The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-22
Aid Will Surely Be Extended
BY the County Board.
NicoIIet Be Requested to Make
a $4,000 Appropriation.
Mayor and Aldermen to Meet
With the Commissioners.
From Mondays Daily.

The council, at it's, special meeting
Saturday night, progressed the bridge
matter as far as it was able to do so
All of the aldermen were present and
Mayor Andrews presided.
City Engineer Haynes and County
Surveyor Brooks reported in favor OF
accepting the second plan proposed by
the Hennepin Bridge company of Min.
neapohs, the bid upon which was
$4,000 1t provides for two 10 foot
spans. The council voted to place
the report on file.
j. B. Richards was called upon fol-
a statement as to how much was ex.
pected from the city. He said that a
petition had been prepared, asking the
Nicollet county board for $4,000, and
North Mankato would be asked to dc
something, perhaps to build the piers
Something was also expected from Bel.
grade township. The balance would
have to come from Mankato and
Blue Earth county.
Aid. Atchison moved that the plan
proposed be accepted and the contract
awarded to the Hennepm Bridge com.
pany.
Money Must Be in Sight.
L. HI. Johnson, representing that
company, said that the money or, at
least, the most of it-should be in
sight before the contract was let
1t would take some time to know lust
what proportion the different counties
and villages would contribute. He
would like to have provisional award
made as soon as possible, so he could
place orders with rolling mills con
tingent upon the money being raised
County Should join
County Attorney Plymat was called
upon and stated that he had that day
received an opinion from Attorney
General Young, to the effect that il
the contract was entered into by the
city alone, he would not like to say
that the county could make contri-
button. He would prefer that the con.
tract be entered into by both the city
and the county.
County Commissioner Young was
called upon and said that Commission.
er Schultz was the only other mem
Der of the board present, and they
were not in position to say what
Blue Earth county would do. He was
in favor of a second bridge, and felt
that the city needed it. The county
would, help when the matter reached
the point where it was known how
much was wanted.
Commissioner Schultz said that he
would support Commissioner Young
in the matter. The county would dc
its part, but he would not say how
much. 1t would do the utmost that
it could afford.
Auditor Weaver was called upon
and said that personally he would
like to see another bridge, and he was
willing to contribute toward it and
stand the tax. Nicolet county should
do more than $4,000
Question of Fixed Spans.
City Attorney Schmitt raised the
point whether the state law permit
ting fixed spans was legal, and thought
that the fact that the river is con-
sidered navigable would vitiate this
legislation.
Mr.. Johnson thought that the ques.
ton would never come up, or if it
did it would be at a date so remote
that it would cut no figure. Belle
Plaine and another down river town
were about to build bridges with fixed
spans, and st. Peter has a new bridge
with fixed spans.
City Engineer Haynes said that the
matter was in the hands of the wal
department, which could tear out the
fixed spans. The matter was thresh.
ed over when the present bridge was
constructed, and it had been concluded
to be safest to put in a draw span
County Surveyor Brooks was asked
as to his opinion about the second
plan, that was under consideration
and he expressed the opinion that the
proposal was reasonable and that a
good article was provided.
Resolution adopted.
City Attorney Schmitt prepared q
resolution that was adopted in the
place of Aid. Atchison's motion, pro
viding for a joint contract with the
county, provided the $4,000 can be
raised.
Aid. Schroeder suggested that the
city vote bonds for its share.
Mr.. johnson suggested that com
mittee be appointed to meet with the
county board, to have authority tc
act.
j. B. Richards thought that thi:
committee should be composed of the
entire council and the mayor.
Mayor Andrews adopted this sug