The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-08
FAVORABLE TO PAVING
Aldermen Express Themselves on An
Important Subject.
Street Committee Instructed to Take
the Matter Up.
Contract for the Poplar Street Cul.
vert Is Awarded.
Dumping of Garbage Into the River
Is Prohibited.
From SATURDAYS Daily.

Inc cOuncllmen were all present. at
last nights meeting, and Mayor Taylor
presided. The council took an interest in
street improving that is encouraging as
far as it goes, and if it does not back
down there may be something done along
this line the present year. Aside from
lack of back bone, the only thing to be
feared is delay. BY putting the matter
off from meeting to meeting on one pre-
text or another the season will soon slip
by. The contract ought to be awarded
within six or eight weeks, and to go
through the necessary forms, advertise
for bids, etc, viii take all of this time
even if there is no delay.
The old petition that was presented to
the council last year and pigeon holed,
asking that jackson street be macadam
lied between Pike and Broad streets,
was read again, at the request of the pc
titioners, eight in number, representing
$50 feet of property. 1t was referred to
the street committee.
AID Kleinschmidt suggested that the
committee look at other streets, and fav-
ored permanent improvements. He
thought that the time had come when
streets should be permanently improved.
Aid. Coy said that this was also his
idea, and he thought that the committee
should consult the petitioners and ascer-
tain whether they will not consent to the
paving of the street.
Mayor Taylor thought that it would
be much better to put down permanent
pavements, that would not need atten-
ton again. 1t was hoped that the char
ter commission would prepare provision
in the new charter allowing payments to
be made over series of years. He had
not heard what had become of the COM
mission.
Petitions for arc lights at the follow
ing corners were received and referred
to the committee on lights: Second and
Hickory streets, Mound and Hubbell ave-
nues, and Fourth and Cherry streets.
A report was received from the Hart
ford Steam Boiler Insurance company,
regarding the city boilers, and was placed
on file.
Petitions were received asking that
Fourth street be graded to the full width
from Jackson to Cherry streets, and that
a sidewalk be built along the westerly
side of Fourth street between jackson
and Hickory streets. Both were refer
red to the street committee.
The street committee recommended
that two plank walk be laid up the
Bierbauer hill, to be assessed upon the
property. The board of public works
was instructed to prepare the necessary
resolution.
The committee reported favorably up
on the petition of Cargill Bros. for per-
mission to place a scales in West Main
street, near the elevator. The neces-
sary permission was granted by the
council.
The committee recommended that $500
be held back on Contractor Monks con-
tract price for the grading of Poplar
street until the grading has been COM
pleted according to the specifications.
The council voted to do this.
Aid. Kleinschmidt moved that the ref
erence to the board of public works of
the matter of opening an alley between
Poplar and Liberty streets by with
drawn, and this was carried.
Aid Kleinschmidt said that the time
has come to make permanent street inn
provements. Many smaller cities than
Mankato are paving streets. He moved
that the street committee go over the
vity and ascertain which streets need
permanent Improvements, regardless of
petitions, ETC. This was carried The
committee will present a report at the
next meeting.
Aid. Schroeder said that complaint has
been made of the condition of the fences
that guard the stone quarry excavations.
Some of the fences are in bad shape, and
there is danger of people falling in. He
moved that the matter be referred to the
board of public works to consult with
the adjacent property owners about the
matter. This was carried
Aid. Jorgensen stated that Health Of
ficer Edwards has received letter from
Secretary Bracken of the state board
of health, prohibiting the dumping of
garbage into the river. A farmer who
is raising hogs is willing to receive the
garbage. 1t was decided to look into
the matter
Aid. Coy Stated that Soren johnson
desires to buy the timbers in the old
ice breakers above the Minnesota river
bridge. The old breakers are going to
pieces.
AID Kleinschmidt thought that the
timbers should be left undisturbed until
such time as the city is ready to rebuild
them, to hold together the riprap. The
city will soon haveAto rebuild them.
Aid. Coy stated that the chief of police
had spoken to him about the council
buying new helmets for the police. He
believed that this was customary. The
council took no action on the matter.
The sinking fund commission reported
taking up $500 of notes against the
city, with money from the sinking and