The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-09-24
Plans For the Structure Before
kato City Council
from Mondays oaiIv.

? rom Mondays JAW
Just what sort of bridge Is to
be built over the Minnesota river at
Main street Is a question before the
city council now. Donald d. Price OF
Lincoln. Neb.. the engineer. was be-
fore the council this morning and an
nounced that he had completed a set
of plans. His plans are for an earth =
filed bridge, with fiat arch.
There was some discussion over the
Question whether to have an earth
filled bridge or the open spandrel. Mr..
Price favored the earth filed bridge.
arguing that 1t distributed the weight
In such way as to make 1t unneces-
sary to have such heavy arches as
would be needed for an open span
drel bridge, in which the floor Is
supported by vertical columns. ex-
tending down to the arch. City Engi-
neer Blomquist also seemed inclined
10 favor the earth filled bridge.
The Luton System.
Mr.. Prices plans called for the Lu-
ten system OF steel reinforcement. On
| inquiry he stated that the use of this
system would neCessitate the city
paying a royalty OF $1,000 OH the pat
ent. but even at that, he believed II
| would be better than to use the old
Milan system. the patent on which
had run out. for the construction it
self according to that system would
| cost a great deal more money.
Mr.. Price stated that he had state
ment OF what was required by the
state highway commission in the way
OF constructing bridges In this state
In order to get the state aid. He said
his plans did not conform with all
that was recommend by the commits
| sion, but he believed that what he
| had planned was better in these few
respects in which the differences &C.
| Cured.
Highway Commission Consent.
The discussion brought out that II
was absolutely necessary to get the
approval of the state highway com
mission. because money was being OBJ
tanned from that body for the bridge
At length IL was agreed to bring j.
II. A. BrahtL OF st. Paul, who was
been employed as inspector OF this
bridge. to Mankato to talk the matter
over with Mr.. frice, City Attorney
Phillips and members of the Mankato
council. Then the whole subject Is
| to be laid before the state highway
commission. No plans will be adopted,
of which that body disapproves.
DR.. A. G. Liedloff appeared before
| the council this morning with a pro-
test against being toe lenicnt wit,
the Sterling Electric company OF Min
neapolis, whose contract to install the
white way on Front street should have
been completed long ago. The origin
al contract called for the completion
of the job on the first OF August. Then
the council. on account of unforeseen
delays I'm getting the material, grant :
ed the company a thirty day extension
But even yet there is no white way.
| Assessments Are Paid.
Dr. Liedloff said that property own
ers had paid their assessments for
this long ago. although II was Gus
tonary to issue the assessment about
| the time of the completion of a con-
tract and give thirty days within
which to make the payment. IL a
property owner mislaid the notice and
so forgot to bring in his money on
tlIIlt, ttcu hc was Dht WV oos y
, late. there would be penalty for him
! to nay. The doctor urged the council
to be as strict with the company as
the city authorities were with the
property owners. and enforce the pen
altv for delay in fulfilling the contract.
The council took no action on the
matter. but the remark was passed
around that as far as the payment OF
assessments was concerned, the
council could not grant extension
but had to abide by the city charter.
Difference Of Opinion. .
There was a division of opinion in
the city council on the question of
awarding the contract for grading.
crawling and boulevarding and in
staliing sanitary sewer and water
mains on Locust street. When the
bids were opened. II was found that
Lundeen Brothers had offered to do
the grading. graYeling and boulevard
ing for $3.50. John Mccall offered to