The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-11-27
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70 Officials
From Mondays Daily.


hold a license granting them the
right to do such work, II the city
council remains In its present frame
OF mind in regard to that subject.
Councilman Bradley brought to
the attention Of the council the fact
that the city had an ordinance re-
quiring those who did electrical
wiring to report to the city engineer
and have him inspect the job. that
there might be no danger Of fire
from the way In which the work was
done. He said this ordinance was
not being lived up to.
City Engineer Blomquist stated
that many school boys were doing
such work and were making no
report on II.
At length Il was decided that the
proper thing to do was to require
every one who did such work to
have a license. City Attorney
Schaub was instructed to draft an
amendment to the ordinance, adding
this provision.
Protest Against Assessment.
Several owners OF property on
the east side OF North Fourth street
from Elm TO Lafayette appeared be-
fore the council TO protest against
being assessed for the graveling Of
the new roadway that has been con-
structed there. a little to the east
OF the main street, leaving a park.
way in between. They declared that
they had been obliged TO pay for
the grading and graveling Of the
main street and they should not
be compelled to pay for the gray
cling Of the new roadway also. The
delegation included August Wagner,
Frank Denim. Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Hub
and Mrs. Guenther
Claim u 10 Agreement.
The assessment made by the city
was in accordance with an agree
ment recently made between the
city council and the property own.
ers affected. This was done when
the question was up rs to the best
way OF narrowing down the main
part of the street so as TO conform
with other parts OF that same street.
At that time II was agreed that the
city would pay for the grading Of
the new driveway and for the curbs
on both sides OF the parkway. The
property owners were to pay for
the graveling OF the new roadway,
and for the curb on its east side.
The city paid one-third Of the cost
OF grading and graveling the main
street, the other twothirds being
assessed. This arrangement was In
accordance with the petition pre-
sented to the city council, and the
council members thought the whole
thing was settled.
After some discussion. the council
decided to defer the whole matter
TO the meeting two weeks from to-
day. At that time the confirmation
OF the assessment for the gravel
ing viii come up. II may then be
decided whether TO grant the prop
erty owners any rebate on what
they paid for the grading and grav.
cling OF the main street.
Bridge Floor Much Worn.
City Engineer Blomquist reported
that the floor OF the bridge across
the Minnesota river at Main street
was so much worn and decayed that
extensive repairs OF the same were
not practicable, except where i'm
mediate necessity required such
the safety OF travel. II would there
fore be necessary TO replace the
old floor with a new one within a
short time Some OF the stringers
we're partly decayed and when a
new floor was put on II would be-
necessary to replace about two
thirds of them. The exact condi-
tion of the stringers, he said. could
not be determined until the floor
was taken of. SO they could be
examined.
Mr.. Blomquist stated that the ca
pacity of the bridge did not war.
rant the construction OF a concrete
floor or the placing OF steel string
ers In place OF wood. He recon-
mended the construction OF a single
four-inch white oak plank floor. get
ting bids on both creosoted and I'M
treated planks. He believed that
a single floor of the same thickness
would last longer than two layers
OF plank. lie said that where string
ers were defective they should be
replaced with creosoted pine or
hemlock.
Estimate Of Cost.
The city engineer gave the fol.
lowing estimate OF cost, according |
to his recommendations: thirty.
eight thousand feet fourinch No.
white oak planks at s45. sl,710; If
teen thousand three by fourteen
inch creosoted stringers at $50,
$3.50: labor and nails for repairing
floor. $3.50; total cost, s2.710.
He further stated that some minor
repairs would be necessary on the
ratings. Otherwise the bridge was
apparently in fair condition.
Mr.. Blomquist. on inquiry, stated
that he had understood that the
Nicollet county commissioners had
already allowed the promised slh
to help repair the sidewalk on the