The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-01
M. E. T. C. Objects To the
City Council Action
TILTS ENLIVENED MEET
Street Car Man Claims Ordi-
nance Does Not Grant the
Relief Sought

ton OF the MankatO Electric Trac-
ton company TO pave between its rail
and one foot outside of the same
without lively tilt between Mayor
w. A. Beach and Adolph Mueller,
local manager of the Mankato Elec-
trio Traction company
Just previous TO taking up the
street car ordinance, w. A. Streater,
president of the Mankato Civic and
Commerce association, appeared be-
fore the council and on behalf of the
association urged the members OF
that body to eliminate the clause in
the franchise of Mankato Electric
Traction company, which requires
1t to pave along its right OF way. Mr..
Streater said that he would like to
have just this phase oil the ordinance
considered if possible, SO that it
would be definitely understood for
all time that the company was re
lieved Of that burden. This, he said.
means a whole lot TO the company
when asking Tor loans from invest
ment companies. MIR. Streater said
that he and other members of the
Mankato Civic and Commerce asso-
citation felt that the street car COM
pany is entitled TO the RELIEF asked
for, because it is now having a hard
enough time financially TO get along
Mayor Beach following the state
ment of Mr.. Streater said that any
OF the members of the council who
wished to might express themselves
on the matter. Oounc llman Lack
said that he thought that the matter
Should be settled one way or the
other. Councilman Kleinschmidt was
OF the same opinion.
CitV Clprk Potav ,.oo i
section one of article three OF the
street car ordinance. Previous to this
however, Mayor Beach asked If there
was any one who wished TO speak
on any special topic. Adolph Mueller,
local manager OF the street car COM
pany, at the conclusion of the read
ing OF section one OF paragraph three
arose and objected TO the passage
OF the ordinance unless il was detin-
iteiy stated that the company would
be relieved permanently from the
burden OF paving along its right OF
way, and objected 10 paragraph
three which reads as follows:
If, at any time, the city shall
pave or otherwise improve the sur
lace or any street, alley or road upon
which the company has laid its
tracks, or of, at any time, any such
acks shall De laid upon such streets
aiieys, or roads, which have been
so paved or improved, the company
snan pave or otherwise improve the
space between the rails and to the
end OF the ties outside the rails, un-
.ess otherwise provided by the coun-
Gil, so that is shall subtantialiy
correspond with the pavement or
olher Improvement of the street. al
ley or road either side OF said rails. "
Tit With the Mayor.
you nave had your cnance in thi.
council meeting. MIR. Mueller, now
We are on work or the council"
DO | understand you, Mr.. Mayor
10 mean that you do not wish to
give me a chance 10 state the com
panys objections To this paragrap
Mueller
mo. do not wish this to be un-
uefslood out called on the public
~ MAKE any statements they wishe,
al the opening OF this meeting and
that was your time to speak and moi
now, you have lost your opportunitv
said Mayor Beach.
III that is the case | will sta.
SAID Mr.. Mueller that since the firsr
reading OF that ordinance | have
noted that the word repair has been
changed 10 read 'or otherwise i'm
prove, which |, as a representative
OF the company, take to mean thar
we would be obligated to oil the
way" III
1t was finally agreed by the mem
pers or the council that Mr.. Mueller
snouIo have his innings, and he was
permitted 10 proceed with his state
mentS.
Mr.. Mueller said that under the
proposed terms of paragraph three
the relief asked for was not granted
and left it optional with other coun-
ellis to require the company to pave
along its right of way or not as il
saw fit. If the terms of the para
the company into the hands of a re
ceiver or force the company on the
rocks
Councilman Steiner took excep
lions to the statement Of Mr.. Muel
Ter, and said that it was not the in
tention of any members of the coun
ell to force the company on the
rocks.
Mr.. Mueller answered that he
could furnish figures to show that
he was making a true statement as
to the financial conditions of the
company. II am here in a fail
square manner asking for something
the company" said Mr.. Mueller.
You accuse us of forcing you OF
the rocks" said COUNCILMAN Ander-
son, 81 think that this is pretty far
fetched. We are here to look afte'
both the interests Of the city and the
street car company, and l think tina
you have gotten more out of this
council than the previous ones.
Mr.. Mueller said that he did no
say force on to the rocks" but die
say that If the proposed ordinancc
were passed that it might be the
means of forcing the company into
the hands of a receiver.
Mayor Beach said that the para
graph of the ordinance referred to
in his opinion, gave the RELIEF asked
for.
Mr.. Mueller differed from the
mayor and thought that it would
not give the necessary definite relief
which would permit of the company
going before financiers and borrow
ing money.
Mayor Made Statement.
Mayor Beach in answer to this
said that he wished to state that he
was at first in favor Of granting the
relief as asked for, but the more
he studied the situation, the more he
thought that the ordinance should