The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-02-27
He Recommends That Several Streets
Be Macadamized.
People Satisfied With Broad Street,
But Macadam Is Cheaper.
Also Recommends Municipal Lighting
Plant Be Put In.
Aldermen Talk Over the Subject of
improvements for Year.
From Saturdays Daily.

from saturdays Daliy.
Mayor Petersen addressed the council
last night on the subject of continuing
the improvement of streets so we'll be-
gun last year, and also in favor of a
municipal lighting plant. He took strong
grounds in favor of both.
The meeting was we'll along when the
mayor said that he had something to
say to the aldermen. Spring was draw
ing near, and the question of local i'm
provements should be given considera-
ton by the aldermen. He recommended
that the council contract for the paving
of Second street, Fourth street, and
Fifth street from Warren to Washing
ton, and also some of the cross streets.
He recommended that the driveways on
these streets be narrowed to thirty feet
and that macadam pavement be used,
not that he considered this the best paw
ing material, but because it was the
cheapest and the city can see how it
will wear on residence streets. The
city engineer has had much experience
with macadam and can make good
street with it. Not all the streets men
toned should be paved this year, but
as soon as possible.
This was good time to take the mat
ter up, continued the mayor. There is
much favorable comment on the Broad
street paving, and the majority of
Broad street property owners are proud
of it. Macadam will make good street,
and with thirty-foot driveways the cost
will not be much Second street and
some of the cross streets are in bad
shape.
Municipal Lighting.
Mayor Petersen also suggested that
the council take up the municipal light
ing question, as it does not now have
the recorder to fight. If the city had
been in the same condition a year ago
as now, it would have had its own light
ing plant now. It can have one by next
fall if it will go at the mattel now.
Another matter, the mayor said, was
the proposed extension of Liberty street.
The people around that street are not
satisfied with the action taken by the
council. The street should be opened
to accommodate the people of that Sec
ton The cut and fill will mostly be
sand, and it can be done at any time of
the year. labor is cheap now, and it
would be well for the council to investi-
gate the subject now. ...-..
Aid. Taylor said that the people who
want the street opened had talked of
contributing something, but just how
much was not stated. On his motion the
matter was referred to the street COM
mittee.
People Are Satisfied.
Aid. Heinze said that the remarks of
the mayor were timely and good. He
hoped that the next council would make
more improvements than the present one
had DONE A good start has been made,
and every one seems more satisfied now
than ever over what has been done.
When the city mechanics the streets
it should own stone crusher. When it
buys crushed stone it has to pay for the
stone also. If it owned crusher it would
not have to buy the stone, which will be
expensive this year.
AID Taylor said that he agreed with
the mayor as to Fifth street. He felt
that the council had not done the peo-
pie there Justice. The street is in very
bad condition and should be fixed.
Mayor Petersen said that the peo-
pie feel differently now from formerly
on the paving question, and comment on
the excellence of the paving that has
been done. Asphalt paving costs lit
tie more than macadam, but is better