The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21
Mayor Taylor Sends
Message To Council
From Mondays Daily.


attention to what has been accom-.
plished by that body during the past
two years and under his administra-
ton:
Gentlemen of the Council: My
term as mayor of this city will eX-
pire on the second Tuesday of April
next. AS | am not candidate for
reelection, think it proper at this
time to make statement to the
people of Mankato of the doings of
the council during my term of office.
First. | wish TO extend my thanks
to my fellow members of the coun-
Gil and the other city officials for
the many courtesies shown me dur.
ing my term of office and the CO.
operation of all with me in work
ing for the best interests of our city,
What has been done:
No Floating Indebtedness.
The city has now no floating i'll
debtedness, and no bonds and certiti-
Gates of indebtedness issued by this
council are now outstanding except
warrants issued on special assess
ments for sidewalk and street inn
provements where the owners have
requested payment of the improve
mentS i'll ten year annual mstall-
ments. This is not debt OF the city
but of the property owners assessed,
hut awaited themselves of the ten
year plan to pay the same.
Pavements and Cost.
In the year 1911 street pavements
to the amount of $7G,S90.31 were laid.
The amount paid by the city for
its share of this Improvement was
So, 1894.
The balance $62,973.3T was assess
ed to the property owners.
In the year 1912 street pavements
to the amount of $17,490.S7 were
laid.
The amount paid by the city for
its share of this improvement was
$204t90.
The City Parks.
Since the installation of our cleo
trio street railway, making travel
quick and prompt to every part of
the city, our people have enjoyed our
beautiful parks more than ever be-
fore. No city of the size of Man.
kato can boast of better parks To
keep the parks up to their present
standard, necessarily incurs some eX-
pense, but every one is anxious that
our parks be kept up to their pres
ent standard. During the past two
years $4,000 was spent in improving
the drives of Sibley park and $4,000
for grading and improving the soil,
buying seeds and trees for the same,
and $1,000 was used for grading, fill.
ing. buying seeds and trees, and con-
structing a fountain in Washington
park.
Waterworks and Extensions.
In the year 1911 waterwOrks
plant, consisting of a tower and tank
and pump house with electric driven
pump. was constructed on Agency
hill for water supply and fire pro.
lection of the new Lutheran semi
nary and to supply water and fire
protection to the residences of that
part of our city as the mains are
extended. This was done at a cost
of S7,24S.1S.
The pumping station on Washing
ton street was improved to the ex-
tent Of new boiler at cost of
81, 513.30 and other general repairs
to the extent of about $500.
The waterworks system, valves.
hydrants and mains, were overhauled
wherever necessary and repairs on
them amounting to about $4,000.
Extensions of 2,470 feet of mains
on North Fourth street and on Rec
ord street and Main street. and ad.
ditions of hydrants and valves have
been made at a cost OF $3,6S3.
Value of Additions.
a1I in tbn
waterworks to the value of about
$1,000, besides the new boiler and
general repairs to an additional
amount of over $4,000.
The entire cost of all these i'm
provements have been paid by the
city, and the city has not yet re-
ceivcd back any, part of the same eX.
cept 5000 for laying mains on Record
street, but will in the future, how
ever, be reimbursed for the mains
laid by the regular ten 10) year
assessment against the property bene-
fitted.
The receipts of the waterworks de-
partmeDt for the past two fiscal
years up to March /, amounts to
some $2S,964.67 besides the annual
frontage tax. The disbursements
have been kept within the limit of
receipts in spite of the extensive
improvements and additions made, so
that the fund now has a balance
to its credit of 1898 against a deficit
of Stables two years ago. Although
all the improvements and extensions
have been paid out of the water
works fund
A new waterworks ordinance was
worked out and adopted in 1912
which has helped to put the opera
ton Of the waterworks on better
business basis. The matter of pre-
scribing in the ordinance a penalty
of ten per cent on bills not paid
in ten days has brought about
prompt payment of water rents, and
this should not be considered a
hardship on any one, as it merely
involves good business principles.
Before this provision went into eff
feet there was some $2,977 unpaid
water rents while at the end of Feb
ruary this year there was only
$179.47.
Curb and Gutter and Sidewalks.
A great deal of sidewalks and curb
and gutter were laid and constructed
during the past two years. The part
paid by the city for said improve