The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-04-21
Referred to Ordinance Commit.
tee of the Council.
Thomas McGovern Is Elected
City Electrician.
MayorTayIor Announces Stand
ing Committees.

All of the aldermen were present al
the special meeting of the council last
night. except Aid Mahowald, who is i'll
Mayor Taylor presided. TIE meeting
was called mainly for the purpose OF
receiving the ordinance granting a
franchise to the Mankato and st. Peter
Railway and Lighting company, and a
large delegation of prominent business
men, including the officers and directors
of that company, was present.
c. n. Andrews acted as spokesman
and stated that an ordinance providing
for a franchise for the new company
had been filed with the city recorder
The city has already extended fran
chise to local company-last August
for the use of the streets and alleys
The franchise to the so-called Willard
company is not exclusive. About the
time this was granted Mr.. Hance pre-
scented franchise ordinance to the
council, but the Willard ordinance was
given the right of way. The Willard
company assured the council that, I'M
hampered, it could accomplish its pur-
pose speedily and surely. The old
council took no action on the Hance or
dinance, for it was withdrawn in de-
ference to the wishes of the other COM
pany, and of the council. The Willard
people gave assurances that if they did
not succeed within reasonable time
they would retire from the field. Some
of the officers set this time as Jan. lst.
After that date it was given out that
new leads had been secured and new
men were coming. Now they have Civ
en- it out that the st. Clair part of the
project has been abandoned, and new
efforts will be made toward the city
street car line. They have had their day in
court, and now the time has come fol
the Hance people to be given a chance
Mr.. Andrews said that the proposed
franchise is not exclusive. Hord & Kea
tor truthfully said that cities are every.
where granting franchises to all com.
panies, the first one to take advantage
to be the winner. The franchise in g
general way is like the others, purpose
ly to avoid the necessity of any extend
ed investigation. We are now awaiting
the action of the council to make oul
contract or else abandon the project
Work is to begin within three months
in good faith, or else the franchise will
be forfeited The time is opportun,
now. The other company would lik,
delay in hope of getting out what they
have put in. The city should not be dis
couraged, as it is often necessary fo
several starts to be made before
street car line can really be secured
Mr.. Andrews asked that the ordinance
be given its first reading, and then fina
action can be delayed until a specia
meeting, if desired, to be held thi
week. Time is passing, this is the tim
of year to make arrangements, and ev
erything now depends upon the grant
ing of the franchise.
Aid. Schroeder moved that the ordi
nance be referred to the committee OIL
ordinances, to report at future meet
ing.
Aid. Atchison said that while h
would like to help the matter along, i
ought to be discussed by the public
He had been asked to move that tn
rules be suspended and the ordinanc
given its first reading. He subsequent,
withdrew this, and Aid. Schroeder
motion was carried.
Mayor Taylor brought up the matte
of adopting rules, and suggested tina
the rules in use the past six years b
adopted.
Aid. Schroeder moved that the for
IleT TuleS VI the COuIlcll De duOpIeC
and this was carried.
The election of vice president was lai
over until the regular meeting of tn
council
The election of city electrician wa
taken up, by ballot. One ballot set
tied the matter Thomas McGovern IVA
chosen, receiving four votes to one TO
G. w. Eichstaedt, the present city cleo
trician. The salary is $25 month. MI
McGovern holds position with tn
Mankato Gas and Electric Light com
pany.
Aid. Atchison moved that the city en-
gineer take the matter of filling in tn
Great Western crossing at Minnesot;
street up with the company, and thi
was carried.
Aid. Hampl called attention to tn
bad condition of the crossing at tn
corner of Fourth and Ann streets. Tn