The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-07

the local board of health, but conlt
not stay in the city. Professor Bas
had recommended a man for the posi-
|tion, and efforts are being made t.
secure one. 1t was impossible to gel
one in hurry. He had been looking
for a mature medical man, but hat
not yet found the right one. Nothing
would be done in this city without
the approval of a sanitary engineer
as long as he had anything to do witt
it. (Applause.l
President Nyquist said that it was
important that a good man be secured
so that change would not have tt
be made.
DIR. Bielland was obliged to leave
at this point.
David Richards spoke on the sub
ject of the incompetency of city off
Gals, and said that it would be vel
to talk the matter over. 1t had beer
necessary even to get a man from out
side to tell the city that 1876 gallons
of water-a day per capita was being
used when forty gallons was all that
ought to be used The men at the
head are incompetent to hold office, in
his opinion. He would like to hear
what Others had to say on this.
President Nyquist said that the
mayor had appointed committee OF
the best citizens to look into this
matter, and perhaps it would be bet
ter not to stir this subject up while
the committee was at work.
False Reports Abroad.
Mr.. Palmer spoke of the false and
dangerous reports circulated in other
places of the situation in Mankato, re-
ferring especially to the Fort Dodge
and Owatonna papers. The entire coun-
try was filled with the most exag-
gerated reports about Mankato. A
truthful statement ought to be pub
lished by the proper officials in the
local papers, which outside papers
could copy, and also to be sent ont
to correct the malicious lies told
about the situation here. The truth
was bad enough without making it a
thousand times worse than it is.
The farmers in the country around
are afraid to come to the city. The
city had done well to place the tanks
of pure drinking water on the street,
and ought to put out more, and the
merchants ought to do it. There is
plenty of pure water in Mankato to
drink, and the people round about
should be informed of it, and the
ball should be started rolling at
once.
DIR. c.. J. Holman told of his exper
fence in visiting neighboring towns,
where greatly exaggerated reports of
the condition in Mankato are believed
even by intelligent people. They had
gotten these from papers that they
had read. There ought to be, a state
nent prepared, as people generally are
afraid to come to Mankato for fear
hat they, will get the disease. ~,
Charles ,yessup said that a good
many local people are needlessly scared,
md ought to be treasured.
Professor Nettleton agreed with what
Messrs. Palmer and Holman had said
and thought chat action should be
aiken but the question was how to do
t. He did not think that outside
,apers would copy such a statement
IS suggested, if simply published in
he local papers. The statement. must
,e gotten directly into the hands of
he papers, A sworn statement sign
ID by the city officials, officers Of
he Commercial club and the health
,fficcys could be sent to the papers
With a request. that they publish it.
Mr. Jackson spoke of the influence
If the statesmen of local wholesale
houses. These men could set right
! great many of the reports that are
current.
Mr.. Richards thought that the local
papers could aid by mentioning people
Who are recovering from the disease.
Committee to Stop Lies.
Mr.. Snow moved that the president
appoint a committee of three to get
It the facts in the cease and draft
!, statement of the true condition
md have it printed and devise means
o have it circulated at the expense of
he club.
Mr.. Burton said that the article
hould state the exact facts, and
signatures by the board of health
,ught to be sufficient. Stories of Man
sato were even current in Boston.
Miss Windmiller thought that if the
ity got a good supply of water and
advertised it we'll it would help
greatly.
The motion was carried.
Mains Will Be Cleaned.
E. G. Wickersham was called upon
o explain his method of flushing the
water mains, which he did very clear
Y. He said that there are ninety
,ates in the water system, and a
of the location of these, is
he first essential. He had fiuhed the
Mains one way and then backwards,
With force enough to clean the walls
If the pipes. He worked the mains