The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-07-10
Vacation OF Fourth
Street Main Subject
From Mondays Daily.

1uefe was u nNtly sesstOu Vi the
city. council this morning over the
questions of vacating the much dis
cussed strip of land along the east
side OF North Fourth street from Elm
to Lafayette and of establishing a
line to guide the people In building
sidewalks on that side OF the street.
II seems that some OF the people
who own property abutting here and
who contributed to the fund where.
with a Omaha right-of-way In these
four blocks was purchased, have been
under the impression that all Of these
donations were made on the under.
standing that North Fourth street
here was to be narrowed down by
vacating that strip on the east side,
thus making the street here of the
same width as elsewhere.
What Mr.. Hoerr Understood.
That seems to have been the i'm
preston OF George II. Hoerr, row of
Lebanon, Oregon, who owns property
along the east side of the street and
who was one OF the contributors.
Edward Gugisberg, the real estate
agent, showed the council the fol-
lowing telegram from Mr.. Hoerr:
Protect my interest on Fourth
street. ! demand of the city the amount
! donated for that part OF Fourth
street, fronting my various properties.
| am paying for the street improve.
ments and demand that my rights be
protected and that / be allowed my
portion of the street"
Mr.. Gugisberg stated that Mr.. Hoerr
had three lots at Lafayette and
Fourth two at Madison and Fourth
and one at Vine and Fourth.
Ask For Sidewalk Line.
City Recorder Bates read a petition
from property owners representing
925 feet of the 1870 feet Of interested
property on the east side of the
street, saking that a sidewalk line
be established, as the people had
long gone without a sidewalk.
Councilman Lamm moved that the
sidewalk line be placed ten feet
from the property line.
Over this motion there was q warm
discussion. .n
Councilman Bradley said that when
he paid 500 on behalf of Mr.. Hoerr
II was on the understanding that the
street was to be vacated along that
strip. He did not think It wise to
establish the sidewalk line before II
was known whether or not there was
to be a vacation, He was In favor of
waiting until the hearing on the va
cation took place in September. He
thought some way might be devised
Of selling the vacated property to the
abutting property owners. No attempt
had been made to do that.
City Cannot Give Deed.
Mayor Meyer remarked that the
city could not give the deed to the
property and Mr. Gerlich said the
city might vacate the strip and lie,
the benefited property owners make
contribution to the city treasury.
Councilman Lamm has always
been in favor of making a parkway
out OF this strip. Mr.. Gerlich said
the city was taxed enough already
for the up-keep OF parks.
Councilman Lack thought some
way might be devised whereby the
property owners could be made to
take care OF the boulevard, large as
II was. 81.
Chief Of Police Klugherz said he
had never understood that the dona
tons for the purchase Of the MIL
waukee strip had been made with
any promise OF q vacation.
you are butting I'm here pretty
freely, Mr.. Klugherz," said Mr.. Ger
Itch.
Why He "Butted In"
Il am butting in on behalf OF my
wife's sister who Is a property owner
along the street." replied the chief.
II. F. Messe was on hand urging
that the matter of establishing the
sidewalk line be deferred until II
was known whether or not the striI
was to be vacated.
Chief Klugherz said Sivert Olsor
was among those who wanted thu
sidewalk line established but had no
had chance to sign the petition.
Mr.. Messe said Mr.. Olson told hin
he did not want 1t done and would no
sign the petition. There was 81
much division of opinion that no &C
ton was taken on Mr. Lamm's mo
ton.
What Mr.. Taylor Says.
Charles T. Taylor who was mayo
at the time the proposition for tn,
purchase of the Omaha right-of-wa.
was pushed through, was seen by |
Free Press representative and wa
asked whether any promise had beer
made to those who donated that Their,
would be vacation. Mr.. Taylor sal,
no such promise had been made. II,
said the council had no authority I,
make such promise. He said Their
were many on the west side OF tn,
street who donated towards that fun,
and there were some on the cas-
side who would not give at all. III
said he could not see the justic,
OF vacating the strip on the east side
adding to the holdings OF those peopl
i nndar thna~ avn -