The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-10-11
Trolley Company Projects It
Against Damage Suits.
COUNCIL STOOD ITS GROUND
Aids. AtchisOn and Gary Act
As the Spokesman,
sss .a-a--lsis.s ssea

council meeting was taken up with al
argument between Aids. Atchison ant
Gary on one side and representative:
of the street car company on the other
over the matter of an indemnity bono
being furnished by the company, al
though not required by its franchise
The street car company had several re
quests to make, but action on these
was withheld by the council until af
ter the company had agreed to fur
nish $1,000 surety bond to indemnify
the city against loss from damage
suits due to the negligence of the
company. The company held out fol
some time, but finally conceded grace
fully.
City Attorney Schmitt stated that
he had complied with the request OF
the council and notified the street cal
company to furnish an indemnity bond
and the company had expressed sur.
prise at such request. He had taken
the matter up with A. R. Pau, the
company's representative, and there
had been much discussion. 1t was
finally decided that the street car peo-
pie appear before the council, as they
also had some requests to make.
Makes Several Requests.
Engineer Wood said that seven OF
the illuminating arches on Front street
are too low for the trolley wires. The
city could have the use of the com
pany's tower to raise them. The COM
pany had today awarded the contract
for putting back the stone and plank
crosswalks. The filling is to be done
at once, along the line. The company's
force is now well organized, and it
will finish UP the line from one end
to the other. The company would
like to have the grade of Main street
slightly changed to make the hill less
steep, to avoid the use of double gear
car, that are noisy and require a
good many repairs. The company would
like to have the watering trough in
Dukes addition moved out of the way,
and far enough so that horses will
not get scared at the cars while drink
ing. Front street crossing the slough
is not wide enough for two lines of
poles now, and the company would
like permission to put bracket line
of poles on one side temporarily. The
track will not be on grade there, until
the street is graded up. 1t was not
intended to tear up the brick pave
ment, except one block at time, put
ting the pavement back before going
upon another block, and having no
sand piles on the pavement, but bring
ing in the mortar already mixed.
Car Company Negligent.
City Attorney Schmitt said that the
street car company had left its work
in very negligent condition. In places
there are stones and rails piled in the
street, which the city engineer should
not permit. The work should be
done on a limited space at a time,
and the company required to finish
that before going on with new, work.
The franchise does not require surety
bond. One has not been furnished,
but it could be furnished, and would
tend to make the company more care
full Franchises as rule do not re-
quire surety bonds, as the companies
can be sued instead of the sureties.
Aid. Gary said that large part of
the track is in dangerous condition,
without lights. The city has one
damage suit on it's hands, and will
have more. If the company will fur
nish surety bond, as was stated
it would do when the franchise was
asked for, several things would be
granted which may not be unless the
bond is Forthcoming.
Doing Best It Can.
Mr.. Wood said that he did not know
that bond would make the company
any more careful, but the directors
have the bond matter under considera-
tion, and he was sure that everything
would come out all right. He had
opened up eight and ten miles of
track in other cities, but the line here
is very small one, and scarcely three
miles are opened up. 1t is the first
car line built in Mankato, and when
another line is built the people who
complain now may look differently at
matters. 1t had been expected to have
$50 men at work on the Job, but
less than IS have been secured at any
time. If the council would pray for
good weather and with a few of the
kickers matters would proceed faster.
The company has lost eighteen lam
terms and has had many globes broken,
and stones found inside. There is one
Waterman, and if necessary more will
be hired. 1t has enough lanterns to
light all dangerous places.
Aid. Atchison called attention to sew
eral delinquencies that he had found
along the line. Mr.. Wood finally adj
mitted that there were a whole lot
of things undone that ought to have
been done.
Indemnity Bond Unusual.
A. R. Pau spoke on the matter
of an indemnity bond. He did not
think the matter of giving bond
the great and important matter The
principal question is whether the work
is being done in reasonably careful