The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-18
ANNUAL REPORT
OF the Secretary of the Monisato
Board of Trade.


Mr.. President and Gentle@en:--I present the
brief SUMMARY OF the york OF the
Board during the past Year, preclhding II by
the remark that on the 10th OF la-s september
this Board had maintained II contlno2ns ex-
istence for twenty years, and may hsw be
as well along In the last year Oh It's
and moreover, as having earned
title to be considered one of the permanent
institutions of the city.
We have a right, also, to take pride in the
respect with which the Board is re-
garded by the community. Meeting at FIRST IN
obscure quarters, contendlng Tor years win
prejndice on the part of many of our citizens,
who failed to appreciate the fact that this
Board was an association OF business men,
whose sole aim in meeting together was to
advance the interests OF the whole city, gain
ing at length precarious f0othOld in the city
hail, only to he ANONYMOUSLY expelled there
from; meeting for years thereafter In an Of
fee, the use of which was cnarltaDly donated
by one of our members; oitentlmes stTug-
Cling for existence; the board has at last, 10y
persistent endeavor in its one idea of making
Mankato a city in fact as well as in name,
come 10 be regarded in its true character as
the representative of the business interests
of Mankato, us collection of representative
men, and as such is now treated by officials
and citizens with that respect which was long
ago its due.
1t Is proper to remark, before passing to the
maiu subject of this report, that the articles
of incorporation of the Mankato Board of
Trade were adopted, signed ana acknowledged
in due form of law, ON the 10th day of Septem-
Der, 1868, by the incorporators, Jonn N. Hall,
j. 4. Meagher. j. ii. Barr, j, q. Wise, Henry
Shaubut, Geo. A. Clarke, +. Prael and VIM
Frisbie.
WORK OF THE YEAR 1888.
In February the Board invited the State
Farmers Institute 10 hoio it, annual meeting
III the opera house, and assumed the respon-
sibility OF providing for the payment OF its
expense. The Institute accepted the invita-
ton, and held highly successful series OF
meetings in the following March. About the
same time the Board joined with the Maritime
Association of New York in Il memorial IC
congress, asking for measures 70 be taken 10
lessen the dangers of navigation. This rather
AS an act of Interstate courtesy than as Il mat
ter Of direct benefit to Mankato. On Feb
ruaIv 18th Mr.. J.F. Meagher having expressed
a dc sire TO assign to the Board his stock in the
D., st. G., NJ. l. 5. X. X. Co., President Geo. Il
Barr was designated to receive said stock as
the representative OF The Board. This stock
was afterwards divided among several MEM
bers, Mr.. Barr being one, except one share
which remained the property of the Board
The subscription of $4,000 for purchasing
ground for the new hotel, undertaken by the
Board the latter part OF 1857, was early in
1883 reported as all taken, and the negatia.
lions with MIR. Il. Saulpaugh were as soon as
possible thereafter completed, and work be.
gan on the structure as soon as the condition
OF the ground would permit, and the hotel
now stands in the midst of our city as u mon
ument to which we may point with pardona-
bic pride as the result OF ears OF endeavor on
ing been asked by the Board to grade the
streets on the north side and rear of the hotel
consented to do so, and the nlling so done, to.
gether with the building of the hotel, has Oh
liberated an unsightly hole, which long famil-
iarity with had rendered our citizens almost
oblivious to, but which created an unpleasant
impression on the minds of all strangers on
their arrival in the city.
The city council also, at the request of the
Board procured set of signal service flags,
and provided for their display.
Negotiations were carried on during the
spring by committee of the Board with Gen.
J. E. Tourtelotte, which resulted in the dOna.
ton by him of S., 600, with which to found q
city hospital, which is now nearly finished,
and is an ornament to the northern part OF
our city.
In November the city council having asked
the Board to appoint a committee TO cooper
ate with the committee of the council on the
revision of the city charter, the Board in
structed the standing committee on legislation
and taxation to undertake this duty, and the
joint committees are now engaged in the
work.
The last public enterprise of the Board was
the appointment of correspondent TO the
st. Paul Pioneer Press, who is to furnish
from time to time, articles relating 10 the bus
mess interests OF the city, in order to bring
Mankato to the notice of the people as prom
inentiy as many other towns are doing.
Several other important projects have en-
gagged the attention of the Board during the
year, which are not mentioned, as their sue
cessful conclusion is AS yet matter for the
future to decide.
The expenses of the year have been
For printing and stationary. ...-........S %
Balance expense of pairymen's and
Business Mems Association ..... 10 so
Balance expense OF New Orleans Expo
of Alabama excursion :. 10 90
Asst Business Mems Association. ....... 20
Asst D., st. O., NJ. S. Il. R.............. Is 90
s124 SO
Receipts from membership and fines So 90