The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-30

cial club attended the meeting last
evening ana some business was
transacted.
The membership continues to grow,
which has now reached the number
OF forty-seven.
Henry Robel. ST., reported for the
two committees appointed at the
last meeting of the club, one hav
ing instructions to meet with the
street railroad officials in view to
induce the company to extend its
line through North Mankato en- route
to st. Peter and the other commit
tee having instructions to meet with
the Commercial club of Mankato in
view of securing another bridge.
Mr.. Robel stated that the commit
tee met with Henry Hance, manager
of the street car company. Mr..
Hance and Mr.. Cummings of Chicago,
who is interested in the local COM
pany, were Of the opinion that the
extension of the street car line to
North Mankato would be profitable
without doubt, but serious hind
rance is that of the angle at the
east end of the bridge. Mr. Cum
ings suggested that the present
bridge be removed to point up
stream and an adequate concrete
bridge be built at the present lOca-
ton.
Mr.. Hance intimated that the COM
pany is anxious to extend it's line
to North Mankato and would assist
in securing new bridge. The
company, he said, would continue to
make the transfer point at the
Saulpaugh corner. He preferred the
present location for new bridge.
d. Donahoe added to Mr.. Robeps
remarks by saying in reference TO
the interurban to st. Peter being
built on this side of the river that
if that route was selected the line
would be built up the hill in North
Mankato. possibly Hodapp's new hill,
and then traverse the upper road
to st. Peter.
Mr. Robel reported further for the
committee on bridge matter that
an audience with the Mankato Com
mercial club had not yet been had,
several efforts having failed, but it is
hoped to bring the matter before
them in the near future. No action
was taken on the reports.
C. F.. Ball forcibly called attention
to the neglected weeds, etc, on many
of the streets and vacant lots. The
cleaning up suggested by the club
early in the spring has not been
done, declared Mr.. Ball with en-
phasis Continuing Mr.. Ball said:
"The council, we are told, has given
special notice to certain owners of
property condemned as public nuis-
ances, and a general order to the
public to clean up was given early
in the spring, but with few ex-
ceptions it has not been done. We
have done a good deal of talking
about this matter. The council has
given orders but they have not been
needed or carried out. The only
way remaining now is to have the
weeds cut and rubbish removed with
out delay. The weeds will soon be
in seed and rubbish, etc, mostly in
the alleys, will be a menace to
health during the hot weather"
Several spoke in concord with the
remarks of Mr. Ball d. DonahOe in
defense of the council stated that
his time had been taken up by mat
tiers pertaining to his office as clerk
and he found it impossible to act for
all the committees of the council.
However, he would bring the mat
ter before the council at it's next
meeting which will be held next Sat
urday evening.
Street Commissioner Ehlers said
that he had not been authorized to
remove rubbish from the streets and
alleys; that he had cut weeds on
nearly all of the streets, but had
no instructions to cut weeds or un-
derbrush on private property.
Mr.. Ball made a motion that $40
be appropriated by the club to be
used with a sum from the village
treasury to pay for the cutting OF
weeds and removing rubbish.
Objection was raised to the mo-
ton on the ground it was not the
province of the club to do this
work. Mr.. Ball finally withdrew his
motion, remarking that he merely
wanted to start something" some
one adding "a Joe Reynolds act"
President Nielsen called attention
to a number of vacant lots which
have not been given any care by the
owners. They have become solid
mass of underground which the
council, he thought should order
cleaned up. The question was raised
whether or not the council could
legally order such lots cleaned up,
hut after a general discussion it
seemed clear that such lots could
be declared a public nuisance on the
ground, first is nuisance ito the
public health, because of the obnox-
ious weeds and decayed matter, and
secondly, the danger to which pedes-
TRANS at night are exposed, the un-
l. ~. g.