The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-12-20
PLASTER FACTORY
Little Doubt but That the Baker
Plaster Co. Will Locate i'm
MankatO.
The Commercial Club Sets the Ball
Rolling in Practical Way for
Desired End

hO uOcUluS VI UIlO SOhiLlCl Oidl
Club Friday to consider the mat
ter of making some arrangement to
secure the location of the Baker
Plaster Co. IN this city, and Mr.. H. P.
Christensen from the committee on
city development, to which the mat
ter was referred, reported for the
committee, and said that Mr.. White
could tell better what had been done
during the day. Mr.. White gave an
account of his visit to the tile works
and the condition in which he found
the building. 1t would have to have
new floors, as the present floors are
made of Stats. He hardly thought it
would be practical to attempt to dc
anything with it, as it is too far re-
moved from a sand bank, and besides
there was no side track to it. This
latter, was most important, as it
would be impossible to cart the ma
terial back and forth from the rail-
way to the factory. He said he OBJ
tanned estimates from a practical
contractor yesterday as to the cost of
building such .as they would need,
and found that the cost would be
about $3.50.
Mr.. Alleman wanted to know if the
club would be out the difference on
the cost of the building and the rent
received and it was said that such
would not be the case if guarantee
could be obtained from some one to
take the building at the end of the
year if the Baker company concluded
not to continue.
Mr.. Rose wanted to know if Sec
ond story was necessary and was in
formed that it was. If it were not
for this he thought that room could
be secured at the Cement works.
Mr.. Christensen said that the best
location, and the one which struck
Mr.. White as the best, is at or near
the Riverside brick yard. He did not
think it would be temporary matter,
but would prove permanent.
Mr.. Pond of the company offered
Mr.. White the lease of the ground
and trackage free for one year. Mr..
Pond also agreed to take the building
at the end of the year, if the COM
pany concluded not to remain
Mr.. Alleman asked how many men
would be employed, and was in
formed by Mr.. White that they would
not exceed five, and probably never
more than ten. He also said that the
machinery and bags would cost about
s., 900.
Mr.. Alleman thought that if Mr..
Pond would guarantee to take the
building at the end of the year, if
the Plaster Co. concluded not to. con-
tinue, and the company guarantee to
pay the rent, the club would mot be
out anything if it took hold of the
matter, and he did not see why it
should not take hold of it, individual
ly at least,
Mr.. Christensen thought that the
members of the club ought to take
hold of the matter and not leave it to
one man to assume. He would like
to see so such factories come here un-
der such circumstances. They would
prove most beneficial to the city,
and there was practically no risk.
Mr.. White said as far as putting up
a building was concerned, the Baker
Plaster company could put uplall the
buildings it needs. But what 'the
company wants is to get the people
interested in the matter and help
make it success for the city. 1t
was not a new experiment. The
company has reputation for it's
goods already established. During
the months of October andiNovember
the output of the company was l32
carloads which if'rmanufactured as
they propose to do in 'Mankato would
equal 900 carloads. Their sales dur
ing October amounted to Y carloads.
Mr.. Snow thought the club -ought
to pull together and help establish
this factory in our midst.
1t being suggested that it might be
cheaper to fix up some building than
to put up new building, Mr.. White
explained that it would cost some
$3.50 to place machinery, and that they
did not wish to place it in temporary
quarters, for they expected it would
be permanent concern, and would
rather locate hereI alta point where
they would be permanent.
Mr.. Ogle thought the. tclub ought
not to hesitate at such proposition,
and ought to be willing to encourage
factories of this kind, and SO increase
our dinner pail brigade, and itiwould
help in other directions for it would
advertise the city.
After some further discussion along
the same line Mr.. Show moved the
appointment of a special commit
tee of five of which the president
shall be chairman and the Sec
rotoruo n,omhar IN see what can be