The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-03-08
Franchise Asked by Messrs.
HiXOn and Hance.
COUNCILS SPECIAL MEETING
Ordinance is Very Liberal in It's Pro.
visiOns-It Should Be Given
Careful Consideration.

From Tuesdays Daily.
A special meeting of the council was
held at five O'Clock yesterday afternoon
to receive and act upon the ordinance
prepared by w. i. Hixon and H. E.
Hance granting them a franchise to
build and operate a street railway line
and lighting and heating plant in the
city. There was a full attendance, and
the street railway people were given a
cordial reception and their request for
prompt action complied with to the let
ter. The usual procedure of referring
the ordinance to the ordinance commit
tee to investigate and report upon was
waived without even suspension of the
rules, and the ordinance was at once
placed upon its first reading before the
aldermen knew what it contained.
When the meeting was called to or
der, Mayor Taylor said that it had been
called at the request of Messrs. Hixon
and Hance, to consider a franchise ordi-
nance presented by them, they standing
the expense of the meeting.
Mr.. Hixon addressed the council, say
ing that proposition had been before
the Commercial club for some time look
inO to Saouripr on oloo+r;o NO; l,ool e.
MankatO. They had not cared to pres
ent a franchise ordinance until they had
been absolutely sure of their ground.
They were now absolutely sure of the
integrity and financial ability of the
gentlemen who had agreed to build the
road. They had received from these
gentlemen statement in writing that
work on the building of the road would
start as soon as the balance of the local
are obtained and as soon
as a satisfactory franchise is granted.
The gentlemen will put up a bond for
$4,000 to ensure the building of the line
While the ordinance was made out in
the name of Messrs Hixon and Hance,
that was merely formality, for COM
pany is now being formed, and as soon
as the organization is complete the fran
chise will be Immediately transferred to
it. The construction company agrees to
sign contract to build the line, and.
as soon as it signs the contract, to give
a bond for $4,000 that it will fulfill the
contract. The local people are not doing
business with promoters who can say
at the eleventh hour that they cannot or
will not make good. The local people
are in position to enforce the contract
They would not apply for franchise if
they were not satisfied as business men
that the construction company will
comply with its contract. He hoped that |
the ordinance would be given careful
The Minnesota law limits |
the life of the franchise to twenty five
years, and it is therefore harder to get
capital to invest in Minnesota than in
other states, and for that reason more
liberality in the franchise is asked. |
Many or most states allow fifty year
franchises, and street railways there are
more easily financed. There is quite a
question as to the road paying the first
year or two, and the company does not |
want to be tied up with technicalities
that can possibly be avoided. All must
be as liberal in their views about this
matter as possible.
A. r. Pau ST. appeared as the attor-
ney for the promoters of the enterprise |
and suggested that the council proceed
as rapidly as it can. They would like
to have the first reading given to the |
ordinance now, so that it may be ready |
for it's passage when it next comes up. |
There would be ample time to look over
the ordinance and amend it when it |
comes up for its second reading. The
promoters were getting contracts and |
and the franchise all at
the same time, and delay was not de-
sired. Spring is near at hand, when ac
tual work can begin.
Mr.. Pau pulled the ordinance out of
his pocket and handed it to Aid. Schroe-
der, who asked why it could not be re-
ferred to the ordinance committee, as
was customary. /
Mr.. Hixon said that the franchise was
not a strange one to the council, as it
was practically the same as the one
passed last summer. One clause had
been changed, but he did not consider
that that affected the city.
Aid. Schroeder moved that the ordi-
nance be given its first reading, and
Aid. Hampl seconded this.
AID Atchison asked whether it would