The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-09-06
KICK; NO, NOT ONE.
Directors to The Wooden Poles
Didn't Raise a Protest.
NOTHING DOING AT COUNCIL
Ordinance Drawn BY AttOr-
ney; Third Reading.
From SATURDAYS Daily.

From SATURDAYS Daily.
Wooden poles will hold up the troll
ley wires along the route of the street
railway in Mankato. Not voice
against the use of these poles was
raised among the large audience pres
ent at the special meeting of the coun-
ell last evening, called to consider
the matter. 1t is true that one or
two of the aldermen took "a fall out"
of some of the wooden poles being
erected, but not one of the citizens
and property owners who filled the
lobby had word to say in opposition
to the poles, although invited several
times to speak.
Mayor Andrews invited the repre-
sentatives of the street railway COM
pany to take seats within the railing,
and explained the object of the meet
ing, which was to consider whether
the placing of wooden poles was to
be allowed.
Iron Pole Ordinance.
The proposed ordinance making it
unlawful to erect any but iron poles
on Front street and declaring wooden
poles already erected there to be pub
lie nuisances and requiring that they
be removed, was presented by City
Attorney Schmitt and was read.
Aid. Atchison moved that the ordi-
nance be given its first reading.and this
was carried. 1t was amended so as
to make the district for iron poles,
Front street from Vine to Marshall.
President Hixon Speaks.
Mayor Andrews invited anyone to
speak, but no one did so, until Presi-
dent Hixon of the street railway
company, said that he had never been
informed officially, that the city, or the
company was not to carry out its
part of the agreement embodied in the
franchise. He did not know who had
made complaint, but he took it that
it was the wish of these to have
the city repudiate its agreement al
lowing the company to erect wooden
poles. He had previously informed
the council that the expense of iron
poles was so great as to make the
investment Improbable from the start
and overburden the company. The
cost of iron -pslss,--he Was informed,
was S45 pole, and wooden poles Sc
each. If the council now requires the
company to substitute iron for wood
en- poles it is not fair proposition
to the company. 1t is mighty dis
couraging, where it is so hard to get
money, for the council to begin to re-
quire added expense before mile of
track has been completed. The OBJ
jections to wooden poles applies
equally to the residence district. The
same line of reasoning might also
require silver poles in place of iron
ones, as they look nicer. The people
have been used to looking at wooden
poles on the streets and will continue
to do so until they go to the grave.
Why these objections are sprung just
now is something strange. 1t would
have been more courteous for the OBJ
iectors to have met with the company
before the matter was brought before
the council. The company has con-
tract with the city which he con-
sidered just as binding as bond over
the mayors signature. This franchise
was threshed over before the council
longer and more thoroughly than any
previous franchise. Why did not
wooden poles look as unsightly then
as now? To bring this matter up
now does not augur well for the flu,
ture The extra cost of iron poles
would be $4,000. 1t is hard matter
to raise the money to build the line,
at best, without putting obstacles in
the way and requiring an extra ex-
pense on the part of Mankato citizens
who are the investors. He would like
to hear reasons why change in
poles should be made.
No Unnecessary Hardships.
Mayor Andrews said that the OBJ
iectors were not trying to create un-
necessary hardships for the company,
and the meeting was held to talk
the matter over in neighborly way.
To bring the matter up properly,
the ordinance was given its first read
ing and the rules were suspended and
the ordinance passed to it's second
reading. The first section was read by
the recorder. The matter was then
thrown open for discussion again.
Directors Are Silent.
Aid. Atchison said that the uptown
people had been complaining, and they
were present, and if they did not
speak the ordinance would be voted
out. He called on the directors to
speak.