The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-13
BOARD OF TRADE.
A Railroad from Mankat0 to Farming
ton Discussed Board Opposes
Free COinage-Public Meet
ing Called.
The Stone Quarrymen heard In Regard
TO the 500 Contract and the Man.
kat0 Public Building.

/ 81
morning was the most interesting and
profitable of the winter. A variety
of matters were considered.
Among the communications was the
following, which was addressed to 81.
P Christensen:
[ hand you map of projected line of
railway from Mankato on the Wells
branch of the Milwaukee road to
harrington on the |. & M. division
of the same road. You viii notice on
the map that this would open up
new tract of country TO Mankato, and
give us a shorter line by some II miles
than we now have, to St. Paul; and
not only that, but new market for
our stone, -four and all manufactured
articles, cement, lime, etc. / have
travelled every foot Of the line marked
and must say it is fine country, has
been tlmbered nearly the whole dist
ance, bit now fine farms are cleared
up and In almost every instance fine
buildings and signs of considerable
wealth and thrift. This line of road
could be build cheaply as there are no
great difficulties to overcome. This
conclusion is reached after careful
examination of the line. People of
influence at Kasota, Cleveland, Lee
Sueur Center, Montgomery, Wesley
and New Market have told me they
would like this road and if the right
men took hold Of it they would hold
all In their power as TO bonus, stock,
bonds and grading. Something could
be done in the way Of townsite bust
ness and small additions to old ones.
A large amount of the right of way |
am Informed would be donated and
grounds for station purposes would be
given TO the company. | think the
venture would pay, besides giving
Mankato what it needs, more through
lines of railroads. Ny principal in
formation has been CLEANED from
along the line, and at the proper time
will give names. Many features other
than the foregoing might be mention
ed, but you can see them yourself. l
have made no mention of cost of road,
or made any figures regarding same,
but l assure you it would not be an
expensive line &c build, and at any
time in the near future, if you so de-
sire will give you figures closely calcul-
ated for same.
T. D. WOODBURY., G. E.
Mr.. Christensen presented the map
which was referred TO, and general
discussion followed, the consensus of
opinion being that the road would 60
through rich country that is as yet
undevelOped. 1t goes through the
quarrieS and near the river to Kasota,
and then branches off to Pennington
in nearly straight line. There it
meets the Hastings & Dakota and
Iowa and Minnesota divisions of the
/ c., M. & St. p. road. 1t crosses the
Minneapolis & St. Louis road at Mont
gomery. The feeling was favorable,
in case the Milwaukee road will take
hold of it.
M. @. Willard offered the following
resolution, which was adopted with
but a single dissenting voice:
! RESOLVED, that in the opinion of this
Board of Trade. under the present
condition and standards of gold and
silver in the monetary world, it would
be unwiSe for Congress to enact law
for the free coinage of silver, and a
menace to the prosperity of this coun-
try.
ResoIUed, that this resolution be trans
mitted TO the Minnesota representa-
tiVes in Congress.
Gen. Pope moved that a public
meeting be called for Wednesday even
in at 7:30 O'Clock, at City Hall, to con-
slider what railroad legislation may be
necessary. This was carried, had the
secretary was instructed to invite the
Blue Earth county delegation in both
houses of the legislature to be present.
A motion by J. c. Noe was carried.
providing for committee to draft re-
solutions touching the death of Secre-
tary Window. Messrs. Noe. Chap
man and Hall were appointed such a
committee, which was also directed
to prepare resolution thanking those
who were instrumental in securing the
passage of the public building bill.
By invitation, several of the stone
Quarrymen were present, and present
ed the condition in which the bids foI
the 500 canal contract lie. The bids
were on the aggregate of the entire
work, and Hughes Bros. & Bangs, OF
Buffalo and Rochester, New York.
were the lowest bidder, their figure
being 81, 268, 500. They bid S26 pei
cubic yard on Ohio stone. thinner
man & Co.. of Duluth, were the next
higher bidders, at 81, 308, $50, Their
figure on Mankato cut stone being s..
per cubic yard. The New York firm
would prefer to use Mankato stone al
the same figure as the Ohio stone, and
with our quarrymen are working TIC
have the department designate that
the work shall be done with Mankato
stone, but the chances Of success are
slight. At present the Board Of Trade
could do nothing TO assist them, but
matters might result whereby it could
/ be of service
Capt. Beatty stated that the Board
of Trade might be Of assistance in
having Mankato stone designated for
use in the public building, as Ohio