The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-16

are $5,253.12. 1t would be well in
deed if the expenses of the depart
ment could be kept down to this
al fund would not be obliged to
assist The general street force Is
of course necessary; but it's work
should be confined to ordinary clean
ing and minor repairing. No work
of a larger magnitude or of greater
importance and mo new work in
fact of any kind, should be COM
menced without action of the coun-
Gil If the work to be done costs
less than $3.50 it can be ordered
amount bids will have to be called
for Whenever it is right, proper
and just, the cost of the work should
be assessed to the property bene-
fited and should not be borne by
the taxpayers at large.
1--WE have been asked to pave
Washington, Plum, Mulberry and
Main streets this season. This is a
question that should receive early
consideration and be decided, al
ways bearing in mind our financial
resources. All paving work can be
assessed to the property benefited
except the intersections. 1t has
been suggested that a great part of
| Fourth street could be paved this
| season and that such improvement
would not require payment by the
| city for more than two or three in
tersections. l call the councils at
| tention to this matter simply for the
purpose that it may be considered
! by them.
"A great deal of work is required
in this department that it will be
| beyond our means to do this year
/ but much of it can be done next
year, and for that reason it would
| be well to consider all necessary i'm
provements at an early date, so that
we may be well advised of what is
to be done next year before the taz
levy is made. The superintendent
of this department no doubt will cal
our attention to these needed i'm
| prOvements, and it would be well t.
bear them in mind even if they are
not made this year.
This department is probably tn,
most important and certainly tn,
most comprehensive of any; ant
too much personal inspection cal
never be had. The superintendent
of the department has done well il
the past by taking the council OF
trips of inspection. 1t has alread,
been practically decided as to 'wha
sidewalks and curb and gutterin;
will be built this year.
Heretofore the cost of sprinlllin,
has been taken out of the road ant
bridge fund until the assessment
came in when the money was re
turned to this fund from the revoly
ing fund. This latter fund ought Il
be in a position to handle this mat
ter entirely, for it belongs to it.
/ would recommend, therefore, that
when funds are available, $4,000 b.
taken from the general fund an,
placed into the revolving fund t
meet the bills for sprinkling, which
will afterwards be repaid by tn
assessments.
! Seventeen. ] call your attention
to the last recommendation of tn
auditor: Care should also be takei
that the following terms of Section
As are strictly adhered to: No su
perintendent of any of the depart
ments of the city shall have an
power to contract debts, to bind tn
city or make any improvements il
said city, unless authorized by tn
majority of the council.'''
"The word council i'm this sec
ton means the council in legislativ
session at regular or special NEE
ing. The matter is of great in
portance and we should be careful
that all material that is bought an
all work that is done is ordered in thi
way, and not otherwise; so that /
may appear on our minutes bot
what has been bought and ordere
by whose vote it was done. All
other reason for adhering to thi
rule is that all of the council shout
vote upon any expenditure of none
that is incurred, so that they may b
at all times informed as to the exac
amount of money that is bein
spent
Mayors Closing Words.
} In closing / would state to yo
that | realize to the full extent tina
the funds we have on hand and tn
tax assessments which are still t
be collected for this year are made
quate to take care of the many i'm
provements and necessities tina
have arisen and are continually arts
ing to confront us. 1t cannot be eS
pected of us that we can make on
dollar do the work of two; but
believe, it is expected of us that w
should get for each dollar we spen,
full dollars worth of either me-
sterial or labor; and it is also ex
,pected of us that we should econ
! omize in such way and manag
after such a method that grea
deal will be accomplished with wha
,resources we have.
1--WE can solve the problems be
fore us and solve them to the entr
satisfaction of the people of thi