The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-02-25
G.eat Many Improvements Were
Accomplished In the Twelve
Months
Most important Work Was the
Extension of Front Street
Paving
From Mondays Daily.

Plans and specifications for the
proposed new storm sewer on Vine
Fifth, Rock and Sixth streets were
presented at the meeting of the city
council this morning by City Engineer
Blomquist and were promptly accept
ed. City Clerk Bates was instructed
to advertise for bids to be opened
two weeks from today. The sewer
is to run Vine street from Fourth to
Fifth, on Fifth from Vine to Rock
on Rock from Fifth to Sixth and on
Six from Rock to Marsh.
The annual report of the library
board, signed by the president, Rev
A. F. Winter and the secretary, F. L.
Soaring, was placed before the city
council this morning. The report
shows that at the beginning of the
year 1915. there were in the city Ii
brHrv. 1862 volumes and at the close
of the year 1907. The new borrowers
added during the year numbered LOS
making a total of 6,033 borrowers
cards outstanding. The number OF
cases of volumes borrowed for home
use during the year came to 40,S14
The average daily attendance at the
reading room was thirty-fou At the
beginning of the year the money in
the hands of the board was $1,653.39
The receipts amounted to SALTS. II,
and the expenditures to $5,26S. So,
leaving a balance of 1852 SO at the
close of the year.
Building Not Moved.
City Councilman Bekke called at
tention to the fact that John Macbeth
had not yet removed the dwelling
that he owns from the roadway at
the foot of Rock street. Mr.. Bekke
said he understood that a sale of
property was about to be made in
that neighborhood and quite an i'm
provement accomplished, and it would
be desirable to get the old dwelling
out of the way. He was asked what
the new establishment would be and
he was not prepared to say.
Councilman Robert Lamm took the
view that there was no use in disturb
ing the dwelling until it was really
necessary.
Councilman Eichstaedt moved that
the matter be referred to Acting May
or A. G. Lack and City Attorney
Phillips, with instructions to get the
house removed, but Mr.. Lack and
Mr.. Lamm both voted no, and the mo-
ton was lost on the tie vote. Mr..
EiChstaedt afterwards remarked that
the house could be gotten out at any
time within the space of two or three
days.
Councilman Lack read to the coun-
Gil a letter received from G. Swanson
of San Francisco, a letter offering to
fpr nt
house on the northwest corner of
Lewis and Marshall streets. He said
this property would be needed by the
city for the widening of the west end
of Lewis street, where Lewis and
Florence streets join. The communi-
cation was simply placed on file.
Bond Is Approved.
The bond of Matt Holland Of Can
non Falls, in the sum of $3.50, guar
anteeing faithful performance of the
contract for the digging of the new
city we'll was accepted by the city
council this morning. The bond is
guaranteed bv the American Surety
company of New York.
City Clerk Bates called the atten-
ton of the council that the city now
had no election booth in the fifth
ward and it would be necessary to
provide one for the presential Drim-
airy, which is to be held on March
"A. No action was taken. but it is
understood that the council will take
up this matter later.
City Enoineer Report.
The report of the work Of the. city
engineering department for the past
wear was received and placed on file.
The following is summary of Mr..
Blomquist's statement:
1.-The most important public i'm
provements accomplished during this
season include the following work:
First. The paving of North Front
street from Washington to Vine street
and South Front street from Poplar
to Marshall street, with three inch
creosoted wood blocks.
Second. The paving of North
Second street from Mulberry street
to Spring street, Washington street
from Front to Broad street and Main
street from Broad to Fifth, with re-
inforced concrete.
Third. The installation of sys-
TEN of street lighting on Front street
from Vine to Marshall.
-Four Grading, crawling and boul-
evarding the following streets: Wood
land avenue from West Front to West
d. Fourth, Wst Fifth from West Front
to Givens street, Locust street from
East Hickory to Pearl street. Hanna
street from Main to Pearl. Pearl from
Hanna to Beech street, Beech from
Pearl to Putnam, Lewis from Byron
to Center, Grace court from Lewis to
Bradley.
Fifth Storm sewers on Front
street and on Poplar street and in al
ley in block nine.
"Sixth. Sanitary sewers on the
following streets: Lewis from Byron
easterly $50 feet. Locust street from
Hickory street to Pearl street. Thomp
son from Fourth to Fifth. North Fifth
from Thompson to Nav. Willard from
Van Brunt. southerly 290 feet.
Seventh. Water mains extensions
on the following street: West Sixth
from Woodland to Givens, West
Eighth from Baker to Owatonna. Baker
avenue from West Ninth to Moreland,
Moreland avenue from Baker westerly
eighty feet Locust street from Hick-
DRY street 10 Pearl.
Compare With Former Years.
1.-The improvements in the city dur
ing the past year compare favorably