The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-30
THRIVING MANKATO.
What We Have, and Something OF
What We Want.

The FREE PRESS believes the coun-
Gil did most commendable thing at
its meeting Monday evening in pass
ing the ordinance granting franchise
for an electric street railway. Com
mendable, because if accepted, and
built, as specified by said ordinance,
it will mark new era in the life Of
our city. Mankato is growing town;
moreover, it is the best point IN
Southern Minnesota for the establish
ment Of industries of any description.
Capitalists who are looking around
for suitable location for a manufac-
turing plant, desire live town, and
the better the facilities are for getting
quickly from one point TO another.
to that extent does it increase the
favor with which they look upon it.
This is a fast age. Steam and cleo
tricity have been brought into service
to annihilate time, and it is toour ad-
vantage to receive the fullest benefits
from them. The FREE PRESS has no
fault to ind with the part the people
have taken in the matter SO far. On
the other hand it is highly gratified
with the interest exhibited. But it
would urge them on TO other fields,
while closely watching this one, and
to the fullest extent within the power
of man TO turn every natural resource
and advantage we have TO the upbuild-
ing of our beautiful city.
Some one has written that town
which has large tin dinner pail brig
ade, is always prosperous. True it is
that city which gives employment
to a large number Of workingmen
stands better chance Of realizing the
fruits of prosperity than one that
does not. The life Of town is trade.
A city may be so situated that it will
thrive upon the farming trade. But
when it is so situated that it can,
with little effort, add to the farm
ing trade that of the .workingman. it
is doubly best Mankato is SO situ-
ated that it can enjoy the trade of
both classes. We already have good
start and give employment to large
number Of men. But we ought TO
double the number now employed.
Yes. we should treble, or even quad
ripple it befor 1900. All it needs is a
little push. Let the board Of trade
lead off and 60 at it in systematic
way and then let every citizen step
right up close behind ready to do his
share.
Mankato's future growth ought TO
be. and is, we think, beyond question.
1t is made up to-day of enterprising
business men. Its shipping facilities
are frst-class. It is as healthful
city as there is in the world, and the
material to build it up with lies right
at its door. Better brick cannot be
made than are manufactured here,
while its stone Quarries, filled with
the best building stone ever Quarried,
are ineXhaustable. Then, as we have
before remarked. it is well located. A
vast empire is being built mp here in
the northwest, and its wants must be
supplied. Mankato has the advantage
of sitting, as it were, upon the very
edge of this empire, enjoying super
ior advantage over her eastern sis
! tiers. in that she could save the cost
of transportation, which is no small
item.
Among Mankato's immediate wants
are:
A first class free public library.
An addition to its electric light
plant.
1t would also be good place for:
A carriage factory.
A COTTON mill.
A beet sugar factory.
Extensive knitting works.
A clothing factory.
The educational facilities Of Man.
kato are frst-class. If there is any
thing the city is proud of, it is the
| public school system. A new high
school building was recently completed
at cost of about $4,000, giving the
schools plenty Of room, and they are
under excellent management and in a
most thriving condition. Besides our
public schools we have State Nor
nal school. which stands second to
none in the Northwest. So it will be
seen that oYr city is good place for
the young to come to get that prepa-
ration they need, TO make after life a
success. Not only is it an excellent
place for the young, but it holds out
extra inducements as place OF resi-
dence for parents who wish to be with