The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-08

bridge of these dimensions, I believe
would be sufficient not only for the
present but also for the future. The
widell company have given as their
estimate of the cost of such a bridge
the sum of $4,000.
II think that practically all you
gentlemen will agree with me when
I say that the present bridge is
entirly insufficient. that new
bridge should be built not only for
the present but for the future as
well, and that a bridge OF lesser di,
mansions than those have men
toned would not be sufficient.
Most important Question.
"The most important question for
consideration In this matter OF
building a new bridge is the question
OF raising the necessary funds for
ths B PHHFBBSse ThheeFFse aaFee SIX SIX m a
sources that | have i'm mind:
First. Help from the state high
way commission through Blue Earth
and Nicollet counties. AS you prob
ably know the state provides for a
one mill tax to help counties in the
construction OF roads and bridges.
This tax amounts at the present
time to about S1.GOO.OOO annually.
This according to the law Is allotted
TO the different counties by the
State Highway commission, before
which body IL is our intention TO
appear on Wednesday OF this week.
According to the law no county can
receive less than one per cent or
$4,000 from this fund. After giving
each county this minimum there re-
mains about $224,000 in the fund
which is allotted to the different
counties that are most in need OF IL
by the commission. However no
county can receive over three per
cent or $4,000. 1t is our hope, gentle.
men, that we can induce the com.
mission TO give us the proper help
out OF this fund through the two
counties of Blue Earth and Nicollet.
Just how large a sum can be raised
in this manner we do not now know.
But to see this commission and get
their aid is evidently the first step
towards raising the necessary funds.
Assistance From County.
Second. We expect also some as.
sistance from Blue Earth county
aside from any appropriation made
by the Highway commission.
Third. We expect Nicollet county
to assist. Just what assistance should
be asked from Nicollet and Blue
Earth counties cannot we'll be de-
termined until we know positively
the amount of state aid we are to
receive.
Fourth. The City of Mankato It.
self of course should give it's proper
share TO the construction of this
bridge. The new bridge will be of
great benefit to our city and we can
well afford to give substantial as
sistance even to an amount OF $685.
900 or so. This money can be raised
on bonds which should mature In an.
nual installments, and they can be
easily taken care of by! the city as
shall show little later.
Fifth. We also expect some help
from the village of North Mankato
TO whom the bridge too is a great
benefit.
Sixth. We will also receive help
from the public utility companies
that will make more or less use of
the new bridge. The street car COM
pany has already pledged $1,000 for
this purpose.
1T is hard at this time TO est.
mate even what each one of the
above sources should yield towards
the building of the new bridge, but
II so per cent of the cost of the
bridge could be secured from the
state, IL is evident that the burden
resting on the city and the coun,
ties is one they could easily bear.
Citys Financial Condition.
Another question that arises for
consideration is: Is the financial con.
dition of the city of Mankato such
that it can at this time afford under.
taking the task of building this
bridge. To determine this question
IL would be well to take q look al
the city's finances. shall not at
tempt to give a infinitely accurate
and detailed statement on this head
but the situation Is substantially as
am about TO show
First let us take a look at the
resources of the different funds as
of April LIST, 1918 and January list
1915.
Apr 1, 10 Jan. l, IL
General fund. S25,3S6. 81 s29,643 rs
Interest fund :. 5,245. 70 1856. so
Fire department
fund ........ 5,l53.39 9,752. a
Police depart
ment fund E. $780, gas. SO
Salaries fund e. 4,531.34 12.24S. Og
Health fund E. 1908 .93 2,315. SO
LIGHT fund : 300 II n Inc 40