The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-12-05

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drive off all the drunks and unde.
sirable women who congregate there?
1--we need better police protection, .
. declared Mr.. Robel The jail and
city hall features were discussed.
Were we to annex we would get
the same service that Mankato now
has. Mankato councilmen would vote
to improve North Mankato and the
entire city. The city spirit would
prevail. We would have sewer
system and city attorney to adj
wise our council"
No Drainage Grade.
Mr.. Robel claimed that the need
of an engineer is apparent. I'VE
have no drainage grade. Water
stands in the streets"
F. H. Ehlers claimed that the water
would run off if curbs and cutters
wero built
Continuing Mr. Robel discussed the
benefits that would come from the
use of the public library and the
parks in Mankato why should We
not annex" he asked.
Mr.. Larson said that the people
Of North Mankato could use the
parks in Mankato. "If we annex
we will have to pay a portion of the
expense of maintaining large NUM-
cipal government. We would have
to pay taxes on levy of $85,OO0
Seven per cent of that means $4,000.
Our taxes would be increased"
| Messrs Robel and Stewart stated
that the taxes would be based on
the property valuation,
"Hot Air." Said Banker.
Mr.. Banker, whose voice is like
that which turneth wrath into a
soft answer, referred to the re-
marks which were made by Mr..
Schaub in previous meeting, and
said that the city attorney had shot
"hot air" This annexation hobby
seems to hinge on fire protection
and the popularity of living in a
! city. Most of us are satisfied to
live in village. Three-fonrths Of
the people in North Mankato' own
their own homes for the purpose OF
living in them and not for specula-
ton. Others own property that might
sell quicker if the village were to
! be annexed to Mankato. AS long
as man owns his own home and
is content to live in it and is not
DESTROYS of specuiating, is it going
TO profit him to have the valuation
of his property raised thirty-three
and one-third per cent? We have
good water and good fire protection.
Regarding the Police.
with the present size of the
police force in Mankato, am -of the
opinion they have got about all they
can attend to on that side of the
river. When this village becomes
so unruly that more police protection
shall be required the town will have
grown up so that we can afford to
pay for more policemen. The same
thing will be done with the fire de-
partment. l cannot see any benefit
that could accrue to us from annexa-
ton"
Mr.. Banker insisted that improve
ments would not be made any quicker.
in North Mankato under annexation
than they are now. He claimed that
people living in the outskirts of Man
kato could not obtain improvements,
and cited an instance of a property
owner in Ogle's addition who was
| compelled to install water system
| in his home because the city would
not extend the mains to his property
He said that the dirty condition of
Poplar and Minnesota streets was
disgrace to the city North Man
kato, he said, would not get it's paw
ing any cheaper under annexation.
Insurance rates are the same in
North Mankato as they are in Man
kato, and there are undesirables in
Mankato Notwithstanding the fact
that the city has a police force.
North Mankato has welded out this
class of people,
Eoys' Play, Said Banker.
Mr.. Banker regarded it as boys
play to annex the municipality and
not the territory to Mankato. 1--WE
are not feeble-minded and do not
need guardian appointed for u.s."
Emil Rhode said that the indi-
viduals have to pay for the paved
streets. "If we make any improve
ments We will have to pay for them
out of our own pocket | do not
care snap about living in q city.
You will have to show me wherein
North Mankato is going to be bene-
flied by annexation. We have better
streets than Mankato has, and we
will be better off to continue to
govern ourselves. The Lord has done
more for North Mankato than Man
.kato can do. He has given us a
soil that permits the water to run
away in the sand"
Mr. RObel wanted to know why
the tax rate in North Mankato is
about the same as it is in Mankato.
No one discussed this point only
so far as to say they were not sat
isfied with the rate.
Building Up Community.
Mr.. Robel again took the floor.
He said that the reason why he had
callouses on his hands was due to