The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-07-13
IMPORTANT MATTERS
The Board of Trade Discusses the
Stone to be Used in the Pub
lie Building.
dered State of the Country
Considered.

lOid hOHudy Ddlly.
At the board of trade meeting this
morning Geo. t. Barr read some let
tiers and kilograms from Congressman
McCleary relative to the kind of
stone to be used in the Mankato pub
| lie building. An early letter from
each Senator Washburn and Mr.. Nc
Cleary stated that the supervising ar
chitect of the treasury favors the use
OF nome material as general thing,
and they thought that Mankato stone
would be selected. Mr.. McCleary
stated that the four lowest bids were
upon Mankato limestone. A letter from
Supervising Architect O'Rourke to
Mr.. McCleary, dated July Sd, was read,
in which he stated that after mature
elaboration and examination of the
stones submitted, he has decided
that it would not be for the best in
tereSts of the government that either
KaSOta or MankatO stone be used, as
the appearance and quality are not
sufficiently good to use without det-
riment to the building. He had de-
cided upon Indiana limestone. A
telegram from Mr.. McCleary stated
that he had secured delay for few
days, in the awarding of the contract,
but that Mr.. O'Rourke favors Indiana
limestone. Another telegram came
Friday, saying that the architect
fayors Indiana limestone, but that a
delay had been secured, and the lead
ing citizens should write to the secre-
tary of the treasury endorsing Man
kaGo stone. 1t was appearant that
Mr.. McCleary had done all that he
could to secure the use of MankatC
stone.
Mr.. Barr stated that he had de-
cided to lay the matter before the
board. He believed that an attempt
to secure the use of Mankato stone
would end in failure and would post
pOne the completion of the building
for another year. 1t would be better
to allow the work to go on now. Du-
luth made determined effort for a
long time to secure the use OF local
stone in it's public building, but was
unsuccessful. The use of outside
stone would not make much differ.
ence in the stone trade in this city
and the stone quarry proprietors seem
to show little interest in the matter
If Indiana stone is used, it will give
the city variety.
M. G. Willard stated that he was
of the same opinion as Mr.. Barr. II
would be better for the city if out
side stone was used, as there would
then be variety of stone in our pub
lie buildings, which would look bet
ter than to have them all of one kind
Jno. n. Hall took an opposite
view of the matter. The stone in
dustry has always been considered one
Of the most important ones that the
city has. There will be demand
for work from the quarrymen, wh(
are not having much to do this year
He did not believe in bringing stone
700 to 900 miles in order to have ;
change, when we have good stone
here.
John Klein stated that he was yer,
sorry that anyone could be found il
the city to favor outside stone. Thu
power to order the stone seems tt
be in Washington, and the board o
trade has no influence. 1t made hin
feel as though he would not step il
the board of trade room again. HI
would fight it out, as was done sue
cessfully with the court house.
Mr.. Hall stated that the foreigl
stone would come already cut and pre-
pared to be put in the building.
Gen. Pope stated that Mr. ORourk
has his mind made up, and the onl,
way to secure Mankato stone is t.
carry the matter over his head. Tn
stone men do not seem to be interest
ed. The stone has been decided up
on it's merits, and to continue tn
fight will cause delay. He woult
favor carrying the fight little fu1
STOP THE CRY