The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-17
PROPERTY OWNERS DISCUSS THE
KIND OF MATERIAL.
Many Favor Creosoted Blocks While
Others Prefer Brick; Only One
Voice Raised Against Improve
nent: Commissioners to Move
With Deliberation as the Matter
Is One Of Great importance.
From Mondays Daily

Is One of Great Importance.
From Mondays Daily
The most important business be-
fore the council at its weekly meet
ing This forenoon was the hearing
on the street paving matter A num-
Der of property owners were present,
and all seemed anxious TO have the
best kind of paving selected. and
the only difference of opinion was
as 10 what is the best. Brick had
some advocates, but the majority
seemed 10 favor creosoted block
pavement for Hickory and Cherry
streets, because of its being less
noisy and because they considered
il the most durable, and the cheap
est in the end. Those who favored
brick did so on the ground of its
durability. while they feared that
creosoted blocks might not develop
such lasting qualities. Only one voice
was raised at the meeting against
paving, which is quite different from
years Then il was Il question Of
whether TO pave or not, whereas to-
day i, was merely n question OF
which material 10 use. This shows
that Mankato has gotten through
with its baby ways and put aside its
swaddling clothes and has emerged
as a youth, anxious TO present a
neat appearance and TO hold its own
with any town of its class in the
state
Petitions for Creosoted Blocks.
A petition was handed in. ask
ing that Hickory street from the c.,
NJ & ST Paul railway track TO
Broad street be paved with creO-
soted block pavement instead of
brick. This was signed by twelve
property owners.
A petition was received from Il
large number of Cherry street prop
erty owners. asking that the portion
from Front 10 Broad be paved with
creosOted wood blocks rather than
brick, and suggesting that the part
west CT Front street be paved with
brick
Two Remonstrances.
A remOnstrance from len prop
orty owners on Walnut street was
received. against paving that street
from Front 10 Broad, as proposed.
The ground for this was that the
street was graveled last year, and
the cost of this would be wasted.
The improvement was not necessary
and the cost would be out OF proper
ton to the benefit to the property
Last years assessment for the Sec
ond street pavement was referred to-
a rcmonstranco was presented by
eleven property owners on Mulberry
street. asking that this street be
not included in the paving district
the present year, for about the same
reasons as advanced on Walnut
street.
Property Owners Heard.
George NJ. Palmer. Of the First
National bank, said that large ma.
jority of the property owners on
Hickory street were in favor of creO-
soted block pavement. but they
wanted the very best blocks pro.
durable, even if it cost a little more
Brick was too noisy for. the office
buildings. The curbing is not salts
factory, and should be put in right
when the improvement is made.
George w. Sugden, representing
<.,,;onnl f,;t;napc' honly pra
scented about the same reasons for
block pavement as Mr.. Palmer had
done
John n. Hall spoke against paw
ing. He saw no benefit, but il made
taxes high and this kept people
away. What was needed is improve
ment of navigation, and more man
ufacturers. Mankato was losing pop
ulation 1t would be a bigger city
if there was not a railroad within
hundred miles. If pavement was
laid, he preferred brick, with {
surety bond guarantee.
Theodore Williams preferred creo
soted blocks to brick, on account o.
it's being less noisy. Albert Lea hat
looked into it carefully and iOun,
creosote blocks the best.
Advocate of Brick.
W. III. Pay did not object to paw
ing il the other streets were TO b.
paved, but did not want paving OF
Hickory street if other streets wer,
let off, for Hickory between From
and Second streets has the best ma
cadam pavement in the city. FL
preferred brick, because it did no
cost as much as creosOte blocks
and would last as long. The pawn,
should be of one kind. and no patch
work had. Ii was no more nOis,
than creosOte blocks. If block Wa
used, a strong guarantee should b.
made.
Dr. NJ. D. Wood was in favor @
brick for Cherry street, as it wa
known that it would wear, while