The Mankato free press., 1917-11-23

Presents Petition Asking
Concession
From Mondays Daily.
]. HI. A. Brahtz, appeared before the
Mankato City council this morning,
with the request that the council take
action to sell the old Main street
bridge at auction, and a resolution to
that effect was presented, which he
asked to have passed Mr.. Brahtz stat
ed that he was acting for the city of
Rochester, Mimi, and also looking for
the best interests of Mankato. He had
come here two weeks ago to figure
on the advisability of using the old
steel framework of the old bridge for
highway bridge, and he stated that
the city of Rochester, Mimi, would
possibly purchase the big spans, as
they needed to erect a bridge on a
road out of the city. He stated that the
maximum value that he himself would
place ON the old trusses was $50 ton,
but was not able to tell just how much
would be offered at auction. Mr.. BrahtZ
stated that it would be a poor invest
ment for Mankato to use such bridge
as city bridge, and that Rochester
would not use it for city bridge, but
to reconstruct an old bridge outside
the city, where it could be used to
good advantage. He stated that he
thought there was about eighty tons
in the two long trusses, and estimated
the total tonnage of the three spans at
about $50 or 160 spans He said that
the framework had cost the city about
$50 per ton when bought, and new
steel is now selling at about $S5, SO
they might get more when it was sold
than was originally paid for it. Mr..
Brahtz stated that it would cost Man
kato only comparatively small sum
more to build new bridge at the pro-
posed location near the park than to
move and fix up the old one. He guar
anteed to build a, new concrete bridge,
eighteen feet wide, and about 365 feet
long for $4,000. He asked for immedi-
ate action, as the Rochester council
has been waiting to find out if the
Mankato bridge, will be offered at
auction, and if it is not they must
come to some other decision tonight.
Resolution Was Presented.
Councilman Mic Petersen presented
a resolution to- offer the old bridge at
auction, any or all bids to be rejected
at the discretion Of the council.
Mayor L. L. Champlin advised care
full consideration before any action was
taken.
/ Councilman Chris Steiner stated
that he was very willing that the old
bridge be sold.
eff we need a bridge at the park let
us put up a nice, concrete bridge, that
will conform to other city improve
ments. will vote for an auction sale,
and / think this a good proposition
Councilman Peterson expressed the
same opinion.
After considerable discussion the
matter was finally laid over to be TAX
en- up at special meeting of the
council at three o'clock this afternoon
Request From Railroad.
Attorney c. J. Laurisch, represent
ing the Northwestern railroad, pre-
sented the request that the city
council permit the company to extend
their spur tracks from Exchange
street to Main street. He stated that
the Northwestern road now owns all
the frontage on those blocks to Main
street, and have three tracks which
they propose to continue across the
property to Main street.
City Attorney Phillips reviewed the
history of the property, and stated thai
old ordinances gave the company the
right to come within fifty feet Of the
street. Considerable discussion and
study of blue prints ensued, and it ap-
peared to- be the general opinion of the
council that such an extension oi
tracks would cause congestion o1
traffic at that point.
Councilman Lack stated that the
company had already started work
, without asking authority from the
! council, and had considerable trackage
laid. He moved that the Northwestern
Railroad company be ordered to stay
fifty feet back from the street, ant
the Street Commissioner Steiner be
!, authorized to see that the company
take up the ties and material that has
Ialready been laid.
: Therewas no second to the motion
: and on motion of Councilman Petersen
, the matter was laid over for discus
, sion at the special meeting this after
/ noon. Councilman Steiner stated tha
/ it was well to protect the pedestrian:
/ who passed that corner.
Ask For Water Extension.
A petition was presented, signed b.
| four property owners on Vine street
asking that the city water mains ant
) sewer be extended from Front stree
t to Willow street The petition wa
signed by Adam Kunz, John Winkler
N. Aldo and Simon Ziegler In th'
discussion which followed City Engi
neer Blomquist stated that this wa
not a profitable proposition for th
CITY, Mr.. Aldo explained the neces
sity of the property owners, who wer
{ cut off from city water and sewer
J and the matter was finally left wit
] the property owners: At noon coun
3 Gil adjourned to meet this afternoon
: at three o'clock.
TWO AMERICANS KILLED
Others Were Severely Injured Whii
l. ;..