The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-18

mat Followed JnlS up anu dlIeT VI 3
ling better fire protection, said thai
the city had all the burden it could
well. carry, and that If money was tc
be spent now, it should purchase
something that would benefit all the
citizens. He admitted the necessity
of better street lighting, and moved
that a new system of some kind be
put in, and suggested that a commit
tee decide whether this system be
q white way" or not. Daniel Cough
Ian thought that the cost of the sys
tenn should be ascertained. Judge
Cray asked DR.. Andrews to withdraw
his motion, and the doctor consented
Question of Cost.
City Attorney Arthur Schaub said
that the question of cost was divided
into two parts, the cost of installa
tion and the cost of maintenance
"The present rate for electricity Is
too high, as is also the gas rate
This meeting, as | understand It,
was called for the purpose of dis
cussing rates, and what should be
done to have them lowered. | think
that if the necessary steps are taken
the Consumers Power company will
quote more reasonable rates, and
that then a white way can be in
stalled and operated on the same
money the city is now paying for
! lights.
Dr. Andrews urged that some ac
ton be taken, and Mayor Meyer
suggested the appointment of the
committee. John Richards thought
that the council should investigate
the proposition, and also that the
businessmen should not be required
to pay $26 per year for lamp
post when people from other parts
of the city were walking in its light
and, as he claimed, receiving the
benefit Then followed Dr. Schmitt's
motion and its amendments.
Mr.. Richards was then given per
mission to talk as much about gas
rates as he wished but he said that
he would leave. it to Mayor Meyer
However, he claimed that the pres
ent gas rates were much too high
W. A. Plymat said that several PEG
pie had spoken to him during the
past few days, saying that their
electric light rates were just as high
or higher now than they were in the
that it was high time that an ordi
nance was passed which authorized
1 the appointment of meter inspect
or, who should inspect all gas, cleo
trio and water meters, to see il
| they were working correctly.
Judge Cray moved that the matter
of inducing the Consumers Power
company to give lower rates be in
corporated in the duties of the com
mittee referred to in Dr. Schmitt's
motion, and his motion was carried
Here Mrs. p. C. Morrell brought
up the public ownership question
again, and used New York City as an
example. She said that this city had
employed a meter inspector, because
monthly gas bills had been just as
much after the cut in prices as be
fore. But she. held that the in
spector was bought up by the gas
company, and this effort awaited
nothing. 1.-THE only way to solve
the question" she said, lis to own
the plant ourselves, and then there
is no chance for cheating"
George Scherer was perfectly will
ing to pay his share of the assess
ment for the installation of white
! way" posts, as also were Mayor
Meyer and Judge Cray, John Ny
Quist> was also in favor of this plan
and said that he expected to get his
money back from the business they
would bring him.
Rising Vote Taken.
George Pass asked for a rising
vote to see how many of the citi
zens at the meeting were in favor
of the white way" and nearly
every person in the house. rose
Mayor Meyer wondered how many
of the business men were willing tt
be assessed for the installation Of
the posts, but left the question un
answered, as he stated that this
would be part of the work of the
committee.
Joseph Hampl thought it would
be better to see how much the i'm
provements would cost and what the
rate would be, before the improve
ments were decided upon, and urged
the building of a municipal plant i
the Consumers Power company
would not come across with better
rates. Mayor Meyer said that i
was better to see just what wa.
/ wanted, as the committee will do
before the question of price wa.
preached. Mr. Morrell also spoke a.
4 a private gas consumer, and not a.
a business man, and registered
violent kick" against the high ga.
rates. Mrs. Morrell corroborated he
husband, and suggested that Mayor
Meyer call another meeting whe1
the committee is ready to report
Mr.. Hampl said that if the city di,
not get busy right away, the peopl,
would either have to accept tn,
rates of the Consumers Power com
pany or stay in the dark, because /
much more time was wasted Their,
would not be time to build a mum
cipal plant.
A number of the citizens at TIL,
meeting had left by this time, ant