New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-05-13
Council Amends
Gas Franchise
Kennedy Gains Point and Has
Objectionaleb Features
Changed.
Paving Project Given Impetus.
Reservoir Contract
Awarded.

AWdFOe0.
Monday evening the council again
met to consult with Mr.. j. A. Kennedy
in regard to the gas franchise passed
April 18th. The gas company was not
altogether satisfied with the franchise
as worded and asked for some slight
amendments. Mr.. L. F. Blyler, the
new business manager of the Minneapolis
Gas & Light Company was also present
acting for J. P Smith. The first OBJ
lection entered was that it would be
unfair to the company to be held to the
$4,000 bond required in Section 6 for
the construction of new mains. 1t
would mean that the company would
have to carry such bond practically all
the time as they will constantly be
adding to the system. The council
readily agreed that the proposition was
unfair and this provision was removed.
They then asked permission to change
to a high-pressure system in case this
proved advisable. As this would mean
better gas supply, the council agreed
s to this change.
The next change was in regard to the
pany's property The franchise permits
the inspection of all property but to in
sure the company from annoyance by
the promiscuous examination of their
books, it was deemed advisable to limit
the inspection to all physical property
unless the city was considering the
buying of the plant, which right they
have at five year intervals So.
i Another important change was in the
1clause which granted the franchise for
twenty years and no longer. Mr..
Kennedy pointed out that by this word
ing the company would find themselves
without franchise and with a useless
plant on their hands at the expiration of
the time. A compromise was finally
effected which states, in substance, that
the company shall at the expiration OF
the twenty years be given an additional
fifteen years franchise with a maximum
rate of $1.40 per thousand cubic feet,
kn cents lower than the former rate.
with few minor revisions the franchise
was then accepted.
There now seems to be nothing in the
way Of New Ulm's getting the much
needed improvements in short order
Mr.. Kennedy declared that they would
put a large force to work as soon as
possible and get their mains in before
the paving could interfere. The COM
pany hopes to be furnishing gas by
October first.
There was some little discussion of the
location of the gas works at the Monday
night meeting but nothing definite was
decided upon. 1t would seem that the
lower the level which may be secured for
the plant the better for the purposes of
pressure and there was talk of locating
near the foot of Center Street and also
near the NJ. & St. L. Station. This is
matter to be settled later.
Acting upon the resolution adopted at
the last regular meeting of the CONNER
i Nal club, Merrss. Wd. Eibner and A. j.
Vogel appeared at the regular meeting
of the city council held May 9Th and
urged upon the city fathers the necessity
of pushing the paving project if the five
blocks on Minnesota Street which were
at former meeting designated to be
paved, are to be completed this year
This led to some discussion as to the
material to be used. Altho the most of
the members are favorable to the paving
with creosoted wood blocks, it was
deemed advisable to have specifications
s1prepared for brick paving also and City
Engineer Minium was instructed to
prepare the requisite plans and specifi-
cations at an early date. This will
necessitate considerable work, but MI.
Minium expects to be able to have the
required data in readiness for the council
at the next regular meeting. Should
they be adopted then it is barely possible
that the bids for the work can be gotten
\. in by the latter part of June and nothing
WOULD then stand in the way Of having
sl~.le paving completed this fall some time.
nrfs In connection with the paving project
the proper committee reported that
thirty vaterworks and sewer connec-
tions would have to be made in the paw
ing district before the paving could be
done. The council went on record the
following evening ordering the property
owners to make the required connec-