The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-10

cleaning the pavements, etc, and TAX
| ing care of all of the other varied
expenses of q city of this size. The
council has also seen its way clear
10 make three mill cut in the tax
levy for city purposes. So much for
/ having experienced and successful
| business men at the helm This
ought TO be pretty good reading for
the taxpayers. and the records AT
| the city hall verify it.
Expense of Waterworks.
The city has also been al All un-
usual expense the past year in the
matter of the waterworks, as il has
been perfecting the system and sink
| ing the Mccarthy well to more than
twice its former depth. 1t has es;-
tended the water mains in many di-
rections. to the new Lutheran ladies'
seminary and to the new Catholic
mother house, down Poplar street
and elsewhere. 1t has extended the
sewers, and rebuilt and extended the
| Improvement in the storm sewer line
was the taking up of the miserably
| constructed and inadequate storm
sewer on Mulberry street and putting
down in its place large and round
sewer of reinforced concrete, that
Will last for all time and be large
enough to carry off all of the water
after the heaviest storms, without
flooding easements. The Vine street
storm sewer has been covered where
open. and partly rebuilt Reinforced
concrete culvertS have been put in TO
replace old culvertS that have re-
peatedly tumbled down, each time in
yolying expense upon the city. These
will never give trouble again, and it
would take dynamite to tear them
out.
Concrete crossings have been put in
where there has been a continual
wash, notable on Pleasant and Grove
streets. A large amount Of curb
and gutter has been laid and side
walks put in, where badly needed,
the council taking the bull by the
horns and ordering it in where other
councils had hesitated.
The streets have been graveled to
an extent heretofore unknown. Muddy
residence streets have been turned
into fairly good driveways, and
much more of this has been planned
for the coming season, large piles Of
gravel having been hauled from the
river for the purpose. A new road
has been graded to the new Catho-
lie Mother house and other improve
ments made in that vicinity, comply
ing with every request made upon
the city in return for the location of
the big institution in the city.
Streets in Better Shape.
While the streets have been kept
up in better shape than ever before.
the expenditure mas been several
thousand dollars smaller, because
business methods have been used
Streets fixed last year will not have
10 be fixed again this. The council
bought flusher to wash off the
pavements, and this is considered the
best move yet made in this line, for
1T cleans the streets of dust, while
sprinkling merely vets it down for
few moments. The council has
also started another innovation. 1t
has purchased two sprinkling carts
and is advertising for two more. and
intends to be in a position to get
competitive bids on the street sprink-
ling, which it has not had for years
1t expects in this way to get cheaper
and better sprinkling.
improvements in the way of gath
erlng garbage and many other lines
are projected, and if the present
council can be left to work out its
pans during the next two years
there is no doubt but that it will in
augurate many other changes and re-
forms that will work for the interest
OF the city, making it bette. and
more healthful, and looping off I'M
necessary expenses, safeguarding the
health and happiness of the people.
Plan of Park Improvement.
A definite plan of park improve
ment has been adopted, for the first
time, and money will no longer be
spent IN the parks at haphazard
with nothing to show for it at the
END OF the season. Every dollar spent
VIII be used in carrying out plans
that VIII permanently beautify the
parks. Sibley park will be changed
from n hay meadow to one of the
beauty spots Of the state, with WIS.,
tas. lagoons, play grounds and the
setting and cOncomitants of a mod
ern recreation place. at no more ex-
pense than hitherto.
Commissioner Henline has been
giving special attention to the wa.
ter system, and this has been brought
In the past few months to a perfec,
ton and efficiency never before at
tanned. The city has got such an
oVerpus OF water now that the mat
ter OF more wells will not have to be
considered for some years, it is
Thought. 1t has three times as much
water now as it is pumping, and