The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-07-13
BOARD OF TRADE.

The meeting OF the BOARD OF lraue
Monday morning was more interesting
than for some weeks. After the routine
business had been transacted Congress
man Lind's bill for public building in
this city was brought up and discussed.
The bill approprIates not to exceed
$50, 900 for purchasing site and erect
ing building. Several members advo-
Gated increasing the amount to $120, 600
to 500, 600 to meet the requirements of
a city of the size of Mankato. Some
held that the building should be large
enough to accommodate the land Office,
in case the three Offices In the south
western portion of the state are consoll-
dated, and also the U. S. court, which
must eventually be be held at Mankato.
Mr.. Lind believes that there is a good
chance of securing an appropriation at
this or the next session of congress. In
letter to L. P. Hunt, which was read,
he states that he means business in in
Producing the bill and will push it.
President Barr and Secretary Chap
man were appointed committee to Sc
cure and send to Mr.. Lind any statistics
that he may want in furthering the
passage of the bill.
The Board of Trade room was ordered
rendered to the railroad and warehouse
commissioners for their use at their
meeting in this city July 2lst.
The committee on the location of the
Norwegian orphan asylum in this city
made a report stating that certain loca-
tions were proposed, but that from $500
to 81 900 would have to be raised to pay
for location. It was stated that Gen. ].
III. Baker was at the head of q scheme
to secure its location near Rapidan. No
very desirable pieces of property having
been heard of, Mr.. John A. Willard
made q proposition to the Board, of
fering to sell 20 acres of land within
mile and quarter of the city hall, in
Nicollet county, for $40 per acre and to
donate $500 toward buying it. This offer
was at once accepted, it being extreme
ly generous. Mr.. Willard is deserving
a great deal of credit for his iberality In
this matter and if the location of the in
stitution is secured for Mankato it will
probably be owing to his generosity.
The balance of the money required, $500,
it is thought it can be easily raised.
The appointment of Messrs. A. r.
Pfau and John C. Wise as delegates to
20 to Milwaukee July 3lst to confer with
the officials of the Milwaukee road about
extending that line to st. Paul was con-
firmed.
Mr.. j. A. Willard brought up the
question of Mankato's water supply and
urged the Board of Trade to consider
the matter and to aid in crystalizing
public opinion in favor of some one
place instead of pulling in different d.
rections. He felt confident that the test
of the city we'll would show that there
was not enough water in it for the city's
use, and he individually felt that the
water was not good. He opposed Lake
Madison as source of supply for the
reason that the water of that lake is not
pure and that there was not enough
water there for supply. There were
too many dead fish in the lake and
many persons were made sick by the
use of the water. Ten years ago he had
favored the lake as an ultimate source
of supply, but had now entirely aban-
doned that idea. He favored water
from the Blue Earth river and stated
that very little of this river water came
from Lake Madison, and that Garden
City was the only town located on the
river or any of its branches. He was in
favor of drive wells at the Blue Earth
river and thought that the pumping
station should be located there in order
to be used most economically. He
thought that the pump which the city
to buy was much too small and
that one costing 5000 or 5000 more
should be purchased. A water company
would invest from $50, 900 to 500, 600 in
3 plant ifthe city would grant it q fran
chise and doubtless take water from this
river.
Considerable discussion followed, after
which the Board adjourned