The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-09-15

be-s had felt ashamed to tell patrons
that the library could not get the
books that were needed.
Miss Flora F.. Carr, city librarian
said that in making up the estimates
the board had been as conservative
as was possible. She believed the
councilmen wanted every department
| in the city administration to be as
efficient as possible. She felt that
during the past year not much
more had been done in the library
department than merely to keep the
wheels going. 1t was her earnest
wish that the library keep up as well
as other departments in the progress
of the times.
| Miss Carr spoke of the rise in the
price of papers and the consequent
increased cost of literature.
Benjamin Taylor spoke briefly say
| ing the budget represented the best
| Judgment of the board.
Mayor Lamm informed the delega-
ton that the council would take up
the matter of next years budget in
October, and the report of the library
board would be seriously considered.
Regulate Use of Sidewalks.
Councilman Lack called attention
to the matter of gettinng a new or
dinance that would regulate the use
Iof the sidewalk space for private
purposes, such as area-ways, STAIR
ways, fire escapes and the like.
City Attorney Phillips said he had
visited st. Paul and had called at the
city clerks office, where he was
shown a copy of the ordinances of
that city dealing with such matters.
1t was shown that wherever any pri-
vate concern wished to use the city
sidewalk space in this manner, it was
necessary each time to get special
permission from the city council.
Moreover, those applying for such
permission had to furnished bond to
protect the city against liability in
case of accidents.
Mr.. Lack thought it would be a
good idea to get an ordinance, that
would cover areaways, microscopes
and all other permanent sidewalk en-
crOaehments.
After some discussion, the whole
matter was referred to City Attorney
Phillips and City Engineer Blomquist
with instructions to draft an ordi-
nance, and present it at future
meeting.
Complaint About Assessment.
August Blissenbach appeared be-
fore the council and complained
about his assessment for the sewer
on Washington street between Fifth
and Sixth. He said he did not see
why he should pay SIS, same as Will
liam Wittrock, when the latter was
going, to use the sewer with two
houses, whereas he himself had just
one house there. The two owners
have equal frontages on Washington.
After some discussion, the assess
ment on Mr. Blissenbach'S property
was reduced to $50. He was not sat
isfied with this, and remarked that
it seemed that the council desired to
get as much out of him as it could
Charles Smith appeared before the
council to complain about the bad
of LIE Sueur street between
Second street and the railroad
tracks 1t was necessary to wade in
water when traversing that street.
He was told that the council would
look into the matter.
Councilman Eichstaedt spoke OF
the sale of old furniture in the city
hall building. The matter of dispos-
ing of old furniture that the city no
longer used was left in his hands.
The council granted a saloon Ii
cense to Person & Peterson at 100
North Front street The bond of ST.
900 with the Fidelity Il Deposit COM
pany of Maryland as surety was ap-
proved
A hearing of a number of sidewalk
assessments, in different sparts OF
the city, amounting to $1,759.54, was
set to take place two weeks from
today.