The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-22
Many Protests Were Made to
the Council Last Night.
Alderman Mah0WaId Held Outin
Behalf Of Constituents.
Mayor Andrews Urged the City
Fathers to Be Careful.

grant the petition of the Mankato Gas
and Electric Light company, for the
vacation of portion of Willow street.
1t did not directly refuse to do so,
but withheld the four votes necessary
to carry it. Only Aid. Mahowald APP
posed it, for it is his constituents
that have demonstrated against it, but
two of the aldermen were absent, SO
the proposition received but three
votes. Aid. Gary had left for Texas
on the noon train, and Aid Atchison
was not present, and this enabled Aid.
Mahowald to defeat the measure.
Mayor Andrews urged the aldermen
to be careful how they voted on mat
tiers affecting the city's interests. 1t
is the councils province to give and
take. If the council votes to vacate
a portion of the street it should re-
quire that the portion of the street not
vacated be perpetually maintained in
good condition, if necessary requiring
a bond from the company. He was
informed that the company intends to
keep the street in good condition.
Christ Postel opposed the vacating
of any portion of the street, as there
was room on the other side of the
company's plant for the coal house.
The street was only about half width
now by his house.
Aid. Schroeder said that he was
greatly opposed to giving streets away,
but in this case twenty-foot street
would be left and kept in good shape.
Mr.. Postel did not agree, saying that
the railroads block the crossings and
make it bad for residents.
Aid. Schroeder said that it would be
a God-send if the railroads would buy
out these people.
Aid. Mahowald opposed the vacation,
saying that nobody who owns proper
ty within four blocks wants the street
vacated When bridge is built in
lower town there will be lots of
travel ON Willow street. There are
acres of ground that the company
can buy. The city has given away
parts of several streets and the peo-
pie regret it now. A twenty foot
street would be taken up with side
walks. This is the proper section for
factories, and the streets should be
kept.
Superintendent Brown said that the
part of the street left would be in
the center of the present street, and
have no railroad tracks on it. The
street is impossible now in wet
weather, but the company will grade
it up and keep it in good condition.
All the land near the boiler house
is railroad property. Private prop
erty cannot be had near enough the
boiler house.
Fred j. Hoerr spoke against the va
cation of the street, and was surprised
that other lower town business men
who opposed it were not present.
AID Bradley said that ordinarily he
was opposed to giving away streets.
relieved of the expense of grading
and maintaining the street. The oppo-
sition seemed to be because the land
would be given to corporation. The
would build sidewalk.
Aid. Mahowald said that the people
living near there were willing to sell
at sacrifice to get out, and he was
not in favor of spelling their prop
erty.
Aid. Bradley did not see how it
would spoil anyone's property.
AID Eichstaedt said that other por-
tions of the street are only about
eighteen feet and nobody has complain
ed. He knew of other streets in the
city that are only twenty-five feet
wide. He moved that the portion of
the street be vacated, provided
bond be given by the company to
bind itself and it's successors and as
signs to maintain the street.
A remonstrance against the vaca-
tion of the street or portion thereof
was presented, because it is the place
for new factories, and is used for
people to walk along when crossings
are blocked.
Aid. Bradley thought that the sign
ers should have appeared in person
at the hearing.
The vote was three ayes and one
no, and the motion was declared lost,
on the ruling of the city attorney that
it took at least four votes to carry.
The bond of Bishman Bros. on their
contract to build an addition to the
city hall was presented and approved.
Joseph Stahl and Ed. Cousandier were
the bondsmen.