The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-07-23
Grade and Gravel
Taxes Start Talk
From Mondays Daily.

Nelopeu tnat there was quite a PROD
lem on hand over the north line of
Lewis street.
Mayor Meyer remarked that he had
been talking the matter over with NJ.
ID. Fritz and ]. J. Flachsenhar. They
owned a lot or more at the northwest
corner OF Lewis and Center streets.
There seemed TO be a mistake In the
line.
City Engineer Blomquist stated
that there had been a mistake made in
the plating of the addition. Lewis
street really ran thirty three feet both
north and south of the line dividing
the sections. That line was fixed by
monuments. The plat had been made
in such a way as to extend six feet
into the street at the northwest cor
ner of Lewis and Center.
The mayor remarked that Mr..
Fritz did not wish To lose that
ground.
"i'rncilmnn Eichsfaedt remarked
that the street might be wide enough,
IL narrowed down SO as to let the lot
continue as II was.
Mayor Meyer suggested that a
sixty foot street might be made.
Owned All Of Block Eight.
J. ]. Flachsenhar remarked that he
and Mr. Fritz owned all OF block
eight and ten feet of block seven at
Lewis and Center streets. He came
TO enter an objection against taking
six feet off that property.
Theodore Williams remarked that
he represented 10 feet on the south
side OF Lewis street. The property
owners on both sides OF the street,
he said. should have fair treatment
He did not think II would be fair to
take from the street on the north
side, while the line on the south side
street should not be made narrower
than the other. Mr.. Bennett had
asked Mr.. Williams to say for him
that he objected to that.
Mayor Meyer said the people ought
to have settled the matter OF the
street lines before they got up the
petition to have the street graded.
He did not think what was done on
the north side ought to make any
difference to the people on the south
side, as long as their own ground
was not affected. He remarked that
IL would narrow down the street too
much to cut off six feet from both
the north and the south sides. He
remarked also that the difficulty
might be solved by the city In its
improvements, just keeping four to
six feet away back from the place
where the north line 70 the street was
supposed to 20. He knew OF cases
where the city kept as much as six
feet away from the street line.
There were others who talked on
the matter OF narrowing the street.
There seemed TO be no other objec-
ton TO that. except what was said by
Mr.. Williams.
At length the whole matter was de-
ferred, and II was agreed that the
whole council would go out to the
place and look the situation over and
discuss II with the property owners.
Question Of Few Feet.
Mayor Meyer remarked that the
question Of staying away few feet
from the north property line would
make no difference with the assess
ment. He asked II there was any
objection to the assessment. and J. 4.
Hickey. who owns property at Grace
rourt and Bradley. and Is subject
also to this assessment, his property
abutting on n portion of the improve
ment, entered strenuous objection
against being assessed at all. He
remarked that ten or twelve years
ago he set out to get the road i'm
proved at the bottom of the hill. ID
was very wet there and vehicles used
to get stuck. He got the city coun-
ell To put In tile drain and he stood
half the cost. lie also at his own
expense put In gravel and sand. The
result was that the property farther
up the hill was also benflted by the
draining. He had put all of $50 into
the street. The Improvement really
did not benefit him ut all. I'm fact
he could hardly get I'm and out at all
now with his auto.
Mayor Meyer asked him II he did
not think he himself was benefited
by the general street Improvement In
the neighborhcod. even II the street
was not actually made any better
right In front of his own property.
Mr.. Hickey replied that his neighbors
did not help when he was getting the
tile drains put in.
Approved the Assessment.
At length the motion was made to
approve the assessment against all
the property. and II was carried. but
the understanding was that NJ.
Hfckey's case would be looked inIo
farther and II warranted. he could
receive a rebate from the city.
All the assessments for the paving
on North and South Front streets,
Main street and Washington street,
were approved, and the date of con-
firmation was set for two weeks from
today. A paving bill against the
street car company, amounting 10
$3.50. was approved.
City Engineer Blomquist presented
plans for the proposed storm sewer
on Poplar street and In the alley i'm
block nine. This was approved.
Plans were approved also for the
water mains on Baker avenue from
West Ninth street TO Moreland ave-
nue. and motion was passed pro-
viding for the opening OF bids two
weeks from today.
"A motion was passed providing for
n hearing TO be held two weeks from
today on a proposed sewer on Thomp-
son street.
City Engineer Blomquist was in
structed to prepare plans and speci-
fcations for a water and sewer i'm
provement sin che IIeighborhood OF
Locust and Hickory streets.
The contract was awarded To SIX.
tEnWlar for fha aiaou,art,. 1T.