The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-06-07
put off drunken man, who continued
to hang to the cars.

riages be procured, and the present
tracks be viewed to get better idea
of the situation. Mr.. Mohler second
ed this, but Mr.. Winter said that
the only way to get correct idea of
the topography of the ground was to
walk over it, and the others concurr-
ing, at 80 o'clock the party started
out on foot to cover the ground.
The officials and committee walked
over the river frontage from the
pumping station, on Washington
street, to the brick yard, in West
Mankato, and there took carriages
and drove over and around the Sibley
mound and looked over the proposed
routes for the Omaha road. 1t was
concluded that two spans of the Main
street bridge would have to be re-
moved to make more room.
After dinner at The Saulpaugh, the
conference was resumed in room 50,
and lasted an hour.
DR.. Andrews stated that the city
was ready to give right-of-way over
the streets, alleys and city properly,
and a general cooperation with the
roads, if the latter desired to 60 into
union depot arrangement.
Mr.. Mohler stated that none of the
companies would refuse to 60 into a
union depot. His company knew
nothing as to the cost, the Omaha
being the only line that had estimates
made.
John Klein suggested that the COM
mittee ascertain what the roads will
do, and where to locate the depot, and
ascertain what the cost will be.
DR.. Andrews stated that the COM
mittee did not want the railway Off
Gals to go away and do nothing more.
He desired some immediate action.
Before the city can do anything it
must know whether the roads will
come in.
Mr.. Hall stated that he had been
thinking over the cost of a right-of-
way from Washington street to the
Blue Earth river, and had come to
the conclusion that his figures given
in the forenoon were entirely too
high. The city would donate what
it could, and J. A. Willard would do
the fair thing, and it would probably
be necessary to condemn only one
mans property.
Mr.. Mohler stated that a union
depot would enhance the value of all
the adjoining property. Now that a
proposition had been made by the
city, the roads had something to fig
ure on, and he would report to his
road what had been done.
Mr.. Irwin stated that he was unable
to promise anything for his road, but
he would make report, and he had
no doubt but that the officials of his
road would take such steps as would
be satisfactory to the people of Man
kato. They had been waiting for
difinite offer. His road would confer
with the other roads interested.
Mr.. Mohler stated that he was anx-
ious to have the matter disposed of
one way or the other. There would
be nothing gained by delay. The
engineers of the different companies
would meet and secure an estimate of
the cost aud submit reports to their
directors.
Mr.. Winter stated that he approx
ed of what Mr.. Mohler had said.
There were some problems for the
Omaha to solve which other COM
panies would not have to meet. The
Omaha track is not on the river front
yet, and the first thing for his COM
pany to do would be to see whether
it can be moved there. The North
western road is in a position to go in
to union depot at almost any
moment.
Mr.. Mohler stated that the M. &
ST. L. road.is in the easiest position to
go into the deal, as it has no invest
ment to lose, while the track ought to
go further into the city. 1t is new
NATTER the hard times have stopped
railroad improvements, but with good
crops this year the situation may be
changed. The roads are not so an
tagonistic as the people generally be-
lieve, and often work together. Rail-
road men must stand much, and the
Legislators have reduced the incomes
so much that the profits are small
Mr.. Mohler asked what the city in
tended to do about street
crossings, whether it would
expect the roads to maintain flag
men. With more business on the
river front the crossings would be
more dangerous, and to cause all the
| crossings to be watched, with 100
trains day, would cause quite an out
lay.
Mr.. Winter stated that his road
| needed time to look into the matter.
as very large expenditure OF money
would be required in case the change
was made. He was unable to formu-