The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-02-04
This Matter Given Hearing
Last Evening
P0LICEWOMAN PETITION
Other Cities Will Be Interviewed
Regarding the Latter
Proposition

| communicated with before such an
officer is appointed in this city. This
| was the decision reached by the
| members Of the city council at their
meeting last night, after placing a pc
tition signed by 144S members OF the
appointment of q police woman.
Another important decision reach
| ed by that body last night in re-
! spouse to request by committee
| representing the Civic and Com
merce association, was to get busy at
once and look up site for the pro-
| posed new 'armory and report at next
Mondays meeting of the city coun
Gil.
The committee representing the
Civic and Commerce association were
l. N. Tompkins j. E. Brett, George NJ
Palmer and Secretary w. E. Olson.
| matter of new armory referred to
the action taken at the recent forum
meeting of the Civic and Commerce
| association. At that meeting those
present went on record as favoring
immediate steps looking toward TAX
ing advantage of the appropriations
to be made by the state legislature
for armory purposes. Since that
meeting Mr.. Tompkins had been call
ed up by several people inquiring
how much progress had been made in
the matter. Here Mr.. Tompkins
again briefly stated the steps neces
sary to secure the state appropria-
tons for new armory. First Of all
suitable site to be approved by tho
armory board must be secured by the
city, and deed of the same made out
to the state of Minnesota. Then for
every military unit to be maintained
in this city one thousand dollars has
to be paid over to the state, and in
return $4,000 would be appropriated
by the state for each military unit.
In this instance it would mean that
Mankato would receive an appropria-
tion Of 100000, for there are four
military companies now located in
this city. Mr. Tompkins called at
tention to the fact that the Civic and
Commerce association favors the
necessary steps TO secure new arm
DRY at Mankato The Civic and
Commerce association is a represen-
tative body taking in all of the bust
ness interests as well as social and
| civic affairs of the community. 1t is
made up of the business man. the
laborer, the professional man, women
of all classes and farmers, and since
this body wants the new armory, it
steps to secure the same.
Should Have Immediate Action.
Mr.. Tompkins said that it is very
important that Mankato take imme-
date action, SO as to be able to be on
| the ground floor in the matter of ap-
plications for state appropriations. If
not other towns will beat this city to
| 1t. Mr.. Tompkins said that he was
not before the council to suggest any
certain site. This is a matter that
should be brought up to the members
OF appearing before the council was
to have its members take immediate
action on the matter of securing a
site and meeting the other require
ments of the state, so that the appro-
priations might be available. The
matter of community building in
connection with the proposed armory
, could wait until some time later.
George M. Palmer said that the
| armory proposition had been talked
of for long time. Now it ought to
be taken UP and settled one way or
the other. Action should be taken
said that he hoped the members of
the city council would take action as
| they saw fit at, once so that the mat
ter might be settled.
j. Brett said that it is not every
day that a city is offered present of
100000 in return for such a small
Investment. He thought that this
community would suffer a great loss
| II 1T did not take advantage of the
present change to get the state ap-
preparation.
On motion of Councilman F. j.
Mahowald the armory matter was re.
q nov mi
three consisting of Mayor Waters,
Councilman Christ Steiner and Coun-
Gilman o. G. Olson to look up site
| and report at the next meeting of the
city council.
Mayor Waters said that he would
not care much for an armory unless
there was community building and
large auditorium in connection with
the same. Councilman Steiner asked
where the finances were going to
come from to pay for the proposed
site. Mayor Waters replied that he
thought that the necessary site could
be purchased on time payments.
Councilman Hammett asked l. N.
Tompkins how large a site was nee
essary and he replied that the
grounds should be at least 120 feet
by $50 feet. He stated that there was
an available site centrally located
which could be purchased for $4,000
William Van Ness, speaking for the
Sohmer- Holbrook company, said that
the property referred to by Mr.. Tomp-
kins was the property owned by DR..
A. e. Sohmer and Dr. J. S. Holbrook
on the corner of Main and South
Broad streets. This property is 1872
by 81 feet, and now has three build
ings on it which could be salvaged
for considerable amount of money.
Mr.. Van Ness thought that the own
ers of the property would be willing
to take the city's paper as part pay
ment on the grounds. Mayor Waters
thought that this would be a. very
good location for the proposed new
armory and that a central heating
plant could be established there to
heat the central fire station, the pub
lie library and the armory. Different
sites will be looked up between now
and next Monday and a report made
on that date as to the progress made.
The Police Woman Petition.
After Councilman Mahowald's mo-
ton to place on file the petition pre-
sented by the Women's Council Of
this city asking for the appointment
OF police woman, Councilman
Steiner said that other cities should
be communicated with to get their
opinions as what steps should be TAX
gTN In Law