Trending
Committee Appears Before Council and Asks That
City and Telephone
Co. Use Same Poles
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SOME ESTIMATES HELD UP-TO
INSPECT WORK
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Discuss Center Street
Improvement. Some Councilors Want Street
Uniform Width.
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At the regular meeting of the city council, Tuesday evening, Fred Pfaender, F. H. Retzlaff, Ad. Bierbaum and L. A. Mills, a committee from the New Ulm Rural Telephone Co. appeared before the council and outlined a plan, whereby they stated the city and telephone company could save considerable expense, as well as eliminate a large number of pole lines within the city limits.
At this time the telephone company has an engineer checking up its pole lines in the city,with the end in view of securing data, which will be used for the preparation of plans for the re-construction of a large number of pole lines in the city. It was explained this would be necessary within a short time as some of the lines need repair at this time. It is the intention of the Telephone Co. to place a number of its lines underground in the main part of the city and use cables in a large number of other instances.
City and Phone Co.
It was outlined the city would have to rebuild its electric light lines within a few years, as the poles had been in the ground a long term of years. It was suggested the city and phone company collaborate in the placing of new pole lines and use them in conjunction, thus eliminating considerable expense. It was stated that in Minneapolis this course is being pursued and that it has been found practicable and serviceable.
During the discussion it was brought out that the council anticipate that a large number of the electric light and telephone lines within the business section of the city will be placed underground prior to the paving of streets and alleys.
The suggestion of the committee from the telephone company that the city and phone company collaborate in the erection of pole lines and their use, found favor from the councilors and the matter was placed in the hands of the electric light committee, the city attorney and the city engineer to confer with the committee from the telephone company.
The council was informed the in phone company contemplated expending from $60,000 to $80,000 in its re-construction program within the city.
Estimates for Improvements.
The estimates for the work of curbing and guttering Broadway and for the paving of the alley between Minnesota and German street were held up until the council could inspect the work. Councilor John Golinast criticized the action of the council for approving final estimates for work before it had been inspected. In his opinion no final estimate should be approved before the work is inspected by the council.
Estimates allowed were to the Goodrich Construction Co., in the sum of $6,929.21 and $5,568.28; Puhlmann Bros., curbing and guttering, $411.83; New Ulm Ice Co., grading on Center street, and final estimate on placing the reservoir in condition, $2,010.87. The city clerk was instructed to retain $930.85 of this sum and liquidate local bills.
Discuss Center Street.
Councilor Heymann brought up the question of improving Center street. The width of the street from Washington street to Garden street has been fixed at 80 feet. Councilor Heymann thought the council' should reconsider its action taken at a former meeting in fixing the width of Center street from State to Broadway at 60 feet and make it 80 feet.
Hand labor to the extent of 2,193 hours and team labor of 643 hours were expended on the streets of the city during the month of August.
The matter of adjusting rates for users of electric current to consumers, who had entered into contract with the city for part payment of lines to their residences was placed in the hands of the city clerk, city attorney and superintendent. George Saffert was selected to act as president of the council in the absence of President Hamann. Councilor Siebenbrunner was also not present at the meeting.
Brown County Journal
September 10, 1926
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