The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-22

part of North Fourth street =. The
property owners started a movement
some time ago to have the tracks
taken up, and a collection was started
to raise the money. The Omaha
property was bought for $1,000 and
thus the city obtained Q -street that
was 1S5 feet wide. instead OF one
that was split In the middle by the
Omaha roadway. .I !. s...
II. F.. Messe, 9l5 North Fourth
street appeared at the meeting to
ask what was going to be done in
regard TO the street. He said the
grading was going en- right now and
IL the street was to be partly vacated.
the property owners would Ike to
know il, as they would like TO take
steps to move their houses down to
the new street line and not be left
away up on the hill. He said that
when the petition was circulated and
collections were taken to buy UP the
Omaha property, the people who were
approached were given to understand
that the east side of the street would
be vacated. ..
Councilman Lamm said he had been
told that there was no such under.
standing, Some OF the property own
ers had contributed and some had
not. The Omaha sold the property
very cheap. being anxious to get
whatever II could for what It held.
Councilman Geriich said he had
handed in a hundred-dollar check for
certain property owners on that
understanding. The property was TO
revert to the property owners ada
cent. There had been a lot OF kick
ing and the council ought to see what
could be done.
Mr., Lamm remarked that. IL the
] east side of the street was vacated,
1 some OF the people would move their
houses down near the. street line
and Others would not.
| Mayor for Boulevard.
! Mayor Meyer strongly Endorsed the
idea of making a boulevard and
parkway OF the east side of the
street, thus narrowing down the road
way.
MIR. Gerlleh wanted to know whe-
ther the people living along the east
side of that street we're going to be
asked to curb and gutter the street
and then not have the property east
OF the new. roadway line given to
them. y,
Mr.. Lamm declared that to give
this property away would mean the
donation of at least $500 to every
one OF the property owners on the
east side of the street. 80.
II was suggested that the hearing
on the question of vacating a portion
of those four blocks, which was re-
Gently set TO be held In September,
be held edrlier. Mr.. Lamm said he
did not think this could be done.
Mr.. Schaub said Il might be changed
by doing the advertising all over
again. Mr.. Schaub said that from
what he had heard, he believed two
thirds Of the property owners did
not want the street vacated. but
would rather have the parkway idea
carried out.
Favored The Parkway,
Mr.. Gerlich remarked that II the
owners were charged for the grading
now going on. they would not be
willing to have the property made
4 into a parkway
Mr.. Lamm argued that II was no
more than right that those people
should pay part OF the cost OF grad
ing and beautifying the street In
front OF their homes.
Mayor Meyer remarked that the
Improvement was a great benefit to
the property anyhow, even II nothing
were added to their holdings
Mr.. Messe declared that when the
petition was circulated. Il was under
stood that the property on the east
side of the street was 10 be vacated.
Mr.. Schaub said that be himself
made out the petition and had attend
ed meeting where the matter was
discussed. and he knew of no such
understanding.
Exchange Of Words.
A remark was made that John
Holman, WHO was active In circu-
lating the petition. had stated that
liz was on the understanding that the
east side OF the street was TO be va
Gated ...