The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-04-03
Claims City Is Not in a
Financial Condition to
Warrant Scheme.
Declares the Location Is
"UnwiSe and Foolish"
Other Objections.

oll1Cl oDJSSllollo.
From Thursdays Daily.
f. V. Waters has secured tenn
porary restraining order to tie up the
building of the proposed second bridge
across the Minnesota river He has
started an action looking to the per-
manent tying up of the project, and
the defendants named in the action
are the city of MankatO, the mayor
aldermen and city recorder. Mr.. Wat
ters' attorney is C. o. Daley.
Judge Cray this morning signed an
order to show cause why the defend
ants should not be restrained and en-
joined from building or causing to be
built the bridge; and from entering into
any contract for the same; and from
appropriating any funds of the city
for the payment for said bridge; and
from issuing orders, bonds, certificates
of Indebtedness or other obligations
of the city whereby any pecuniary liza
bility will be incurred by or for the
city for the bridge, which will neces-
state the payment of any money
during the fiscal year 1907, or any
future year, of any of the funds of
the city; and from making a tax levy
in the fiscal year 1908 or any follow
ing year, for the purpose of paying
for the bridge or any part thereof.
And in the meantime, and until the
further order of the court, tempo
rary restraining order is issued COW
ering the above. The order is return
able April 6 at 2 p. III.
Funds Are Overdrawn.
The complaint in the injunction
suit fills fourteen type written pages
After reciting the usual preliminary
facts, it gives the last tax levy in
detail, and synopsis of the, report OF
the city treasurer for the month end
ing Feb. 20, 1908, showing that there
was cash balance in the treasury
on that date of only $50, and a
total deficiency of S4,265.67, less the
said $3.50, because of funds being over
drawn. 1t says that the sinking fund
was overdrawn more than $4,000.
There was also outstanding local i'm
provement certificates amounting to
$S,07l; and principal and interest due
on Central park purchase, SS,72O; and
5000 appropriated for South Fifth
street; making total Indebtedness of
$2l,24037 against the city, besides
$3.50 on the West Mankato hose house
and $l,527 for a new boiler for the
pumping station. 1t is stated that the
tax levy of $6S,50O will not be suffi-
cient to pay the necessary expenses
of the city for the year, and the in
terest on the bonded debt, and the
Judgment of the Barber Asphalt COM
pany for $4,000 The bonded indebt-
edness of the city is $4,000, with
an annual interest charge of $685.
The assessed valuation of the tax
able property of the city is $3,S73,5S5
and the debts and liabilities of the
city are in excess of five per cent of
the valuation, and have been for more
than ten years past.
Claims Present Bridge Is Sufficient.
The complaint further alleges that
Mankato has Il population of $4,000
that across the river is North Man
kato with a population of 300; that
| the two are connected by a wagon
and foot bridge constructed in 1879
at an expense of 100000, and that it
| is ample and sufficient to accommo-
date all of the travel between the two
places and is very conveniently 10.
Gated i'll the center of both places
That ever since the construction OF
the bridge, North Mankato and Nicol-
let county have refused to contribute
lanything toward the maintenance and
repair of the same, and the city OF
Mankato during all of this time has
expended large sums in maintaining
and keeping the bridge in repair
That about a year ago the foot pas.
sage on the northerly side of the
bridge became out OF repair, and
the city caused the same to be closed
and has neglected ever since to repair
the same.
1t is alleged that the proposed loca
ton of the new bridge is less than
four blocks from the present bridge
That it is the intention of the de
PENDANTS to Immediately construct and
aid in constructing bridge for teams
and foot passengers from the foot oil
ga" street to North Mankato; that
public necessity does not demand the
construction of the said bridge because
of the present bridge being sufficient
that bridge at this point would
cost at least $4,000; that trestlt
would have to be constructed on the
North Mankato side at a cost Of
about $4,000; that to fix an approach
to get onto said bridge from the foot
of "a" street would cost $4,000, max
| inc IL total cost of S37 600