The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-22
Site For New City
Hall Gift To Kato
From Mondays Daily.

SouoOA duAsS $500
when it was read. The Zimmerman
brothers offered to give to the city
a lot, Sc feet by 1871 feet, on the
corner of Plum and Second streets
the present site of the City Hotel
providing that the city should bullC
upon this site city hall which
should cost not less than $50,OO0
The offer is open until January /
1914. Just before this the mayor
brought up the matter of erecting
a new Jail on account of the recent
condemnation of the present Lookup
by State Jail Inspector Foley few
days ago. The substance of Mr.
Foley's objections to the present
lookup was published in The Free
Press In order to satisfy this gentle
man that something was being done to
comply with the laws of the state,
Mayor Meyer appointed committee
consisting of Councilmen Gerlich
Lack and Bradley to look up site
for a new lookup to be built upon,
and incidentally a new city hall. 1t
was suggested that a second story
be built on the supply house at the
rear of the city hall and this used
as a JAIL but no action was taken
The offer of Messrs Zimmerman was
placed on file, and will be seriously
considered by the council.
Fixing Light Rates Ordinance.
City Attorney Arthur Schaub pre-
scented for it's first reading an ordi.
nance which provides for a commits
sion which may regulate rates
charged by any firm or corporation
in supplying the public with any
public necessity such as electricity
or gas. The ordinance gives the
commission, which consists of three
tax payers of the city, the right to
investigate the rates charged and
find out whether or not they are
just and fair. The commissioner may
subpoena witnesses to testify before
them, or may order evidence to be
brought in, such as books or other
data, and any one who fails to COM
ply with these regulations may be
prosecuted in the same manner as
for contempt of court The mem
bers of the commission are to ap-
point one of their number chairman
and one secretary, and are to re-
ceiye no remuneration unless the
council desires to pay them. All ex-
penses incurred in their investiga-
tons are to be paid by the city.
When the commission decides upon
a rate it may be enforced by an
ordinance.
Another Engineer Wants Job.
A letter was received from the
Charles L. Pillsbury Engineering
company of Minneapolis, in which
Mr.. Pillsbury asked to be given the
contract for planning a new NUM-
clpai electric light plant The COM
munication was placed on file, and
as Mayor Meyer is going to Mime
Minneapolis Thursday on business, he
will see Mr.. Pillsbury and talk mat.
tiers over with him.
On motion by Councilman Lack,
the purchase of fire fighting apparatus
for the city was postponed until
some later date. He, with Council
man Gerlich and Fire Chief Phil
Leas went to Minneapolis Thursday
where they witnessed the operation
OF two of the combination fire en-
gines described by representatives of
their respective companies last
Monday. The officials were much
impressed by the operation of the
fire engines.
Wanted Reduction in License.
M. w. McQuigg OF the carnival
company which is now here, asked
for reduction of the license of 81
per day per car to be allowed to.
snow here, and it was decided to
charge the carnival company the reg
ular amount, which amounts to S216.
and then to refund SIG. The L. Pat
terson Mercantile company and A,
j. Busch and company were grant
ed licenses to sell cigarets. A motion
was passed making the minimum
charge for lawn cutting so cents, and
a charge of rs cents per hour.
A letter was received from Assist.
ant Attorney General William J Stew.
enson saying that he would not be
able to give an opinion on the fran.
chise of the Consumers Power com.
pany for few days yet, but he cor
daily invited City Attorney Arthur
Schaub to apply to the office of the
attorney general on any question
which troubled him.
Ferry Matter Dropped.
councilman Gerlich stated that he
could not see any benefits to be de.
rived by the city in the building
OF a ferry on the Blue Earth river
1or the accommodation of the sugar
beet raisers, and the matter was
dropped. A request was made to
the city last Monday to help paw for
the ferry.
Ihe council decided to advertise
Tor bids for the improvement of the
west Mankato road which connects
with the Good Thunder road. which is
undergoing improvement under the
Elwell law. The corner at Mrs
Woloben's property is to be cut away
10 improve the curve there.
The storm sewer on North Fourtn
street was talked over again, but as
there is not sufficient money in the
treasury to pay for it, the matter was
postponed indefinitely. It will cost
In the neighborhood of $4,000