The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-14
Discussion i'm Council Short
But Strenuous
SHARP WORDS HURLED ABOUT
Aid. Atchison and Oscar Bierbauer
Make the Meeting Somewhat In
teresting; Track Petition.
From MONDAYS Daily.


Saturday night was rather a lively one,
owing to a tilt between Oscar Bierbauer,
president of the Mankato Malt company
o. an. Aid. Atchison. The meeting had
been called only to consider the petition
of the company for permission for the
Chicago & Northwestern road to run 4
spur track across the alley to its plant,
between Rock and Elm streets. The vote
was tie, but through ,he ruling of Inc
mavor. acting on the advice of the city
attorney. the mayor cast the deciding
vote for the resolution.
Oscar Bierbauer spoke on behalf of
the petition, saying that the side track
is intended for the unloading of coal
and possibly later on for the loading of
malt. there w. be room for car to
clear the alley, as there is 80 feet owned
by the Malt company. The crossing
will be kept planked and safe. All the
barley has to be taken through the al
ley, so the Malt company is more in
terested in keeping a good crossing than
anyone else. t,
c. J.. Benedict also spoke for the pc
tition. He referred to the size and i'm
pcrtance of the Malt plant, one of the
largest and best west of the Mississippi
river. Railroad companies have been
granted rights over many streets and al
leys, where many trains run in daily.
If the council wants to help local in
stitution, established by local capital,
it will grant the petition. The crossing
Will be kept in good condition. 1t is
only a question of a short time when
an elevator will be built and other inn
provements made. No one in that part
of the city objects to the granting of
the petition.
Mr. Bierbauer said that his COM
pany was willing to grade up and main
tain the alley in good condition at no
expense to the city.
Aid. Mahowald said that he had no
objections, now that the matter had
been put in the light that it was put
in. with the promise to keep the alley in
good shape He moved that the petit
ton be granted.
Adj. Schroeder said that Fl. F. Leon
ard is satisfied to have the petition
granted.
AID Atchison objected to the grant
ing of the petition for several reasons.
He thought that the city engineer should
first pass on the plat. The council had
refused to allow the Great Western road
to build across an alley, and project
to run track back of the Patterson
Mercantile company's building had been
withdrawn because of the objections.
There is a project to run a track back
of Lamm & HOhmann's building, and if
the present petition is granted it will
throw the bars down and no ore can be
refused. The council is having much
trouble now because past councils have
been too liberal in granting permission
to railroads to use streets and alleys.
The present council has granted no such
privilege. 1t would be difficult to have
the alley kept up, without bond be-
ing required.
Aid. Heinze thought that the merits
of this particular case outweigh the OBJ
jections, and because of the Importance
OF the malt industry he would favor it.
Aid. Schroeder said that there are no
remonstrances by the people owning the
other property in the block. If they OBJ
jected they should have appeared. The
council ought to be careful about Civ
ing away rights.
Mr.. Bierbauer said that the alderman
who was raising objections did so from
personal reasons and not because of his
efforts to protect the public. He did
not think that this was proper.
Aid. Atchison said that he was only
trying to have the promises made by
Mr.. Bierbauer placed in black and white
Mr.. Bierbauer said that he would fur
nish a bond for any amount, although
he considered his own word as good as
bond. If he said that he would keep
the alley in condition he would do it.
MIR. Benealct suggested that the city
attorney prepare the interineations in
the resolution to meet the case, and the
city attorney did this
Aid. Atchison said that he would say
openly before the council that if he had
ever done anything to hurt Mr.. Bier
bauer ne would made public apology.
On the other hand Mr. Bierbauer had
thrown out malignity on many occa
sions and detracted from himself and
other aldermen, and Inundated him on
several occasions
Aid. Heinze said that he was surprised
al the charge made against fellow
alderman, and when it came to that he
would be like lie United States sena-
tors and stand by his colleague. He had
not observed any personal fight on the
part of the alderman.
Aid. Atchison reiterated his state
ments, and said that Mr.. Bierbauer was
70 Jafap