The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-12
w. L. HIxON ACTS, AS THEIR SPOKESMAN BEFORE
- CITY COUNCIL; MANY INTERESTED
Declares That Tax Payers Oge Davis Addition Do Not Get
Square DEAL Put 1t Up to Aldermen to Do Something
= For That Section Of Mankato
From saturdays Daily.

! ~
council last night of the way that il
has been treated by the council, and
asked for some benefits for the tax,
es that it has been paying into the
city treasury. What it asked for was
not very much, and doubtless will be
granted after the council has had
| time to investigate the matter care
| fully The Improvement is one that
| is public in its nature and will bene-
| fit people residing in other sections
| who do driving.
Made Vigorous Complaint.
w. l.. Hixon headed delegation of
residents and presented their views
in his usual vigorous style. He said
that he appeared upon behalf of him
self as West Mankato tax payer
and other tax payers there, who felt
that they had just grounds for com
plant ait the treatment received at
the hands of the city, and they felt
that this council did not realize the
condition of affairs there. He had
lived there for six years and pays
81 900 to $1,000 in taxes, but he had
vet to see dollar appropriated to
any benefits in the neighborhood that
he lived in. He did not think that
$50 had been spent there in the last
six years. 1t had been the back yard
of Mankato for many years past. It
was the most beautiful spot within
the city limits, but also the most iso-
lated Had there been one day more
of rain the river would have risen
enough to have cut off the driveway
on the Pleasant street extension, as it
came within five inches of doing so as
it was. This roadway is undermined
with manure tin cans and refuse,
and it was then stopped because the
sanitary condition was menace to
health.
Mr.. Hixon said that the driveway
was too narrow, and the sidewalk so
wobbly and disreputable that some day
someone would get hurt and the city
would have damage suit upon it's
hands. 1t was patch work. and so
zigzag that it looks like the teeth
of saw, and one cannot tell whe-
ther he is walking forward or back.
Rich Brown Roast.
eve have nothing that the rest of
the waterworks," declared Mr. Hixon.
"The water from this takes the paint
off the buggies and makes a dyspeptic
of steam boiler. 1t puts crust on
a waterfowl, and one cannot wash with
it. Is this a fair proposition? You
don't put us in, position to get pub
lie improvements. We cannot ask the
gas company to extend it's mains across
the slough under the conditions. We
have. to pay extra prices for fuel and
have no sewerage"
Mr. Hixon said that three or four.
months ago there was an understand
in on' this street, but he had found
out that it was the intention to fill
only about two feet. That would be
very poor return for the taxes paid,
as it would hardly be a perceptible
fill. He asked upon behalf of the
taxpayers that the council assist in
making that section of the city more
accessible. The driveway should be
widened so as to include the space
now occupied by the sidewalk, and
should be filled four feet, and new
walk should be contracted The grade
of the two hills at the ends of the
slough road should be reduced by tax
ing little off of the tops. He did
not think that this request was UNI
reasonable. All that was asked was
a fair, square deal in the consideration
of THE matter
AID Atchison moved that the council
as a whole and the mayor and city
engineer view the ground and report
upon the matter at the next meeting,
and this was carried.
The point was raised that it would
be necessary to lower the water main
at the Baker avenue end of the work
if the hill there was cut down, to
keep it below the, frost line Engineer
Haynes said that that was not SER
ious matter, and was easily done.
steps last night looking to the per-
manent opening and Improvement of
Hanover street. City Engineer Haynes
presented a profile of the street, which
it was stated was satisfactory to the
property owners. 1t calls for fifteen
foot cut at the highest part of the
hill
Aid. Atchison said that the state has
appropriated 500 for its share of the
expense of the improvement, along
the state normal school grounds, which
will be lost unless the improvement
is made this, year. The farmers would.
use the street, as they could thus
avoid going down Warren street, where
the street car line runs,
After some further discussion, Aid.
Bradley moved that the council adopt
the profile establishing the, grade of
Hanover street from Hickory street to
Glenwood avenue, and this was carried
Aid Atchison moved that the. city en-
gineer prepare an estimate of the cost
of the improvement and report it to
the council at its next meeting, and
this was carried The principal ex-
pcnse will probably be the construc-
ton of the culvert across Warren
creek
Many Street Repairs
The street committee presented a
lengthy report of small repairs and
improvements needed over the city. to
be done by the board of public works
without assessing the cost on the
property owners. 1t recommended that
the width of the driveway pon Vine
street between Front and Second be