The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-15
The Contract at West Mank alto
School Not Performed.
Architect George Pass Points
Out Certain Defects.
Twenty-Six Applicants for Per-
mits to Work.

which the contract for the repairs ant
school has been performed by Pond 8
Hasey and other parties to whom GER
| tain portions of the work We're sublet
the school board last evening failed t,
allow the bill for the balance, $3.50, o.
the total amount that the company is tt
receive after the work is reall,
done. Architect George Pass appeareJ
before the board last evening and emu
merated certain features about the jol
that are imperfect, and advised that the
| board hold back about $50 There is
some doubt whether the cement floor in
| the basement has been laid according t.
specifications. Mr. Pass feared that il
some places it is entirely too thin. TIL
cistern. he was informed by the janitor
leaks. The air ducts in the attic dc
not work at ALL The iron doors are
not tight as they should be.
After considerable discussion, the
board, on motion of Captain Comstock
instructed Mr.. Pass to look over all the
work and notify Pond & Hasey of all
the defects. and demand that these de
fects be cured and the contract be fully
performed forthwith.
According to the contract the worl
should have been finished by August %
There is penalty of So per day for tar
diness in the completion
The board has already paid ST 300 fo,
the job. There was really no money
due the company at all until the whole
contract was complete.
Captain keysor reported to the boar'
the washing out of the part of the bed
of the cement sidewalk by the higl
school. The washout would not have oc
CURED if the bedding had been properl,
mixed. The contractor had fixed W
the place. Filling and sodding was
needed where the washout occurred. The
matter was referred to the committee
on property and expense.
Superintendent Mcconnell reported
that the schools of the city had opened
on the day before for the school year.
All of the teachers had reported fol
duty except Miss Cutler, who is i'll ant
will not be here until Monday. The to.
tai enrolment of the students comes
up to 1873 This is fifty less than the
enrolment at the beginning of the prev
ious school year. The falling off is due
to the Franklin school, where the enroll
ment is 50 less than last year. The fall
ing off may be partly attributed to the
attractions at the state fair. The par
ochial schools also have great deal
to do with it.
The superintendent has received l5c
reams of examination paper of gooe
quality. The cost is $74.25, somewhat
less than the estimate.
The subject of modern history, the
superintendent continued, has been in
troduced into the high school, taking the
place of English history. Special stress
will be laid, however, on the Englisl
would like to have eightetaoinshrdlu-
history features of the subject. He
ence books on modern history and some
on English history. This matter was
referred by the board to the committed
on schools and text books with full
power to act.
The superintendent made the sugges
ton that a Northwestern telephone
might be put into the office, but he die
not care much about that matter one
way OF the other. The board took no &c
ton on this proposition.
On the suggestion of the superintend
ent, desk phone was ordered for the
office. This will cost 25 cents per
month more. AT present there is simpl.
Citizens wall phone.
4
The need of repairs to the wash basin
in the boys basement was brought to
the attention of the board by the sup
erintendent, and the question was re-
ferred to the property committee with
power to act
Superintendent Mcconnell presented 8
list of twenty six applicants for ex
cuses to stay out of school and go to
work, these applicants being between
the ages of fourteen and sixteen. Twen-
ty of these children were already EN-
ployed and at work. The superintend
ent, believing that the various board
members would be more familiar with
| the individual cases than he, sought in
formation and advice. but the board
could give little information There
was quite a lengthy discussion OF the
subject. Two or three cases where pick