The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-12-04
OUR GROWTH !
FhG Building improvements Of The
CITY Of MankalO for 1885.

fhG Building improvements Of the
CITY Of haHRai0 for 1885.
$40, 900, The Grand Total-A
Showing Unequaled in the His
tory of the City.
A Brief Review of the Manufactures,
Schools, Churches. Business Houses,
Residences, etc.
Every citizen has an individual con
ception of the amount and value Of the
building statistics of our city for the
year, but these estimates are about rs
various as the number of minds, since
each one bases his calculation upon the
observation he has made, p-rsonally,
and the reports coming 10 him incidcn-
tally. Many have their mental compila-
ton over and above all reason, while
others have failed entirely 10 grasp the
magnitude of the wave of improvement
that has swept oyer our municipality in
the last twelve months.
At the expense of several days work,
i'm ~Canrassing this subject in detail. and
many hours careful office work, We here
present a schedule of the building inn
provements in the whole city for the
wear. Ii Will Ice seen that the erection
of new dwelling houses. and the i'm
proVemeni or enlargement of old ones.
predominant in these statistics. This Is
n of the most iiattering features OF our
city's growth. Ii demonstrates that
chose engaged in business have come 10
stay. and are determined 20 plant and
improve a home in our midst. ltis also
exponent to the fact that men Of means
have implicit faith in Mankato's future
greatness, and are only too ready Ia in
vest in her real estate, and erect thereon
residences of spacious and becoming de-
sign. knowingthat in the near future they
will more than double theIrinyeStment.
And there il Yet another significant iea-
sure 0t This great increase in the cree
ton Of dwelling houses that challenges
attention. that j.. that out of the 200 new
houses built during tlie year. luily - per
cent. have been built 10y ;aboring men
of different occupations. Though these
structures are not of the most expensive
Kind, they are comfortable and neat, and
all constructed with view of permanent
habitation, and they will be addict and
otherwise improved as the frugal own
er's purse will permit. No stronger
prccf than this is needed 10 convince the
close calculator tina; Maukato is on the
highway TO still greater development.
When the masses of toilers in any COM
mUnity are decided that their permanent
settlement in the same is for their
benefit, il is the most decisive proof
that the industrial institutions of that
community are in a promising condition.
Then, we are 10 conclude that orr quar-
ries, Il mills, our machine shops, our
factories, and other institutions are sutfi-
ciently prosperous to afford those whose
hands.furnish the operative power, great
er inducement 10 settle in the
lily than those of any surrounding city.
Another existing fact that this canvass
made apparentto us is, that the tendency
is 10 a better class of structures in all
kinds of buildings than has heretofore
been erected in Mankato. In residences
the architectural designs of the largest
and most expensive houses Is strikingly
in advance of those erected in the past,
,Ag a.. ,,.., I'LL G-.-l:.- 4
have been used more extensively thar
eve before. One visible proof of this
desire for improved architecture is the
number of residences that have been re-
modelled, and the latest improvements
looking toward beauty, comfort, and con-
venience added So far as 1t could, con-
%sistently, be done. The aim in mercan-
tile buildings Is toward larger and more
substantial structures, a fact which needs
no calculation at our hand TO be under
stood, a. several Of the newly erected
establishments will Weld sufficient evil
d"nce. And, we CLEAN from those con
templating the erection Of new buildings
another year, this improvement i'll
character of structures will he ever more
marked in future.
Municipal Improvements have been
prOportionately carried on. Hickory
street has been graded AT an expense of
81 .743; Record at an expense ofS975; Fifth
street at an expense of 81 .0S9 Rock street
guttered and otherwise improved at an
expense Of 81 .l40,and for repairs of side
walks, Improvements of streets,
etc. under direction of the street
Commissioner 5000. \ new fire
bell has been placed in the tower Tf
City Hall AT Il good deal Of expense. and
that building considerably Improved in
many ways. When al is told, the ex-
penditures for the year by the munich
pal:ty is grGater by far than that ex-
pendcd in any past year, and We feel
Justified i'll asserting that il has been
wisely expended, on the whole.
The railroad corporations holding
right-Of-way III the city have
made marked improvements about their
depots. The Omaha company has eX-
pended no less than 81 900 here during
the summer, and the Winona Il St. Peter
company have already improved their
grounds for a new depot, to the value Of
IS, 900, and commenced Il work that,
when completed will involve an expense
of SIS, 900. The &. NJ. x ST. Z. Company
have been continually improving their
grounds and other property here, but
have not added thereto materially. they
being already well equipped.
In manufacturing circles there is re-
newed life and much more vitality Of in
terest. Our manufacturing company
have greatly improved their working ia
%cilities, and have thoroughly entered in
to the manufacture of iron bridges. i'm
addition to their other work.
The Touring mills have launched out
TO accommodate the rapidly advancing
circle of trade. Messrs. Hubbard 4 Co.,
have invested n large amount of mcans
in improvements that will aid material
iy in bringing their establishment to the
front.
The Linseed Oil Co.. are doing "A great
" increased business, and, though just
now handicapped with the disaster of
their ruined warehouse, are looking for
ward TO a far more extensive outfit
of buildings in consequence.
II al