of NJ
e. Willard to donate to the city the sid
hills and ravines along Glenwood ave
nue. as a public parkway. 1t cuts on