The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-08-28

later have to be assessed again for
Its own curb and gutter.
Judge Comstock also remarked
that during the last t~wenty-seven
years he had paid out about $4,000
in taxes on property that had re-
ceived 10 other benefit In the way
Of public work than what was done
with q scraper, such as he could
himself make for $25 and earn $40
on the job. People owning property
In the Main street district and else
where would have liked long ago to
have their street curbed and gut
tered and otherwise improved, so
that dwellings could be erected
there, but they had not had a chance
TO get these improvements. As a
consequence of the slowness of the
city of Mankato TO improve certain
districts OF its own there had been
a great development owe in North
such people for a curb and gutter
on a street where their property was
not located, when they had been
eager to pay for a curb and gutter
on their w streets. Many would
gladly have paid for curb and gut.
ter and sidewalks In front OF their
properties as much as twenty years
ago. Such property had always paid
taxes, anyhow, for general improve
ment.
The Judge went on to say that
when notices OF assessment were
general; Sthose who owned property
that was away from the improve
ment could not be expected to sup
pose that they would be involved in
the assessment.
City Engineer Blomquist remarked
that while the assessment for the
grading and matchmaking had beet
spread. that for the curb and gut.
ter on Main street was merely
against the abutting property, and
the storm W was to be paid for
by the city.
The judge replied that that merely
strengthened his position that an un.
reasonable assessment had been
levied against the property that was
not abutting the improvement.
II was decided by the council TO
take no action on the assessment.
until II could be looked into more
thoroughly.
Fill Up Holes on Broad Street.
Ed. Shoemaker appeared before
the city council this morning with
the suggestion that II would be a
good idea TO All up the holes In the
asphalt on Broad street with con.
crete. He suggested that the holes
could be cleaned out down to the
concrete foundation, and filled up,
thus making the surface uniform
He offered to do this work for moth.
ing on the block between Washing
ton and Plum streets, IL the coun,
ell would give the permission to
shut of that block for a day OF
two, In order to let the asphalt fill
ing harden On motion by Council
man Gerlich, the permission was
granted.
Councilman Lack, who is In
charge of the parks. requested and
was granted permission to tear down
the old grand stand and lemonad 3
stand at Sibley park, and use tn
lumber for other purposes In III
park work. -
Protest Against Assessment.
Attorney c. o. Daley appeared be
fore the city council to protes,
against the assessment of two-thirds
of the cost of paving the alley
sbutting on the east side Of wash,
ington park against the property on
the east side of the alley. He said
the property owners on the east side
OF the alley did not see why they
should pay for more than half the
cost OF paving the alley. The city
owned the property on the other
side. the park property. and should
pay the other half.
Mayor Meyer said the property
owners wanted that alley paved, and
as he understood II they were all
perfectly willing to pay %two.thirds OIL
the cost.
City Attorney Schaub. I'm response
10 an inquiry. stated that the city
had the right to assess the whole
cost against the property benefited
AS the park property was not bene
fitted, the entire cost could be assess
ed against the private property On the
east side Of the alley.
Councilman Lack remarked that
the property ought to be
satisfied with having the city pay
out s465 to help in paying for the
paying Of those two blocks of the
alley. -,.- .
At length 1t was decided to ap
prove the assessment as IL stood.
"Washinston Court" Suggested.
A petition was received, signed ny
John c. Thro, and eight other prop.
erty holders, asking that the alley
east of Washington park between
Mulberry and Washington streets be
called by the euphonious name OF
Washington court. The petition was
laid on the table, the councilmen
fearing that they might be the OBJ,
jects OF some fresh criticism, II they
acted hastily.
Peter Canellos Of Minneapolis ad.
dressed a petition to the council. ask.
ing for a license to run a pool room