The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-10-30

, the city's hands. He also declared
that four years ago the company
!. furnishing electricity in that city
had declared that a rate OF less
than twelve cents per kilowatt hour
would be confiscatory, but after
!, wards rate of eight cents per
kilowatt hour was obtained from the
company, and that was deemed too
high.
i Mayor Frundt' OF Blue Earth said
he also was highly in favor OF NUM-
cipai ownership of public utilities,
and the plan had worked well in his
city. 80 -.
kato Company Perpetual Charter.
1 Mr.. Schaub remarked that the
!, company operating In Mankato had
: a perpetual franchise. He said that
II by regulation just rates could be
/ gotten from the public service cor.
porations, then the main argument
for public ownership fell to the
: ground. IL just rates could not be
obtained otherwise than by public
ownership, then public ownership
should be had. - II
| Professor J. v. Martenis of the
! state university read a paper on
Central Heating Stations" The
subject Of Minnesota Public Utili-
ty Rates" was handled, by G. A.
Gesell Of the municipal reference
, bureau of the state university.
The Question Box. vi
The report of the question box
committee, of which Jacob Nichol-
son, city attorney of Austin, was the
chairman, was one OF the most in
teresting features OF the afternoon.
One question was: Has q city
the right to remove from a boule-
ward tree that is interfering with
electric wires. Answer: Yes. -
Question: An ordinance OF a
Minnesota city. recently was passed..
ordering all houses on q certain
street to be built twenty-five feet
back from the street line; a justice
of the peace held the ordinance un-
constitutional; was the justice right?
Answer: Yes.
The special committee appointed
to look into the matter Of organic
ing a cooperative municipal engin-
eering bureau, as a department of
the league activities, reported in
favor OF such a bureau, and recon-
mended that professor Frederick III.
Bass of the state university, who
had suggested the bureau, be placed
at It's head. The object OF such a
bureau is to furnish advice and
suggestions to municipalities, es-
pecially small villages, who cannot
afford to have engineers Of their
own. s. A. Siverts, mayor of Nor,
ris, was chairman OF this special
committee. The report was adopted.
From Fridays Daily.
Resolved, that the League OF Min.
nesota Municipalities approves and
heartily endorses the work OF the
Municipal Reference bureau, which
division of the University OF Min
nesota. In gathering for and furnish
ing to the municipalities OF our
state valuable data and special in
formation upon subjects In which
they are vitality concerned, thereby
giving them the advantages of the
research work of a well managed
branch of a great university and
the benefits of the best modern
thought. and methods for the prac-
tical and successful solution of
municipal problems. -.
That the members of this league
appreciate the untlring efforts, real
and efficient work OF our secretary
and treasusurer, Richard r. Price,
who Is the director of the extension
division OF the university and Of
Mr.. Gesen who Is In charge of the
Municipal Reference bureau, for es-
tablishing and successfully manag.
ing a bureau for the dissemination
OF knowledge needed by the officials
of municipalities, and thank them
for the valuable aid and assistance
they have cheerfully and promptly
given.
That this league believes the
Municipal Reference bureau should
have the encouragement and sup
port of all the people, and that
with the growth of the state 1t will
prove to be a permanent adjunct to
the university Of great usefulness
and incalculable value.
Resolved, that this league be-
lieves that the Municipal Reference
bureau would greatly increase its
influence and usefulness by having
competent university men and others
make special. study OF the needs Of
the small municipalities of the state
In the matter of village and city plan
ming, sewerage, lighting, water sup
ply, engineering, municipal manage
ment, and other things affecting the
welfare, comfort. and happiness OF
the inhabitants thereof as whole;
and after making the study and In
vestigation, that the bureau be
ready. when requested. to furnish
the municipalities such needful as
sistance and expert advice as will
best help them conduct their NUM-
cipal affairs In an up-to-date, scien.
tific, and economical manner. 1t is
our opinion that good results viii
follow IL the foregoing suggestions
are carried out.
The larger communities have been
obliged to solve intricate and press
ing questions~-that were forced upon
Z H.. -. A.