The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-09-08

He thought 1t would be easier 10
control the situation, in case there
was any such sickness, with the pu-
pills under control, than if they were
sent back home. He asked why 1t
would not be just as logical to close
the Sunday schools and moving pic
ture houses. He showed a letter
that he had sent to the parents OF
the school children, containing the
following:
Call For Cooperation.
1.-THE prevalence of infantile par
sirable that we shall be very care
full in our watch here. There are no
cases in Mankato at present, but we
plan to do every thing possible to
prevent any cases from getting into
the public schools. To that end,
Miss Peters, the school nurse, will
give her entire time at first to eX-
animation of children showing any
indications of i'll health and may ask
some to remain away from school
until it is known what the trouble
may be-. We hope all parents viii
cooperate fully with us in this mat
ter"
The superintendent said that Miss
Peters, the school nurse, was in the
twin cities attending conference on
that subject and was expected back
soon.
He said the grade teachers, with
the exception of one or two, lived
right here in Mankato and did not
come from all over the state. There
were not many families that had
children attending both the normal
and public schools.
The superintendent said it would
mean much loss of time in the school
work to close the public schools
now. The board of education would
meet tomorrow night and take the
subject up.
The mayor remarked that the mat
ter should have been brought up q
week or two ago.
Councilman Eichstaedt observed
that he had been informed that the
schools had been kept open in Min
neapolis. E
Will Not Enforce Laws.
Mr.. Sperry said that in Minneap-
oils the truancy laws would not be
enforced during September, so par
ents could keep their children home
if they saw fit. 1t would be the
same in Mankato.
Mr.. Wise said the normal board
could do nothing but carry out the
instructions of the state board of
health. All precautions should be
taken, rather than have a single
case of the disease.
DIR. Schmitt said it was rather a
late hour to bring the matter up, but
it was not until Sunday morning
that the president of the normal
school got that order from the state
board of health. In regard to con-
trolling the disease, he said there
was no disease at present to control
If an epidemic were already started
then it could be controlled better
with the schools open. He did not
think the theatres and Sunday
schools could be ordered closed
when there was no epidemic.
Councilman Lack was inclined
to think the city council had no au-
thority to close the schools, and the
mayor thought it could not be done
unless there was an epidemic, but
DR.. Schmitt said the council could dc
this and the state board would back
it up.
At length the whole matter was
referred to the local health board
consisting of the mayor, city clerk
and city health officer.
Will Decorate Streets.
John. Nyquist appeared before the
council on behalf of the MankatC
fair, land urged that something be
done to decorate the city streets
during the time the fair is held. Al
length the council decided to appro-
pirate 5000, to be used by the fail
directors themselves in street dec
Orations.
City Clerk Bates read report
from Chief of Police Klugherz
showing that during the month Of
| August there had been thirty-si,
arrests and fifteen dodgers at The
police station
A motion was passed to hold {
hearing a week from next Monday
on some curb and gutter improve.
ments, proposed for various parts o.
the city. .,4
Mayor Lamm opened a discussion
of the areaway and basement stair.
way that have been constructed OF
the Hickory street side of the Man.
kato State bank. 49,,
| Councilman Lack thought sucl
things should not go on.
Councilman Humiston said the cit,
| ought to have an ordinance tellin.
definitely just what was and wha
was not allowed in such cases.
Councilman Eichstaedt thought /.
damper should be put on the con
struction of such areaways on an,
OF the main streets or side streets.
City Has an Ordnance.
it developed that the city dit
hare an old ordinance on the mat
ter. length City Attorney Phil
lips was instructed to look into tn,
matter and see just what ordin
ances there were bearing on tn
subject, and also to Sc what ordin
ances other cities had, with viey
to throwing light on the question O
what would be a proper ordinance
n Getting such conditions in Mankato
City Engineer Rlomquist spoke o
the proposed water maiu extension
on Fuller street. Mayor Lamn
thought such improvements shoul
be deferred for the present, on &C
M mt 90 III =