The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-07

house electric meter that is used
to measure the current that is used
for pumping had habit of speed
ing and he was afraid that it re-
corded more current than was ac-
tually used.
On vote of the council it was de-
cided to do some graveling on Bel
grade avenue and also to store up
some sand in a pile for use in the
spring when high water stops the
hauling from the pits. -
The question of graveling the
streets brought up the matter of the
ownership of these pits and will not
the river. Various parties claim the
ownership of these pits and will not
let the public take sand without max
ing charge for it.
Offered to Sell Pit
One of these parties had even
offered to sell his pit to Mr.. Nielsen
for the sum of $1,000. The question
of the ownership was discussed for
some time and it was decided that
the river bottom belonged to the
government and that these so called
owners had no right to make a
charge for the sand. The only
right that they had to the land was
where they owned the land adjacent
to the pit over which it was neces-
sary to drive in order to reach the
river. People who claim these pits
as their property may be given an
opportunity to pay tax on the
property if they insist on their own
ership.
The unsanitary condition of some
property at the end of Wheeler ave-
nue. was mentioned by Mr. Coy and
the owner of the property a notice
to clean up his premises. The COM
plant stated that the ground there
was used for the dumping of gar
bage and that in some cases ex
dogs and cats had been left there.
A petition was received asking
that an arc light be installed on the
corner of A street and Wheeler ave-
nue.. Upon the motion of Alderman
Charland the council voted to' have
the light installed and the matter
was left in the hands of the lighting
committee.
Gave Credit to Mr.. Ehlers.
]. B. Nielsen said that he wanted
to give credit to Mr.. Ehlers for the
manner in which he had attended to
h1 80 h0 nj nd ncnnnio1IN-
for the condition in which he had
kept the drinking trough. Mr.. Mel
sen said that this trough had been
matter of comment among the peo-
pie living on the other side of the
river. He said he hated to sing the
praises of Mr.. Ehler too highly, for
fear that the people of Mankato
might try to get him If they knew
what good man he was.
City Treasurer Thomas Smith at
tended the first part of the meeting,
but left early in the game and so
missed the grilling that the village
fathers served for him at the end
of the evening. Mr. Ball said the
city water accounts had come into a
terrible state and that there were
people in the village, who had been
using the water ever since it had
been installed and they had not paid
cent for it. 1t was freely charged
in the meeting, that the treasurer
had been too lax in the matter and
had not followed a systematic meth
cd of keeping the accounts and no.
! tifying the people of the charges
against them.
Must Pay For Water.
! Mr.. Ball said that it was seri-
GUS matter and one that needed rad
ical steps to correct the mistake. Up
on his motion the council voted to
have Recorder Louis Larson have
notices published to the effect that
the water will be shut off on all
premises on November 10, where the
people are behind in their payments.
The council men realized that a
big howl is going up when the reso-
luton is enforced but 1t is hoped
that this step will correct the en-
tire matter Mr.. Larson is going to
study the methods by which the &C
counts are kept in this city with a
view of adopting the Mankato sys-
tenn for the village. The council is
also going to require the presence
of the treasurer at the meetings
hereafter and he will be asked to
give the condition of the city fl
nances at the regular meetings Of
the council.