The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-04-20
COUNCIL SELECTED HEALTH
BOARD HEAD TODAY
George Pond Elected Assessor and
Albert Magin Street Foreman; City Is
Put Down Too Poor To Aid the Garden
Contest Movement; Report Submitted
BY Or. A. F. SChmitt, Retiring Com
missioner; Measles Are Prevalent
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
DR.. A. V. Dennlan was elected
health commissioner at the meeting
of the council this morning; George
Pond was elected city assessor, and
Albert Magin was elected street fore
man.
P. M. Ferguson of the Commercial
club committee on boys contest gar
dens, appeared before the council,
stating that his committee respect
fully requested the council to appro-
pirate 500 toward securing the va
cant lots in the city to be used as gar
den spots. The Commercial club hav-
ing already donated $50 toward prizes
for the gardens, and being urged by
the citizens in general to take up the
vacant lot proposition, the committee
had decided to ask the council for a
donation of 500 in order that this
council meeting the matter was talked
over, the council being of the opinion
that such boys gardens were fine
thing for the city, and regretting
that the city finances were such that
the appropriation Of 500 could not be
granted. Upon motion of Councilman
Lack, seconded by Councilman Stein
er, the appropriation as refused.
Report of Health Officer.
DR.. A. F. Schmitt, retiring health
commissioner, appeared before the
council and gave short report on
conditions of health in the city at the
finnn rnnorfnI Of
scarlet fever, now in the detention
hospital, having been there since
March 81, and ready to release within
few days. Other cases of scarlet
fever in the city are those of Martha
Piper on North Seventh street; and
Marcella Studt, on East Main street.
Three cases of chicken-pox were re-
ported in the city, and twenty five
houses quarantined for measles, MAX
ing about forty cases of the latter
disease.
Ignorance of the serious nature of
measles appeared to have been the
cause of so many cases developing,
according to DR.. Schmitt's opinion.
People regard measles as an unim-
portant disease, and often fail to call
a physician, the disease thus spread
ing rapidly. DR.. Schmitt states that
measles was in fact a dangerous di-
sease, often being followed by serious
ailments of eyes, ears, and lungs.
There are no smallpox cases in the
city today, which DR.. Schmitt attri-
buted to the fact that all students had
been vaccinated. He also drew atten-
ton to the fact that last year Man
katO had but one case of infantile
paralysis while other Minnesota cities
had many cases. He attributed the
fact that no more cases had developed
in Mankato to the diligent care and
attention which the city council had
given to the streets by always keep
ing them sprinkled and oiled, pre-
venting dust, and said that although
the cost had been considerable it was
a wise expenditure. He stated that the
legislature having appropriated $780,
900 this year to combat infantile
paralysis proved how serious was the
need, and advised that the matter of
street sprinkling and oiling be start
ed as soon as possible. He presented
a bill for services which he had pre-
viously overlooked, and which was
filed.
Bonds Were Approved.
Bonds of $1,000 for Albert Gender,
junk dealer, and $4,000 for Soren john
son, house mover, were accepted and
filed.
William Datsakis' application for a
six months license to operate pop
corn wagon was granted, Councilman
Lack moving that he be granted the
license on condition that he kept his
wagon out of the resident district, and
did not blow the wagon whistle,
thereby waking the babies. The mat
ter of appropriating $125 to the Y. M.
c. A. for the boys swimming tank
made, similar appropriations having
been made by the council for many
years past, and having become GUS
tom.
The hearing on the assessment for
the sanitary sewer to be installed for
the Standard Oil company was set for
two weeks from today. The scale of
assessment prepared by City Engineer
Blomquist and the council assesses
the Standard Oil company $3.50; the
Great Western railroad $25, and the
property owners $40.
Elections This Morning.
Councilman Eichsteadt moved that
the council proceed with the election
of a health commissioner, and Mayor
Champlin recommended that an in
formal ballot be taken. The first bal
lot resulted as follows: DIR. a. V. Den
man, one; DR.. T. c. Kelly, 1; one
blank; DR.. A. Schmitt, two. The sec
ond ballot gave DenTan three, and
Schmitt two, and D.. Denman was de-
clared elected.
An informal ballot was then taken
for the election Of an assessor, the
first ballot resulting as follows: Ed.
Shoemaker, one; George Pond two: A.
Blissenbach, two. The second ballot
gave Blissenbach, 1 Leonard, 2; Pond,
two The third ballot gave Pond four
and Leonard one. Mr.. Pond was de-
clared elected Albert Magin was
then elected street foreman.
Will Have Park Policeman.
Upon motion of Councilman Eich-
steadt, City Attorney Phillips was in
to confer with E. A. Frances,
SO Mound avenue, asking that he
vacate the building as soon as possible
after his rental expires, in order that
it may be occupied by man in the
employ of the city who will act as
policeman for the park. Ben Knutson,
who has been Operating stand at