The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-11-28
Celebration Day |!
MaNKaTO CELEBRiTEs THE
OPENING OF THE BLUE
EARTH CITY BRANCH

OPENING OF THE BLIE
| EARTH CITY BRINCH.
In response to our invitations, the
Blue Earth Valley poured out its bust
ness men and yeomanry, to the grand
festival given 10y the citizens of Manka-
10, in honor of the opening of the iron
highway, which at last unites them with
the commercial world. We feel proud
to state that such gathering Of the
representative men of the Blue Earth
Valley Was never before known since
the settlement OF the country. All its
business men, from the centres of trade
along the whole line of the new road,
and the sturdy farmers, early settlers,
who have lived long and waited patient
ly for the coming of these iron rails,
were hire in full force to join in mutual
congratulations and fluctuations over
the contamination of their hopes. 1t
would he difficult to make personal
mention of the distinguished guests; TO
do SO, would he TO publish gazette of
the residents Of the great Blue Earth
Valley. Five hundred gentlemen re
sponded 10 the call. At Blue Earth
City, 1872 guests boarded the train; at
WinnebagO City, l53; at jackson Lake,
So: at Vernon Centre, Al; at Garden
City, So; at Lake Crystal, %, and Others
at different points. From st. Paul, a
very creditable delegation arrived, rep
resented by such men AS Capt. Castle of
the Dispatch, Metcalf of the Pioneer
Press: Quinton Campbell Of the Giobc;'
Gen. Bisnop, Superintendent Lincoln, and
many Others representing the Sioux City
railroad company.
The Blue Earth City train arrived
promptly on time, at ll:l5. The train
of nine crowded coaches was received
by our citizens with three cheers The
committee of arrangements, consisting of
Mayor Bradley, MessrS. X. p. Ober, j.
{. Noe, NJ. Longini, George f Brett,
Henry Shaubut, G.. G. Burt, and Gen.
Baker, met the guests at the train. His |
Honor, the Mayor, appointed Gen. Ba-
ker as Marshal for the occasion, and the |
procession was formed in the following |
order: First, the Mankato Fire Com |
panies, preceded by the Mayor and II.
Z. Ober, Esq, of the Committee; next
the Blue Earth City Band; following
the music was the Blue Earth City Fire
Company i'll uniform, looking gay and |
brilliant; then came the delegations |
from all the cities and towns along the |
route. 1t was Il fine procession, and |
when formed. extended from the Man
kato Mill, to the Mankato House II full
third of Il mile. Never before has there
been so many truly representative men
Of the Blue Earth Valley in one pro-
cession. The day was perfect, the sun
shining bright and balmy as any DC
tober day. The line of march was from
the depot down Liberty street to Front
street, along Front, to Hickory, up Hick-
DRY TO Second, and thence to the Opera
House. Here the Fire Companies halt
in open order, and the invited guests, to
tho number of 500, marched into the
Opera House. which was soon filled to
overlooking. BY the instruction Of the |
Mayor, Gen. Baker very briefly welcom-
eel the guests. The crowd was so great
and the stay of the guests so brief. that
the committee felt constrained TO omit
the toasts and speeches usual upon such
occasions. Three successive tables were
spread and the guests banqueted to their
entire satisfaction. The young ladies OF
the city kindly volunteered to wait upon
the tables, and graced, by their presence
and courteous attentions the festal
board. Those who participated were,
Misses Lille Warner, Emma Payne,
Jessie Payne, Josie Wampler, AriGtta
Kitty Wise, Lulu Bradley,
Kate Murphy, Lizzie Sparrow, Gusta
Market, Ella Sherk, NJ E. Moore, Grace
Shaubut and Mary Hall.
The dinner was excellent and
bounteOus. Besides those who dined at |
the Opera House, more than hundred |
were accommodated at our hotels. The |
Mankato, the Clifton and the Merchants |
hotels, each displayed princely hospi- |
tality TO the citY's guests. After dinner,
our visitors scattered over the city and
made the acquaintance of our business
men, and supplied themselves with
articles in our lines of trade. 1t is esti- |
mated that they left several thousand
dollars in cash among our various bust
ness firms. The City Fire Department
turned out at 2 80, and gave n fine exhi
bition of our new water works. 1t was
to be regretted that the new hose-carts
and hose had not yet arrived. But the
exhibition was satisfactory. Hundreds
of our visitors visited the FREE PREEs
office, examined our new water Motor,
and new press rooms, and were delight
ed with the progress newspaper enter
prise was making in Mankato. 1t was
the universal expression from our guests
that their visit was in every way delight
full, and they returned to their homes
pleased with what they had seen and
the hospitality they had received. There
was only one fault with the programme,
and that was that our visitors stay was
too short. They raturned home at 4 80
p. IN, bearing away pleasant memories
OF our city and people.