The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-04-03
Bridge Project Is E1yoined;
E, " Waters Secures Writ

close to the foot of GA" street and
across the same are sixteen tracks
of the Omaha and Northwestern roads
which are built on a grade and tres
tIework and bridge l55 feet wide over
"A" street; that the passage way on
a. street at that point under the
of the trestle to the ground, and
only twenty three feet wide, the re-
mainder of the street being filled by
the grade of the tracks. That the
Minnesota river is often subject to
high water, at which times the river
water flows through the trestle on
"A" street and floods the property in
that vicinity. That the conditions of
ga" street under the trestle are such
that it would be impossible to pass
under the same with loads of hay or
high seated wagons OF carriages. That
|if "a" street is lowered at that point,
it will cause the river when high to
flow into "A" street in destructive
quantities and greatly iniure and de-
stroy the property in the vicinity,
which is mostly residence property.
That the trestIe that would have to
be costructed on the North Mankato
side would he liable to be destroyed
each spring when the ice goes out.
That if the bridge is built, the city
will have to keep the same in repair,
which will be a large additional ex-
pense on the tax payers. That if
there was in the city treasury plenty
of funds to construct the bridge, it
would be an abuse of discretion of the
council to construct the same at this
or any other point.
No Taxes Levied for Bridge.
1t is further alleged that there new
er have been any taxes levied or col
lected by the city for the payment
for the bridge or any part of it;
or any fund on hand available tor
the purpose. That the charter pro-
vides that no debt shall be incurred or
money expended for any purpose or
in any manner except by express au-
thority of the charter, and no orders
issued exceeding the amount of taxes
collected or assessed. That notwith
standing all this, the defendants are
taking steps to make the city liable
for the bridge in sum exceeding
$4,000, and unless restrained by the
court will do so. That they have
appropriated $4,000 and if there is no
money in the treasury will proceed
to issue $4,000 bonds without a vote
of the people as required by law.
That notwithstanding the anticipated
income of $4,000 from saloon licenses,
there will still be a deficiency in the
running expenses of the city the COM
ing year, which deficiency will amount
to at least $4,000.
Taxes Are Oppressively High.
1t is alleged that taxes in the city
are now and have been for many
years past oppressively high. Besides
the Indebtedness above stated, there
is large indebtedness on the city
school district and a large annual ex-
pense for support and maintenance.
That the tax rate this year is 1876
mills. That $4,000 waterworks bonds
fall due May l, 1908, and $4,000
waterworks bonds Nov. l next year.
That the ordinary current operating
expenses of the city each year are
upwards of 100000. That the next
tax levy, without providing for the
bridge, will be exorbitant and great
burden on the tax payers of the city.
That while at present only $4,000 has
been appropriated, it is the intention
to appropriate more than $4,000,
which will have to be paid by the
tax payers. That the plaintiff brings
the action on behalf of himself and
other tax payers of the city. That
the defendants threaten to enter into
a contract for the building of the
bridge, that will make the city liable.
That they have no power to do so I'M
der the charter or laws of the state.
Wherefore a permanent injunction
lis asked, enjoining the defendants on
all the points that the temporary in
i,,potiOD rpStrainS thnm on