The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-11
PUT OFF ARMORY PROJECT
City Council Postponed
Action
CONSULT STATE BOARD
Mayor Waters and City Attor-
ney Hughes Will Go To St.
Paul In Matter

Members of the city council al
meeting this morning decided to take
more time to consider the proposition
of purchasing site for the proposed
new armory. In the meantime Ma.
yor Waters and City Attorney Viii.
liam F. Hughes will go to st. Paul am
| consult with the state armory board
In regard to the appropriation for the
proposed new armory. A large del
egation OF representative citizens were
present at the meeting and all urged
that immediate action be taken in the
matter Of selecting site for the ..ro'
posed armory. When the matter OF tnc
armory was brought up Mayor Waters
called upon c. w. Fisher to express
man said that he Is heartily in favor
Of such building and that no time
should be lost in the city availing its
self OF the states offer.
/ unci:LIstu o.einef stated that the
members of the city council had not
been able to select q site thus far
and for that reason begged leave ia
take more time to consider the matter.
the speaker said that q petition con-
tanning twelve names had been receiv-
ed protesting against the location oil
the proposed building on Third street
There were other items to be taken
For that reason Councilman Steiner
moved that more time be taken to con
slider a number Of proposed sites.
Councilman Mahowald amended that
motion by voting to have Mayor Wat
tiers and City Attorney w. f. Hughes
appear before the state armory
board to find out the terms Of the
states appropriation, and whether the
money could money could not be set
aside and held for a time. This mo-
ton after considerable discussion on
ried and Mayor Waters and City At
torney Hughes will 60 to st. Paul for
that purpose.
Now Is Time To Take Action
J. e. Brett said that he thought that
this was unwarranted delay, and he
could not understand why the mem
bers of the council hesitate in ac-
cepting the states offer. Mr.. Brett
said that it is now that action be
taken.
Mayor Waters said that the state
legislature had decided to cut down on
appropriations for buildings this year,
and he did not like to purchase site,
and then possible have the same on
the hands of the city for a long time
before the building would be built
Mr.. Brett said that it would take
but fifteen minutes to call up the
members of the state armory board and
find out just where the proposition
stands.
Councilman Mahowald replied to
this by stating that there is some OPP
position to the armory and that the
people are badly divided on the ques-
ton.
was tremendous opposition to the
project"
At this point in the discussion May
or Waters called attention to the pro-
test against building the armory on
Third street.
"Are YOU going to let one or two
citizens run the thing down. said Mr.
Brett,
"The people who signed that pro-
test are all taxpayers living near the
proposed site on Third street, and they
expect to spend the remainder OF their
days there. "said Mayor Waters.
Had No Choice As to Sites.
Erick Engwalson stated that he Is fol-
the new armory. and hoped that the CITY
could see its way clear 70 secure tne ne
choice as to sites, but, thought IT high
time that the city get busy and meet the
requirements Of the state so that the
Joseph Blissenbach stated that the site
at the corner of Main and Second streets
is still available.
H. A. Patterson stated that at Tor
mer meeting he had pledged himself to
the armory project, but did not see any
objection to the members of the city
council taking more time to consider the
matter. He thought that the members
of the city council are proceeding along
cautious lines, but he would like to see
matters brought to q head just as soon
Mayor Waters said that all of the
members of the city council are In favor
of an armory, but do not want to be
held up in regard to prices asked For
that reason he would like little more
time to consider the matter.
Did Not Object TO Time. Taken.
Charles R. Butler said that he saw nc
to the the ster taknss
thought that the. members, were JUSTIFIED
in consulting with the state armory board
as suggested. Mr.. Butler said that w. E
Olson had been misquoted in the col
umns of The Free Press in the write-ur
Mr.. Butler said Mr.. Olson said in SUBJ
ACCORDING to information obtainec
from the county auditors office the
monies receivable from Mankato on the
Pfsge T Tsk eSe tas
printed in The Free Press On January
18th, last, of the men who were present
at the organization meeting of the XII
wants club which was held Friday morn.
ing, February 18th, at which meeting the
armory project was unanimously en-
dorsed and adding thereto the personal
property taxes Of the firms which these
men represent. brought the total up te
over 100000. This indicates that the mer
who pay at least five-sixths or eighty
per cent Of the personal property taxes
and no doubt a large portion of the rea
taxes, are in favor Of the armory prop
Hammett Favors Armory.-
Councilman Hammett said that he was
in favor of the armory. bit the members
Of the city council are receiving a num-
Der of objections. Some want 1t neal
the Van Brunt slough ana others want !,
others do not want the building erected
that he did not care where the ars1or5
was built. The location Of the armory
near the Creamery Package company.
plant had been proposed by one of the
militia men. and not by the property
owners in that part of town.
Louis Salet said that the city council
should go on record definitely either fol
or against the proposition, 80 that the
armory board could be informed as Il
osition. Personally Mr.. Salet said tina,
he was in favor Of the armory. 1t is toe
big an opportunity to let slip. Such 9
building Is greatly needed here for the
holding Of large conventions. which are
a good thing for q city in many ways.
Olson Wants Arnory.
Councilman o. 9. Olsen said that he