The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-08-13

contract for the extension of water
mains on West Sixth street from
WoOdwards to Givens. At length the
contract was awarded TO the lowest
bidder. John Mccall. whose figure
was SG9S. The city engineers esti-
mate was s725. The other two bid
ders were c. NJ. Masters. s9ll. and
the Mankato Plumbing and Heating
company. $3.50.
Water Wanted by Factory.
The discussion was not over the
question who should get the contract.
but whether the Improvement should
De- made at all The water Is wanted
for the new tile factory. which was re-
Gently established out there by the
Minnesota Pipe and Tile company.
Mrs. II. 4. Philbrick. resident Of
Canada, who owns property to be as
sessed. appeared before the council.
on her own behalf and on behalf Of
h." mother. Mrs. Della Hill Mrs.
IIi'l owns six lots and Mrs. Philbrock
Owns three and 4 half There was
rcmOnstrance signed by twelve of the
property owners, and Mrs. Philbrick
declared that this included all but
two. besides the factory people.
Mrs. philbrick declared that Il was
not reasonable 10 assess the property
owners along that street for an i'm
prOvement that was wanted only by
the factory owners. She said the
houses out there could be rented only
10 laboring people, who could not pay
enough rent TO make IL pay the own
.rB Ia put Ia the city water.
Company Made Big investment.
Councilman Eichstaedt remarked
that the factory people had made big
investment and had not asked a
bonus. They ought not to be turned
down. The other council members
seemed TO take the same view. though
IL was conceded that IL was hard on
the owners OF property along that
street TO be taxed for the Improvement
The mayor said il was 4 hard propo-
sitiOn. He did not know whether the
council could legally give the people
any rebate from their assessment or
not. Councilman Lamm thought il
could be done He said water funds
had been SO handled before. This
matter will be looked up.
Sewer on Thompson Street.
After further discussion of the
question OF installing sanitary
sewer on Thompson street from
Fourth to Fifth and on Fifth from
Thompson to May, the council at
length decided at this mornings ses-
sion TO instruct the city recorder 10
advertise for bids. Councilman Eich-
staedt argued that the improvement
was necessary. as people in that
neiRhborhood were being greatly both
cred with water i'm their cellars. On
the other hand il was argued that
some other improvements. I'm the
way OF grading and the like. ought to
be done first. The motion was passed
by the votes of Councilman Eich-
staedt. Lack and Lamm. Mayor
Meyer and Councilman Bekke being
in the opposition.
West Fifth Street Improvement.
This was the day for the hearing
on the confirmation OF the assess
ment for the grading and graveling
OF West Fifth street. on both sides or
Woodland avenue. West of Wood
land the street is sixty feet wide and
east OF Woodland Il is eighty feet
wide. II had been decided TO move
the sidewalk on the south side OF
Fifth. east OF Woodland little
farther to the north so as IN conform
with the sidewalk west OF Woodland.
This will have the effect of adding
five feet to the front yards OF the
people on the south side OF Fifth
east of Woodland. but they will have
10 pay higher assessments than those
west of Woodland, the street to the
west being narrower The assess
ment was confirmed.
Bill Of 81 Is Held Up.
Richard Hammett presented n bill
OF 81 for getting out OF bed the other
night and helping a rag dealer 10
get his horse out of a ditch on South
Front street. near the f>,tsford lum-
Der Office. The horse was gotten out
by filling up the hole. Mr.. Hammett
did this service At the call OF a po-
liceman. The council laid the bill
over II may be that the means will
be found to get the ragman to pay
the bill. He drove that night where
he should not have gone. City off,
Gals claim that the ditch was prop
erly guarded.
4 letter from John w. Smith.
cashier OF the Iowa Savings bank OF
Cedar Rapids. was read. stating that
David Davis was a man OF good char
acter and worthy TO be trusted with
saloon license. Thereupon. the
council granted the request that
Henry PARROTS license to run the
R-Cade saloon be transferred 10 Mr..
Davis.
That the city council had gotten IT.
self into something Of pickle" de-
veloped at the regular weekly meet
ing this morning. IL is all about the
hiring of an engineer to draw the
plans for the new bridge at Main
street. II will be remembered that
late Monday afternoon. the council by
the concerted action OF four votes, all
asserting except Mayor A. G.. Meyer,
passed motion to employ the Con-
crete Steel Engineering company OF
New York for this work.
Now it develops that that action
was illegal. The mayor announced
this morning that he had discovered
this fact. The job had not been let
In q way agreeable TO the provisions
Of the charter. because the meeting
was secret one. II the session had
been public. the New York firm would
have been regularly and legally hired.
The New York engineers have al
ready begun work. II Is expected the