The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-07-31
FACToRIEs NEEDED.
Mankato Should Have Dozen Manu-
featuring Establishments.

In these days of industrial activity
and development, when every section
of our country, and especially the
great Northwest, is making such
strenuous efforts TO build up manu-
factories, it seems strange that Man
kato, which possesses more and great
er advantages than any other city in
this section of our country, should re-
main so entirely apathetic and indif-
ferent. 1t can only be from. one Of
two causes. or possibly from both ::
Either from the seeming natural law
that those who have the greater nat
ural abundance put forth the least
effort to better their condition, or
from want Of knowledge of the adj
yantages of manufacturing There is
no city that shows more commenda-
bic enterprise in improving its streets
and in establishing non-productive
conveniencies, and it is safe to say
that there is no city in the country
better supplied with electric lights,
gas, water, telephones, street cars,
ETC., all of which is necessary to the
progress and well being of city.
If our citizens even remotely under
stood and appreciated the importance
of manufacturing they would soon
have dozen new productive enter
prises on foot There are so many
benefits that accrue to the people from
manufacturing aside from the actual
profits of the business, that they can
never be fully appreciated.
The first and greatest benefits &C.
crue direct to the operatives them
selves, in that they have regular and
! constant employment at remuneratiye
wages, which allaYs their anxiety for a
livelihood, and thereby affords them
contentment and peace of mind beyond
what they could ever have if depend
ent upon a precarious living: and if
they are ambitious, they have oppor-
tunities to become skilled in the arts
! of their trade, and master workmeE,
and. hence, leaders among men. They
have the greatest Of all sources of hap
piness. the knowledge that they are
engaged in honest, useful and produc-
tive work.
If it be true that he who causes two
blades Of grass to grow where only one
grew before. is public benefactor,
how much more is he benefactor OF
his race who takes the materials of
nature and forms them into articles OF
beauty and usefulness. These are the
very highest types of the human race,
and they shed a benign influence
around them that causes all the COM
munity TO become better men and
| women.
] Second. is the direct financial bene-
fits that accrue to the whole commu-
nifty. Any article that is made at
home, saves to the people the money
they would otherwise send abroad fo1
it: and whatever they make and sell
abroad brings in return that much
wealth, which goes to swell the aggre-
gate. 1t is this principle that gives
stability TO manufacturing cities and
enables them TO thrive and prosper
when cities that are dependent upon
trade only, languish under depressions
| that necessarily come as their scanty
earnings are drained away. Thus the
business of the merchant becomes
precarious, real estate becomes de-
pressed and unstable, and rates of in
terest become eXorbitant and at times
money is not to be had on property al
any terms.
In cities where large a mounts OF
money are invested in manufacturing
/ the owners Of real estate can get al
the money they want for improve
ments at not over six per cent. and Oh
any time they desire. There is con-
slant enhancement of values. all be-
cause it is known that the prosperity
is based upon the most solid founda-
tion-m manufacturing.
Six hundred thousand dollars
put into the following enterprises
in Mankato will add 5000 people
TO her population, and 80 pei
cent. TO every piece of real es
tate within five miles of the center OF
the city, and if well managed will pay
large dividends annually, and if they
are once established would only be q
mere beginning Of greater things to
follow, viz:
Sugar beet factory, 100000.
! Pork packing establishment, 800,
600.
Furniture factory, 100000
Paper mill, S25, 900. =
Wooden mill, $4,000.
Tannery, SIS, 600
Pottery for making fine ware, s20,.
600.
Soap factory, $4,000.
Crockery factory, $4,000.
Bagging factory. $4,000.
Linen factory. $50, 600.
WOok working factories, SO. 900.
Smaller institution. $4,000.
IL, L.