The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-08-05
RIVALRY DEVELOPS
Council to Be Confronted With
Two Street Car Projects.
Opening Shots of a Battle Royal
Fired Last Evening".
Hance-HixOn People Try to De-
lay willard Co. Ordinance
Fight Made Against Referring
1t to the Committee.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Mayor Taylor presided over the spe-
cial meeting of the council last night,
and four aldermen We're present. Aids.
Roemer and Mckinley being out of the
city.
The matter of most interest considered
were the street railway projects. The
Willard and Hance- Hixon forces were
both on hand, prepared for the first bout
in what threatens to be a lively con-
test. Each of the rival factions wants
franchise, and evidently one at least
wants it to the exclusion of the other.
The Willard people had an ordinance
prepared, granting them franchise
along the lines mentioned by The Free
Press yesterday The Hance- Hixon
forces, led by Judge NJ. j. Severance,
strongly opposed the reference of this to
the committee on ordinances, although
Senator Eberhart, the spokesman for the
Willard people, distinctly stated that no
action was desired on it before Friday
night. Judge Severance claimed on the
start to represent the people" but later
took up the cudgels strongly for the
Hance- Hixon enterprise and fought the
reference of the ordinance to the end
although unsuccessfully. The disinter-
ested public was really represented by H.
P. Christensen and DIR. ]. w. Andrews.
Mr. Christensen offered the excellent adj
vice that bond should be required
of whatever company gets franchise,
to- insure the building of road. The city
has already had too much truck with
promoters. If the company means bust
ness, it will willingly furnish a bond,
and it will not then stand as block
for other more worthy enterprises.
The outcome of the discussion was
that both sides refrained from present
ing their case to the council, and the or
dinance was referred to the proper com
mittee. The two companies agreed to
make full statements of their backing
and what they propose to do, at the joint
meeting of the board of trade and bust
ness mems association Wednesday eve
ming Any action taken by that meet
ing is not to be binding on the council,
but may have its influence. The Hance-
Hixon people expect to get their ordi-
nance before the council Friday night.
The real battle ground will be in the
council chamber, as it does not appear
at all likely that the result of the We'd
nesday night meeting will be decisive
The aldermen would be glad to have the
contest settled before it comes before
them.
Senator A. O. Eberhart presented an
ordinance granting franchise, which he
asked to have read, referred to the COM
mittee on ordinances, and reported upon
at the regular meeting Friday night.
He had deposited certified check for
the required amount, $500, with the city
recorder.
Judge Severance said that he would
like to be heard at this time. He did
not represent anybody. He said that
there had been tacit agreement be-
tween the hackers of the two street
car projects that they would submit
their propositions to public meeting of
the board of trade. The action of the
meeting need not be binding on the coun-
ell. The Hance-Hixon people have an
ordinance prepared which is locked up in
C. n. Andrews safe, and they have tele-
graphed everywhere for him. They de-
sire that all action be postponed until
Friday night, that both may have an
even start The Willard proposition had
been prepared in secrecy and this is the
boast of its hackers, according to The
Review. Such a proposition will bear
close scanning This was why he was
present in the interest of the people.
Senator Eberhart said that he had
given financial support to the project for
a wear past, but otherwise had given at